Powder choice

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:50 pm

Since I am old & have an old single stage RCBS, I don't go crank out 200 rds just before I go to the range. I reload a lb of powder at a time. I have 3800 ready. I have used Unique & found it really dirty. I have used Red Dot & not particularly unhappy w/ it. Thinking about 231.

QUESTION: You that have reloaded a lot of .45 ACP. 230 Gr Lead. What powder do you recomend & why?
Thanks in advance.

bj · Post by bj » Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:07 pm

HI I have recentely started using Tightgroup it is clean otherwise I go back to Accurate 2,5,7,or 9 also reasonably clean B.J.

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:10 pm

Thank you bj. Welcome aboard. Have a cousin that goes by bj, but he don't reload. Glad to have you aboard.

dws1117 · Post by **dws1117** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:35 pm

I mostly use 231 for .45ACP. It is relatively clean, well compared to Unique and Bullseye. It meters well from the Dillon powder measure as well as the two Lee measures I've had. It is readily available and fairly inexpensive.

I've also used Hodgdon Clays for light loads in .45ACP. It is very clean.

flintknapper · Post by **flintknapper** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:40 pm

VihtaVuori, if want clean burning powder. Very little muzzle flash (low light), meters very well.

Some people get good results with (AA) also.

dws1117 · Post by **dws1117** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:27 pm

I've heard good things about VihtaVuori. People the try it seem to love it. I just can't get past the higher cost and it isn't readily available around here.

j1132s · Post by **j1132s** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:16 pm

longtooth wrote:
QUESTION: You that have reloaded a lot of .45 ACP. 230 Gr Lead. What powder do you recomend & why?
Thanks in advance.

Haven't reloaded as much as you (oh my, 3.8k rounds) since I only reoad ~200 rounds per month (and only if I decide to shoot steel) of 45 acp.

I've tried several powders and settled on bullseye (mainly for accuracy and felt recoil management on my developed loads). Too bad I wasn't paying attention on cleanliness at the time, but I'll give you Bulleyes report:

Bullseye seems about as clean (or just a little cleaner) than WWB and Blaser brass. Very much cleaner than UMC and Fiochi.

ShootingStar · Post by **ShootingStar** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:44 pm

I use TiteGroup for .45 with a 200gr LSW because it's clean, takes less, very consistant (meaning it isn't position sensitive or temperature sensative).

Though I don't load close to IPSC Major, I have never been stuck in minor class at a match where my loads were checked. It always passes the chronograph test for major.

I have used HP38 and Universal in the past, so I can't say that I've compared a lot of different powders. I can crank out about 800 rnds per hour on a 650, so I've loaded a lot of rounds. Just haven't used a lot of different powders.

I'm happy with TiteGroup and don't plan on changing. Oh, the price is right too.

-SS

Houston1944 · Post by **Houston1944** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:17 pm

Hodgdon's Clays burns very clean in the 45. The most accurate load I have produced is 4.0 Clays and 200 gr LSWC. This load has performed well in every 1911 that I ever owned or fired.

gene · Post by **gene** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:54 pm

Use clays, hp-38, unv. clays--- get more recoil out of titegroup useing 200 LSW all above shoot close to each other shoot more clays in my 45 acp.

shoot more to reload

dws1117 · Post by **dws1117** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:53 pm

Houston1944 wrote:Hodgdon's Clays burns very clean in the 45. The most accurate load I have produced is 4.0 Clays and 200 gr LSWC. This load has performed well in every 1911 that I ever owned or fired.

That's the load I've used with Clays with quite similar results.

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:36 am

OK, you Clays guys, The only load I have for Clays in my Hogdon manual for 230 gr LRNs is 4 gr of powder. Pushes it at 732 FPS. My PD loads are right at 900. Anyone have a load closer to the PD load?

Houston1944 · Post by **Houston1944** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:45 am

Sorry Longtooth but you are not going to get even close to 900 fps using Clays with the 230 gr bullet. Clays is a very fast, clean burning powder that is great for light target loads but not for PD or hunting loads. You are going to have to use Longshot, Power Pistol or one of the other slow burning powders to get in the 900 fps range.

flintknapper · Post by **flintknapper** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 1:19 pm

LT,

Browse through this. http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?

Scroll down to your bullet weight, or you can select the type powder you want, bullet weight, and it provides you with several loads.

900(+) fps is a pretty stout load, but if its for personal defense then it makes sense. There are quite a few loads listed that fill the bill.

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:57 pm

Thank you Houston. That explains why. Clays will be dropped from the possibles list. I want to clear up a little something. I an NOT loading my own PD ammo. I try to get a load that is as close to my PD ammo as possible. That means both in percieved recoil & in bullet impact on target. I want to be able to stagger my PD & reload, PD & reload. Shoot a 10 rd magazine & not be able to tell the difference in feel or in which holes are for which. I am not dissatisfied w/ 5.1 gr of Red Dot behind the 230 LRN. But want to see if there is a better one from some of you that have reloaded a lot more than I have.

Flint, Thank you too. I will look at it. I am getting a little time on the box while the wife takes a break. She has it full time getting the paper out right now & I have to get my time in short spirts.
Thanks gentlemen.

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