[Red_Dog_Leader]

Hi all,
Been reloading now for ~10 months and am just about out of Clays, Unique, T-Group and W231. Found what works for these calibers in the M&P 9 and .40 and for the Gold Cup.

So I thought I'd give AA#2 and T.B. a try....I belive reading past posts AA#2 good in the .45 to medium loads???

I’ve stocked up on 125 LRN for the 9, 200 LSWC’s, 230 LRN and 185 Rainer FP’s for the .45 and have 180 L FP’s for the .40.

Been sitin here going over my books & .pdf files for loads and thought I’d see how you guys and gals use these powders for these calibers and types of bullets…

TIA, Tom

P.S. mize well ask about .38SPL & .357, dies will be here soon...

[Walkalong]

So I thought I'd give AA#2 and T.B. a try....I belive reading past posts AA#2 good in the .45 to medium loads???
Yes it is, along with Competition, WST, N310, and N320. Actually, AA #2 will get you close to top loads in the .45. Try WSF or AA #5 to get top velocities AA #2 can't do. True Blue seems to have potential in top .45 loadings as well.

WSF, AA #5 or Universal Clays will do you proud in the 9MM and .40. True Blue should do well to, just have not tried it in these.

[CZ57]

RDL, a .40 S&W load that works very well for me is 8.1 grains of True Blue (near max so work up from a start charge) and the 150 gr. Nosler JHP. It will give me sub 1" 5 shot rested groups from a rest @ 50' in my CZ 75 B. It is also a very good powder for factory standard velocity and high end loading of .45 ACP and I've loaded to +P velocity with excellent accuracy with both the 185 and 230 gr. Golden Sabers. Flash is mild in either cartridge. Metering is as good as it gets. True Blue is used by a good number of IPSC shooters who load 9mm Major (124 gr. bullets at or above 1331 FPS) because of its pressure stability. A good number of powders recommended for 9mm won't get there because they get erratic at high pressure's associated with 9mm Major. Of course, you may have no need to consider anything that fast, but True Blue will give you exceptional 9mm accuracy with standard level loads.

The only other powder I would consider for .40 S&W is Silhouette. It flashes even less than True Blue and is a tad cleaner. It meters very well and is fast becoming a powder of choice for 9mm Major loads as well, even moreso than True Blue. Silhouette can be used for high velocity .45 ACP as well.

9mm Major requires very specific load guidelines and pistols that will accept very long cartridges like custom 1911 Race Guns, but if you want to load high velocity 9mm for your combat pistol and possibly load into +P in the future, Silhouette is very hard to beat and True Blue is also a great choice.

About the only thing I'd do different than what you're planning is that I would go with Ramshot ZIP rather than AA#2.;)

[Galil5.56]

AA#2 and those 125 grain lead 9mm bullets should make for some very good ammo. 4 grains of AA#2 should be a great starting point, and may be right where you need to stay. I load 125 grain bullets I cast with a very similar speed powder (WW231) using 4 grains, and they shoot very well.

In my experience, keeping 9mm lead velocity to around 1050 fps is ideal, but can be pushed faster if desired and within pressure limits. AA#2 works equally well in 45 auto with the bullets you mention for "normal" power loads with low charge weights.

[CZ57]

RDL, just want to follow up on why I mentioned ZIP. The situation with Ramshot powders is much like what occurred with Vihta Vouri powders in the early 90s. The internet helps, but by and large, the word isn't quite out yet. Take a look at Sierra's latest manual. They have a bullet that has long been noted for exceptional accuarcy, the 200 gr. FPJ Tourament Master Match Bullet. The most accurate load in their testing was with 6.1 grains of ZIP, Starline case and Federal 150 primer for around 900 FPS. ZIP will give you standard velocity or better with all weights in .45 ACP, including 230 gr. bullets, as well as being exceptionally accurate when slightly reduced for target loads. Peruse the forum where Ramshot powders have come up and I don't think you'll find anyone that hasn't been very pleased with the results, provided they've actually used it enough for evaluation.;)

The types of 9mm loads mentioned by Galil are easily accomplished with ZIP, as well.

[Red_Dog_Leader]

a .40 S&W load that works very well for me is 8.1 grains of True Blue
AA #2 will get you close to top loads in the .45.

I specifically choose these brands of powders because of the recommendations’ I’ve read by you CZ57 and Walkalong.

You guys seem to really talk up these manufacturers brands.

Like I said I’ve found what works well in my pistols now for the other powders, but would like to experiment more with different brands. I figure in a few more years I’ll have really nailed it down and then will buy a few select powders in bulk for the individual calibers.

Got to go and call Grafts to see if they can tack on a bottle each of Silhouette and AA#5...:)
Thanks again for all the replies, T

[CZ57]

Sounds like a great way to stretch your Haz-Mat $! I will tell you though that True Blue and AA#5 will load almost identically in the .40 S&W. True Blue will be slightly faster (lower chargeweights) in .45 ACP.

#2 is a fine powder and is faster than ZIP. ZIP's burn rate is right with 231 which you already have experience with. The difference is that ZIP is slightly slower in .45 ACP than 231, yet slightly faster in 9mm than 231. ZIP is also cleaner than 231.

Your approach to selecting powders seems very sound to me and I wish more reloaders used it. Try a number of good ones in 1# quantity to help you decide which 4# or 8# cannisters to buy. Good Luck!;)

[Walkalong]

Try a number of good ones in 1# quantity to help you decide which 4# or 8# cannisters to buy. Yep.
I have a BUNCH of various powders in 1 Lb containers and just a few in 4 Lb or bigger. My Witness Elite Match loves Zero 165 Gr HP's and Universal Clays, so I bought a four pounder. Others were close, but not quite as good, in so far as what I was looking for, with accuracy at the top of the list.

[CZ57]

Well, WA, now I have to ask if you've tried True Blue in .40 S&W loads? What sold it for me was an article Richard Fosland did for Gun World back in 2000, I believe. He used all of the appropriate powders to see if he could get match grade accuracy from .40 S&W. True Blue, Silhouette, Universal, WSF and several others. The test guns were a Para Ordinance P-16 and a CZ Champion that's comp'd. Big surprise, his best accuracy was achieved with True Blue and the CZ. Imagine that!;)

[Walkalong]

WA, now I have to ask if you've tried True Blue in .40 S&W loads?Nope, Universal did so well I was happy. I also did not have any True Blue at the time.

I have tried Zip, Competition, and True Blue a little bit. I was not wowed by Zip, but perhaps I was expecting too much with all the hype about being as good as W-231 while being super clean, (eh) although it can be very accurate. I really like Competition in the .45 and it should do well for other things. I was impressed with True Blues potential, but have not experimented with it much. I think Ramshot has some good powders, which will find their niche. :)

[CZ57]

Well, I haven't heard the Super Clean part, but I know a few shooters that are getting very good (match grade) accuracy and it is cleaner than 231.;)