Cleanest Burning .45 ACP Powder

[345 DeSoto]

I'll be heading North with the Geese in a few weeks, and starting to reload .45 ACP (among other calibers). I haven't reloaded in a while, but had used Unique exclusively for .45 ACP. Since I need to buy powder/primers/etc. what is a good, CLEAN burning, economical powder to settle on for .45...or should I just stick with the old tried and proven Unique? The price of powder being what it is, I'd rather stick with one brand, and not have to experiment or wind up with a bunch of powder I won't wind up using. Thanks, guys...

 

[cdrt]

I've always used Bullseye. Any comments about it being dirty are related to the lube on the bullets, not the powder itself. I still load the std 3.5 grains with a 185 or 200 grains SWC bullet so I can get 2,000 rounds out of one pound of powder.

If you believe Bullseye is dirty, try Win 231 instead. It meters well and a lot of guys use it.

 

[earplug]

I used Unique and switched over to WW WST for my 45 ACP. Its also marketed as a shotgun powder
I'm shooting a revolver and the Unique left more residue that could bind the extractor.
Some cast bullets are cleaner shooting then others. By current favorite is Billy Bullets, Moly coated and shoot well.

 

[Walkalong]

Clean and economical. I would have to say WST. It works great for low to midrange plus loads, is clean and economical.

 

[JDGray]

Clays is very clean, good target load powder

 

[zxcvbob]

I don't load .45 ACP yet, but in other cartridges American Select seems to be the cleanest burning, followed by Titegroup.

Promo is cheap, and clean burning too if you stay away from minimum loads.

 

[Aceoky]

Bullseye for < 230 grainers, and W-231 for the 230 grainers work very well for me.....

 

[jfh]

Some powders are, I agree, inherently cleaner-burning: the Vihtavuori powders come to mind. But, I'll suggest that the major issue to work with is simply tweaking your recipes. IOW, for your particular combination of components and recipe and the firearm, you may find your recipe just isn't going to burn clean until you make some assembly "adjustments."

I found that my 231/200gr LSWC/.45 ACP loads cleaned up dramatically by altering the LOA or crimp--e.g., tweaking the pressure slightly. Similarly, last year in working with AA#5 in 38/357 reloads for my M&P 340, I found the 357 case recipe (which delivered the same performance as the 38+P load, but required 1.2 gr. more powder) delivered much less grunge and detrius. It was somewhat-higher pressure--estimated to be about 24000, vs. 20000 for the 38+P load. Both recipes also responded nicely to softer lead bullets--e.g., the obduration increased, with less blow-by.

So, I'd recommend worrying less about powder and more about the assembly details.

Jim H.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I use Clays for all my .45acp loads. Max loads give just the right velocity for target ammo with enough pressure to seal the chamber.

 

[Steve C]

CDRT hit it on the head. Powders are all relatively clean if run at a decent pressure, 90% of the residue on your gun comes from the bullet lube on lead bullets. Use jacketed or copper plated for cleaner loads. Faster powders leave less residue because you use less of it to begin with. Clays, Bullseye, Red Dot, AA#2, W231, Green Dot, and the new "cleaner" Unique are all pretty clean in themselves.

 

[stingrr]

Another vote for Clays.

 

[LeonCarr]

Another vote for WST. 99% of what I shot when I shot USPSA was a 200 grain Rainier SWC and 5.3 grains of WST. Brutally accurate and clean burning.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Linear Thinker]

Another vote for 231 as being the cleanest 45ACP powder, and I tried many. Accurate #2 has been clean as well, but I had unburned powder granules left in the case and the barrel.

Vihta powders are very clean, but expensive. I use 3N37 in 38 Super, there's no residue to speak of.

231 has been very economical as well, due to it's bulk density. Highly recommended for 45ACP and 38 Spec.
LT

 

[schmeky]

Great topic. Those that mentioned the bullet lube as the "dirty culprit" are right.

Who makes the best, most economical, lead/cast bullet with a dry lube or moly? Earplug said Billy Bullets, but a Google search doesn't indicate they have a web sight.

I'm going to order around 1-2,000 .45 slugs very soon. Want something cleaner shooting.

 

[345 DeSoto]

What specificaly is "WST"? Are they initials...is that the name, and who makes it?...

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

WST is Winchester trap shotgun powder it does fine in .45acp as well. I have never used it but did use 473 and 452 both no longer made by Win. clean burning and 452 liked compressed 'hot' loads.

 

[cpttango30]

i use titegroup

 

[Harley Quinn]

Unique is dirty, 231 is a good load, watch out for a double load w/Bullseye.

 

[bluetopper]

All I have used is Clays for 45 and Bullseye for 38. They both are great, but I wished they filled the cases up more.

 

[LeonCarr]

WST - Winchester Super Target

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[bcurry]

For those of you opting for Clays, you are referring to Clays and not Universal Clays, correct? I ask because I saw both in the store today and opted not to buy either until I checked here first.
Thanks,
BCurry

 

[stingrr]

Yes, regular, plain old Clays.



Good stuff, burns clean, low charge wt.

 

[bcurry]

I'm wanting to cast lead 200/230 gr. and am looking to try something other than Bullseye and Unique. Is one suited any better than the other?
Thanks,
BCurry

 

[orionengnr]

All I've used so far is 231. I am new to reloading (just a couple hundred rounds so far), and am far from an expert.

It seems a bit "smoky", but that might be the bullet lube (I am using commercially available cast lead 200 gr SWC bullets with 4.8 gr of 231).

It does not seem dirty with regard to residue.

That said, I am following this thread with an open mind, and I'm willing to change powders if something better exists.

 

[Uncle Chan]

I use Clays, Titegroup, and W231 for my 45LC.

I USED to use Unique, but it was filthy and contrary to what some of these characters may be telling you, it ain't the lube on the bullet. I've been using the same bullet for a decade and ONLY with Unique did my revolver bind after a few stages of competition. Switched to 231, then Titegroup, then Clays and talk about CLEAN!