powder choices for 1911 45acp

[patkeltx]

Ihave been using universal powder @ 4.5gr, with cast 230 round ball. Shoots great, but, the smoke is terribile. Does any bodyhave any info on how toclean this up! My gun is black from bullet lube and powder. very messey

 

[LiveLife]

4.8 - 5.0 grains of Winchester 231/Hodgdon HP38 1.25" OAL.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, W231/HP-38 is a top choice for the .45 Auto. My favorite load is 5.5gr W231 under a 230gr FMJ bullet. Depending upon the actual bullet shape I use an OAL of between 1.250" and 1.260"

W231/HP-38 produce accurate and clean ammo which is fairly low flash. What's not to like??

 

[Remo-99]

Ihave been using universal powder @ 4.5gr, with cast 230 round ball.

Huh? round ball 45cal at 230gr, maybe lead round nose(hardball style)?

Indoor range? maybe just exessive smoke from the bullet lube.
I like the HiTek coated lead bullets for indoors, it's dry and dosen't smoke.

 

[Randy1911]

I like using W231/HP-38. Most of the smoke is coming from the bullet lube. Some lubes are worse than others.

 

[twice barrel]

I'm using 4.8gr Universal and not encountering any unusual smoke with my 45 ACP. My guess is its the lube.

TB

 

[Balrog]

I have had a hard time getting 850 fps with anything short of max loads of W231.

I use Power Pistol. It can give you 850 fps, burns clean, meters well, and recoil is not bad.

 

[Walkalong]

W-231, AA #2, WST, Competition, N310, N320.......WSF, AA #5, HS-6, Unique....

90% of the smoke is the lube, as posted.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

lots of good tips posted, I had some Red Dot given to me that I tryed for cast slugs and pleasantly surprised I use it now instead of the BullsEye I was useing for cast slugs. cheap too.
not suitable for 'hot' jacketed slug loads though as it's pressure 'peaky' and OAL is critical.

 

[rattletrap1970]

Can't you use practically any fast burning powder for .45? 700-x, Clays, Unique, Bullseye, "The Dots", Scot, etc. etc. .45 always seemed to be just about the most forgiving cartridge to load for.

 

[Remo-99]

Can't you use practically any fast burning powder for .45?

Well i've used Bullseye, Red Dot, Unique, Herco, Clays, Universal and some others I can't think of right now, and none to my memory shot badly, just some a little better than others.

 

[rattletrap1970]

This old timer that taught me initially how to reload used Bullseye for all his pistol and IMR-4895 for all his rifle. I remember him saying, "I can use these two powders for practically everything and shoot well doing it." I reloaded for a long time before I ever strayed away from what he said because, well, he was right.

 

[Steve C]

Does any bodyhave any info on how toclean this up! My gun is black from bullet lube and powder. very messey

Don't bother chasing a cleaner powder because you won't find anything better with lead bullets. If you want to clean up your shooting you need to get a bullet with a cleaner lube. IMO the red lube seems to be a bit cleaner as well as the lube that Speer and Hornady uses on their lead bullets. I've also found that lubing commercial cast with a light coating of Lee's liquid Alox on top of the wax type lube that's usually applied seems to reduce smoking somewhat and makes the pistol easier to clean.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The OP said round ball ammo which I took as FMJ, that's why I answered as I did. Are you guys sure he meant LRN bullets? "Back in the day" .45 Auto FMJ ammo was called "Ball Ammo."

 

[LiveLife]

The OP said round ball ammo which I took as FMJ, that's why I answered as I did. Are you guys sure he meant LRN bullets? "Back in the day" .45 Auto FMJ ammo was called "Ball Ammo."

Good point. I took the "cast 230 round ball" to be lead bullet, but in the Army, we called FMJ ball ammo.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Well, either way the information already give is correct. If he's using a FMJ bullet it just might be the powder but if he's using lead the smoke is almost surely the lube. I've found lead bullets with red lube on them are the worst.

 

[TonyAngel]

I've been loading .45 for about 25 years. Longer than some, not as long as others. For me, there are only two powder for .45 ACP. 231/HP38 and Accurate No. 2.

 

[Slamfire]

Shoots great, but, the smoke is terribile.

Lube problem.

Change to FMJ

 

[dc.fireman]

Which of these powders is/are spherical type powders?

I've loaded out 280 rds. with 700X. I think I'd like to go with a spherical type powder, and see if it meters a little easier through my powder charger (RCBS).

Every 5th round or so, I get a 'binding' or 'shearing' sensation when I'm charging the cases, and it sort of feels like there is powder which is being ground or smashed through the charging process. Upon weighing the charges, the one that grinds is usually a little light - around .1 gr. or so, but the next one is heavy by .2 grains. It doesn't seem to matter if I crank the charging handle quickly, or slowly.

So...my next step is to try a different type powder... any suggestions?

And yes, it's for .45ACP, in a 1911A1.

 

[LiveLife]

dc. fireman, I use the following for my 1911 45 loads: http://www.hodgdon.com/shotpist.html

Hodgdon HP38 (same as Winchester 231) is a spherical powder that meters very well for me.

Hodgdon HS6 is a slower spherical powder than HP38 and meters well - I like the "push" of recoil instead of the "muzzle snap" I get from other faster powder.

 

[dc.fireman]

Thanks!

 

[tango2echo]

I use Unique for mild loads and Power Pistol for the hot stuff. Power Pistol is the most accurate powder I've found for the .45ACP with the 185gr XTP by a mile.

t2e

 

[zxcvbob]

Try using Rooster Jacket bullet lube.

4.5 grains of Universal sounds pretty light (I dunno, I don't load .45 ACP) You might try a faster powder, like Red Dot (but not Titegroup with cast bullets)

 

[more forty fives]

Try Winchesters new AutoComp it's looking good in my 45's nice and clean so far.

 

[8ring]

Single-base powders burn cooler and generally create less smoke with lead bullets than many double base powders.

The cleanest fast powder is Vithavouri N-310 which I use for match loads with lead and moly coated .45 bullets.

Good single base powders that are a little slower include Solo 100 and VV N-320. Other powders in that range of burning rate include American Select (only 2% nitroglycerine) and Winchester Super Target which is also a double base powder but burns relatively cool.

Chris