Ye Old Powder Question!

[SparkPlug]

Hi all,

I have about 500 .45ACP cases belled, primed, and waiting for the perfect powder *well, maybe not perfect*.

I will be using 230gr FMJ and LRN and am trying to make a good bulk "combat" load..by combat load I mean I am looking for the cleanest burning powder available.

I have narrowed my choice down to Bullseye, Titegroup, and Clays but don't know which one to use. I'm considering BE but have heard that it is dirty..others say it's only dirty when loading light rounds..what do you think!!

 

[RidgwayCO]

Of those three, I think I'd chose Bullseye. It fills the case better and should burn clean enough at .45 ACP pressures. Titegroup would be my second choice, but I don't care for the "Titegroup stain" you get on the brass, plus it seems to burn too hot for lead bullets. I know a lot of people use Clays, but it wouldn't be a top choice for me in the .45 ACP. My experience with Clays is that it gets spikey when you try to push it too hard, although it does burn clean. It also doesn't meter well for me when throwing small charges, tending to bridge in my powder measure.

The cleanest-burning powders I've ever seen are VihtaVuori's, plus they meter well in any powder measure I've tried them in. For your application, I'd think N320, N330, or N340 would be the cat's meow. But be warned, they are more expensive than other powders.

 

[lgbloader]

N320 IS the Cat's meow...

LGB

 

[Maj Dad]

Definitely BE For Me

I have used almost all of them, and the best accuracy, consistency and repeatability is with Bullseye. I have never thought of it as "dirty" or not clean burning. When I shoot a hundred (or more) rounds, I clean the weapon and don't agonize over whether or not it looks dirty. My accuracy never degrades and it doesn't blow ash over my face - it has never been an item of interest at all. Having said that, buy them all and shoot them and find which one works best for you: that's the way of the shootist...

 

[220 shooter]

why not w-231

 

[lgbloader]

I used Bullseye and Clays in 45acp for years and I preferred Clays. Titegroup... I never really cared for it in 45acp. I still have a can of Titegroup in my powder bench taking up space, collecting dust.

LGB

 

[Jim Watson]

These days, it is more a question of what is available than what is optimum. Any of the powders named will work fine, plus a dozen or so more that a close reading of the manual and a check of the dealer's inventory would find.

Me?
I have used more W231/HP38 than anything else, but also a lot of 700X and with Bullseye, Solo 1000, and Clays under investigation for light loads.

 

[Walkalong]

I still have a can of Titegroup .................taking up space, collecting dust.

So do I.

Yep, lots of powders work well in .45 ACP, so if we have to settle for something other than our favorite, we'll be OK.

WST, AA #2, Clays, N31, N320, Competition, W-231/HP-38, 700X, & Zip all do well for light to medium or so loads. AA #5, WSF, Universal Clays, & Unique all do well for full power stuff. I am sure other powders work well too.

 

[Ky Larry]

AA#2or #5 and Trail Boss . All are accurate, clean, and meter well.