Nitro 100 instead of Bullseye

[jpwilly]

Factory says I can use Nitro 100 to load 45 acp anyone else do this?

Here's Accurate Powder load data:

200gr
Min 4.4gr MV825 Max 4.9gr MV938 PSI18200 COL1.190"

230gr
Min 4.1gr MV733 Max 4.5gr MV834 PSI18600 COL1.230"

I have a can of this but cannot find Bullseye anywhere and am out.

[loadedround]

I sugest you go to the Accurate powder website and check the loads for yourself. www.accuratepowder.com Hope this helps you.
PS: I just checked this site myself to check out available loads and Accurate Powder just lists shotshell loads with Nitro 100. Nothing at all for pistol or revolver loads. I would suggest definitely contacting Accurate Powder regarding the use of this powder.

[bobotech]

Something is messed up on the Accurate Powder website. I have 3 pounds of Nitro 100 that I have used to load up 45acp with. I have used Nitro 100 in 38Spcl and 45acp and their website used to show loads for it.

Something has changed, you can't even bring up individual webpages showing info about their various powders. I remember going to their website and bringing up the product info for Nitro 100 which had a page devoted to low pressure pistol loads.

Just for your info, I do not remember what the load was that I used at this time.

[bobotech]

I had to use the Way Back Machine to bring up their old website.
http://web.archive.org/web/200310050...39+revised.pdf

[bobotech]

Here is more info with loads for 38Spcl with nitro 100
http://web.archive.org/web/200312062...s+97+to+98.pdf

[jpwilly]

I found this link...it's the same load data I have but the question still remains...anyone out there doing this...what is your experience?

Thanks.

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/P...%20revised.pdf

[Walkalong]

Not yet, but Nitro 100 is on my "to try" list, along with Scott Royal D.

It should work well for target type loads in .38 Spl and .45, but time will tell.

[Bongo Boy]

I know this is an older thread, but here's some info for anyone thinking Nitro 100 for handgun. This datasheet can still be easily accessed by simply doing The Google on "accurate nitro 100":

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/P...%20revised.pdf

...and you can still find your way to their Nitro product description that looks like this:



However, as I found out Monday this week, if you order the product based on this information (at least from Midway), what you'll get is a relabeled jug that has two stickers on it that say "Not for use in handgun loads". The label on the back of the bottle also says "This new Nitro 100 formulation is specifically designed for shotshell loads. Accurate does not recommend its use in any handgun [or in any handgun load]". Something very close to that.

The product description as of last week at Midway included the same language as found right now at the Accurate web site: "An excellent choice for low pressure/low loading density applications in handgun cartridges." That language is found at:

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/100.htm

So, the facts are these: Accurate still has web pages accessible by the public and distributors are using product descriptions that do not match Accurate's current recommendations regarding the product, and you may not find that out until product arrives at your door. At that time, you'll find that the Nitro 100 Accurate says is "an excellent choice...in handgun cartridges" is currently being labeled with "DO NOT USE IN HANDGUN LOADS."

[MMCSRET]

I started using N100 in 45 Auto with 160 gr. cast SWC style bullets back when it first came out. Proved to be a superb performer, still use it that way for 100 meter target use in 1911A1 informal shoots. Great with light bullets, clean and efficient!!!!

[ljnowell]

4.1 min - 4.5max? Seems like an awful tight loading window. I'm not sure I would want to use it anyway.

[Otto]

However, as I found out Monday this week, if you order the product based on this information (at least from Midway), what you'll get is a relabeled jug that has two stickers on it that say "Not for use in handgun loads". The label on the back of the bottle also says "This new Nitro 100 formulation is specifically designed for shotshell loads. Accurate does not recommend its use in any handgun [or in any handgun load]". Something very close to that.

That's interesting. So they reformulate the powder and prohibit it from being used in handguns and continue to call it Nitro 100.
In my opinion, they should change the freaking name.

[cheygriz]

I've used the "old" formulation in low velocity .45 Colt loads.

[Walkalong]

Not yet, but Nitro 100 is on my "to try" list

I've tried it since that post, and it was OK, but nothing special. There are better choices among the fast powders suitable for handgun. It will work, it just didn't do anything other powders wouldn't do, or do better.

[Bongo Boy]

What I'm looking for is a powder that meters very uniformly and is efficient in terms of getting 230-255gr .45ACP lead bullets up to major pf. Clays is working for me, but if I could find a powder that produces more uniform loads I'd be happier. I'm now thinking Accurate #2 and #5 would be the next choices.

By the way, MidwayUSA simply said keep the powder and refunded the purchase price to my credit card. My order included other powder, and I felt that was certainly fair.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I suspect Accurate wants to more-clearly delineate its product line by application. I noticed that their 'new' online load data includes only their numbered products for handgun loads, does not include Nitro 100, and doesn't even include Solo 1000 anymore. I've been told Solo 1000 has been discontinued, actually. THAT should make a lot of folks happy.

[Jim Watson]

Word of the "do not use in handgun loads" hit the SASS Wire several weeks ago; where Nitro 100 is very popular for light loads in .45 Colt, etc.

Bear in mind that Accurate has gotten powders made under contract all over the world, starting in Israel and including Communist China, the USA, the other USA (Union of South Africa), and the Czech Republic. There is a thread with pictures of AA #5 from different powder mills but claiming the same load data.

Accurate was bought out some years ago by Western Powder Company who has kept the Accurate lineup in place separate from their own Ramshot powders. They have recently gone to American sources for Accurate powders, note the "made in USA" on the "no handguns" labeled Nitro 100. Their ball process powders like AA #2, 5, 7, and 9, etc. are now made at St Marks Powder, home of the Winchester Ball powders. I assume their flake and extruded powders are now contracted at Alliant; I do not know of another commercial powder company left in the states. (IMR is in Canada.)

I will be sorry to see Solo 1000 dropped, I was just getting comfortable with it in pistol loads.

[moxie]

Two important facts arise from the 15 threads above this:

1. Midway customer service is outstanding.

2. Stick with Alliant powders, such as Bullseye and Unique. They are made in house and the formulations are consistent. This Nitro 100 situation is totally unacceptable.

[Bongo Boy]

Another factoid for those who find such things interesting...

I compared the 'old formulation' load data (the data that includes N100 loads for handgun) with the 'new formulation' load data (where N100 and S1000 are noteably absent from any handgun loads) and note that the shotshell load data and performance numbers for N100 are identical. Not just close...IDENTICAL.

Now, I think it's fair to say two things:

1) If there's a new formulation, then you've tested it before shipping it, and
2) If you've tested it, your load recommendations will not be identical

Of the other possibilities here is that the new load data simply hasn't been updated completely--an editing error, IOW. They specifically removed N100 from handgun load tables, but forgot to put the new data in for shotgun. Uh huh.

[Jim Watson]

I was wrong in my previous post. A member on Benos called the Accurate desk at Western Powders and was told that Solo 1000 is NOT being discontinued. Solo 1250 is, though.

One source there said that Nitro 100 was now being made at St Marks and is therefore a Ball process powder. Maybe rolled flat to look like flake.

What does yours look like, Otto?

[Otto]

Jim, I've avoided buying the "new formulation" Nitro and in fact just purchased 8lbs of the Czech made Nitro 100.
I spoke to the ballistician at Western last week and he informed me that it was now a ball powder or should I say spherical. Previously, it was a flat disc.
Does St. Marks make any powder besides ball powder? I don't know.

Concerning SOLO 1000, I called Western again this morning and Solo 1000 is still being imported from Spain, so much for rumors.
I posted the question concerning discontinued SOLO at BEnos and in hind sight I should have asked the ballistics guy at Western instead.

[Jim Watson]

St Marks is the old Olin - Winchester Ball Powder plant and as far as I know, makes no other type. Of course they can roll the little balls flat; several grades like Win 231 look like flakes to the uninitiated.

Solo 1000 is made in Spain, eh?

[Walkalong]

I just checked out my newer Nitro 100 under magnification. It is very hard to tell if it is ball powder rolled very flat or extruded powder cut thinly.

Until now I thought it was flake powder. Most "flattened ball", such as W-231, does not really look like flake to the naked eye. It is just squashed a bit and you can see "breaks" in it from being "flattened".

This Nitro 100 looks a lot like flake powder even under magnification. You really have to look closely.

Hard to say.

[Diddlyv]

I have used nitro 100 in 45 ACP with cast and jacketed. I burn a lot of it in Cowboy action loads with 200 gr rn and 240-5 Semi wads out of both 44 special and 44 mag cases. Using published low end data from Accurate Arms for Cowboy action. Ya get a whole bunch of rounds per pound

[noylj]

Several powder companies (Accurate and Alliant for sure) have changed their load recommendations and labels.
Trying to test all their shotgun powders for handgun usage was costing them too much, so they decided not to reference any such use. They haven't really reformulated, they have just relabeled.

[Diddlyv]

I talked to the Accurate Powder guys about the new nitro 100 his recommendation was to use about 15% less than the old data

[ArchAngelCD]

You do realize this thread is a year and a half old with a few bring-backs along the way, right?

There's really no reason to bring back a thread that's old...