What is the Old Standby powder for .45acp

Bullseye and Unique were the go-to powders for almost any caliber because back then they were the only powders available. Now that we have so many powders it's almost impossible to pick just one there are other choices that work better.

I found W231 to be the best powder for the 45 ACP and I also use it in the 9mm. I also use Longshot for high end 9mm loads.

I was a huge believer in Unique as well until... Until I tried Power Pistol. Powr Pistol was designed for 9mm and .40 S&W but I found it works very well in .45 ACP.

Power Pistol produces better velocity and accuracy in all three (9mm .40 S&W and .45 ACP). It is a LOT cleaner than Unique. I have 12 lbs of Unique that I bought before I discovered Power Pistol. Now, the Unique is waiting for a rainy day or armageddon or what ever.. From now, I am going to stick to Power Pistol.

use unique for .380 40S&W and 45 ACP seems just fine.

Cast lead I would use Unique or Bullseye. Jacketed bullets I go to Win231.

As a side note, most all my pistol loads use one of these three powders. Magnums I need to use somthing else. 2400 or AA #9 maybe.

WB

which powder is least likely to foul your 45 chamber? Unburned aa#5 caused jams in my 1911, but hp38 burns completely, no jams.

edfardos

I just did some tests of Unique, Universal and W231 using Cast 230RN and Berry 220HP's with various loads @ 15 yards.... All loads were tested out of a 1911 and M&P 45 - No malfunctions and none of the powders seemed to be dirtier than the others.

The best groupings I got (Albiet not terrific, but they were the best none-the-less) were the LRN w/ 5.1 of W231 - The Unique and Universal were pretty close. So close they may have been equal...

All of them did better on the second go-round... not sure if it can be attributed to the gun being warm or me being warm....

Bottom line all three of the powders I had perfomed nicely with two different bullets out of two different guns.

I've heard that universal is meant to be the "new" unique. DO NOT INTERCHANGE THE TWO EQUALLY, THE DATA IS DIFFERENT. But that's what I've heard.

Madmax said:

What is the "old standby" powders for the .45 ACP and 9mm Luger?

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I have used 700-X in 45 ACP for 30 years. Does that qualify as an "old standby"?

Other powders suggested are good as well. Also, Accurate #5

I have been using True Blue in 9x19 since 2009 when other powders were in short supply. I liked it and have kept using it.

Unique is my go to power for 45acp, I do use others , but Unique works best in my 1911,

I asked the same question 5 years ago when I started and decided on W231...

I've been happy with the results and have had no other reason to try anything different.

I may pick up a pound of Unique or Long Shot to work up some max. velocity loads.... but W231 meters like a dream, burns completely, isn't too aweful dirty, and has been accurate and reliable.

Hodgdon Universal is my primary choice....

( my 2nd choice would be Hodgdon TiteGroup ) ...

For me it's been W231 for the past 20 years.

Cfull, you're the only other person I've ever seen using 700X for pistol loads.

I use it for .45ACP and 9mm as well because I have a 12 pound keg for shotgun reloading. Pretty versatile and you use hardly any of it for reloading pistol rounds.

AA#7 for 9mm

Bullseye for the 45

Another vote for ww 231 OR AS IT IS ALSO KNOWN hp-38

HKGuns said:

Cfull, you're the only other person I've ever seen using 700X for pistol loads.

I use it for .45ACP and 9mm as well because I have a 12 pound keg for shotgun reloading. Pretty versatile and you use hardly any of it for reloading pistol rounds.

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There are a few of us out there that "have seen the light".

Besides, the name of the powder relates to bullseye shooting.

Interesting, my favorite 20 and 28 gauge powder when I was shooting skeet competitively was Unique. I had it on hand for hand gun when i started loading those gauges.

I use W231 for both 9mm and .45 ACP

well unique is great but nothing is as versatile as Hodgdons Universal Clays

UC sucks at 45 ACP pressures for target loads.

Bovice said:

I've heard that universal is meant to be the "new" unique. DO NOT INTERCHANGE THE TWO EQUALLY, THE DATA IS DIFFERENT. But that's what I've heard.

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Hodgdon developed Universal to compete against Unique. It performs much like Unique except it meters better and it's much cleaner.

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I use W231/HP38 with lead bullets in 9mm, .38 Special, and .45 Auto. I see no reason to switch.