Favorite .45acp powders & loads

lordpaxman said:

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I like Clays, Target, WST, or N320 for light loads. I’ve yet to try N310 just because I haven’t placed an order in a while. Hopefully when the component situation calms down I’ll try that as well.
I can load those for major PF as well.
For mid to full loads 244 all the way to CFE Pistol all work good. Like others have said, tough to find a powder that doesn’t work. Good luck!

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I bought my last jug of N310 from USA Lapua and they still have it and other VV powders in stock.

Dorman is supposed to have originated the load and it is what the USMC is supposed to use for their shooting team.

200 grain homecast over 5 grains 231/38.

wbbh said:

Nosler 185 grain JHP; 4.1 grains of Vihtavuori N310 to a loaded cartridge overall length of 1.20”, the Dorman load.

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Sounds like the USMC load.
I tried it with other 185gn hollow points and also up to 4,20gn N310.
The most precise load in my Colt National Match S70 and my wife's Nighthawk.

My most accurate load is 4.7 gr of Titegroup with CCI-300 primer under a plated 230 gr RNHP @ 1.23" OAL.

Actually, I just did some testing with 200grn RMR PRN bullets in my 2 4" Kimbers... a Pro Carry II, and an Pro Eclipse II.

My standard load forever has been 6.5grn Unique under any 230grn bullet. Period. But, it does give a good bit of flash from the shorter 4" barrels, so I set off to see if I could find a better alternative, and for the 200grn bullet... that won't pound my hand so much with the alloy-framed Pro Carry. I use standard 22# recoil springs, and started these tests with new springs in both pistols.

That being said, 6.5grn Unique under a 200grn bullet gives me 790fps, all else being equal vs the 230 load.

The accuracy winner this past week was 5.2grn WST under the RMR 200grn bullet. 750fps and lights-out accuracy. Everything else... W244, BE-86, and SportPistol produced more velocity, but less accuracy. The accuracy runner-up was, of all things, some old loads I had with 5.4grn RedDot that I was using as a velocity and accuracy standard.

I shoot lead 200 gr. SWC,RNFP, RN. Greendot Autocomp 231 IMR 7625 all with great success out of a 5" PT1911

I used to load 5.5gr of unique under a 230gr LRN bullet and Winchester primer. 1.240 OAL. Would shoot a couple of thousand before the barrel started leading. Used hunter specialty bullets mainly because they were just down the road and we were buying them from the guy making them. Haven't shot that in probably 20 years tho.

5.0 grains of Bullseye behind a 230 grain lead bullet. Nowadays I use powder coating and have no leading problems.

Right now today. Loading cast Lee 200gr RNFP over 6.0gr of Ramshot Silhouette.

kmw1954 said:

I believe there are more powders that Will work in the 45acp than Will Not work.

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You got that right.

My favorite 45 ACP load is 230 RN with 5.0 700-X. Been using it since around 1980. Actually, for a while the 700-X powder charge was higher but at some point the powder manufacturer did a retest and lowered the powder charge.

My back up powder right now is Accurate #5 but I'd use Unique or W231/HP-38 in a heart beat if I could not get 700-X or Accurate #5

Recently, I've been experimenting with a Gold Cup and 185/200 grain SWC bullets with Accurate #2.

I use mostly unique across the board for 45acp. It fills the shell up enough to not allow double charges and it burns pretty clean as long as you use moderate to full power loadings. Not the most accurate in the world but it works.

I like 230gr ball (lead/plated/jacketed) with 5-5.2gr w231/hp-38

5gr W231 230gr ball

I’m in the 6.5 gr of Unique with any jacketed 230 camp.
Really can’t go wrong with 5.0 gr of Bullseye either though

Been running 4.6gr of w231 with 230 zero fmjs for a good while. Really nice soft recoil and has been very accurate for me. Chrono results were sad though when I finally tested it . Iirc only averaged about 650fps and had a huge es.

Side note.
HP38=W231, same powder, different label.
If you go that way but whichever is cheaper or whichever you can get.