First time for 200gr SWC in 45 ACP, which powders to try first?

Of those you list, I use 4.5gr Bullseye w/Extreme plated 200 SWC.

If you could just get a load sorted that I can copy when my mold gets here that would be super

I used to use 5.0 Bullseye to make major for IPSC in a 5in Colt Government.
Now I use 4.5 Bullseye with 200gr LSWC in my 4.25in ATI Commander. (My old IPSC practice load.)

George P said:

Well, I have about 80 pcs of SP brass and maybe triple that LP brass; but I only have about 1K of LP while I have about 12K of SP because I load a LOT of 38 - so I am hoping to cut down the learning curve between lost brass and unobtainable primer replacements.

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I have a kimber commander size and getting a 68 200 swc mold in the mail. I have both styles of brass so whatever works man, components are hard to find.

5gr of W231
4.5gr Bullseye
5gr Titegroup

YMMV but these 3 work for me.

4.5 of Bullseye based on your powders.

231/HP38 gives best accuracy in my 45s.
Titegroup and coated bullets don't always get along. So far, this powder does not give me tightest groups and burns very hot due to high nitroglycerin content.
Bullseye has been first choice for 45 Auto for over 100 years

4.5 Bullseye

You’ll get some sooty cases if you go much lower than 4.5grs. Bullseye.

4.5 grains of bullseye is my target load. 7.0 grain's of unique for full power.

I have that same gun. It hasn't disliked anything I fed it. I like unique best.

Just beware that Bullseye and 231 have a pretty low volume of case fill and a double charge can easily happen and be unobserved.

Of course, I'll take sooty cases any day for better accuracy. I'll take unburned powder on my arm for better accuracy.
The goal is to hit the target, not to leave the range with everything as clean as when I arrived.

Bullseye is an excellent powder. I load my 9mm with it also. Very accurate in 9mm.

George P said:

I have Universal, Bullseye, Titegroup, Power Pistol and Titewad. Bullet is a Missouri Bullet 200 gr coated SWC. I have both small primer and large primer brass
I see Win 231 ranges from 4.4-5.6
Titegroup from 4.9-5.4
Universal from 5.8-6.3
Bullseye from 4.2-4.8

The gun is a 4" Kimber Carry II

TIA!

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Once you try unique you'll never want another powder.

noylj said:

231/HP38 gives best accuracy in my 45s.
Titegroup and coated bullets don't always get along. So far, this powder does not give me tightest groups and burns very hot due to high nitroglycerin content.
Bullseye has been first choice for 45 Auto for over 100 years

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Second that. In my 4” Star M45, 4.5gr of Bullseye for indoor target practice or 5.2gr of W231 for outdoor plates and pins. Both work great with a HiTek coated 200gr LSWC from Reeds. Which, sadly, I am out of. However I have 4-500 SPP .45 brass. EDIT: scratch that. Already gave those away. Forgot about that. Sorry.

noylj said:

Of course, I'll take sooty cases any day for better accuracy. I'll take unburned powder on my arm for better accuracy.
The goal is to hit the target, not to leave the range with everything as clean as when I arrived.

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I’ll take sooty too because (not to go off on a tangent, but here I go), my wet tumbler hasn’t a clue nor does it care whether the brass is just dirty or really, really dirty.

Constrictor said:

Once you try unique you'll never want another powder.

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What makes it so unique (pun intended)? Seriously though?

lightman said:

Just beware that Bullseye and 231 have a pretty low volume of case fill and a double charge can easily happen and be unobserved.

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Use of a powder check is always a good idea on such a low volume case.

Started a load up with 4.6gr of Win231 and a COAL of 1.230 as a Hornady suggested start up load for 200g lead SWC. I was loading plated 200g RN.
Lots of soot and 645FPS, even stove piped some cases.
Wound up with 5.1gr Win231, 1.221 COAL, 820FPS on a 5 inch Springfield Tactical.
No more soot, clean ejection and reasonable groups.
Pretty sure that Win231 is identical to Hodgdon H38, but do your own research, I'm old and forgetful.

I've kind of sworn off the 200grn SWC in my 2 Kimber 4" pistols... in one pistol they ran fine, but for some reason the other pistol they did not like to feed well. There isn't a whole lot of room on the 200grn SWC to adjust for seat depth (and have good neck tension, too...) so I just stick with RN profiles. Just my personal experience.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of those 4 powders you listed.

I have come to agree with Charlie. I have guns that will feed SWCs and guns that won't and I got tired of keeping them straight and loading suitable ammo. So it is roundnose throughout. The bad part is that 200 gr roundnose are not very common.
I will grudgingly try some 200 gr "round nose flat point" bullets meant for revolvers and lever actions. The sample pack from Brazos did OK once I got the seating depth right.