45 acp powder for Kimber 1911 Ultra Carry

[chop]

I am new to reloading. I started loading my 45 ACP loads with Unique, but recently came across the motherload of powder at my local reloading store. I was so excited to see some stuff in stock i went a bit overboard. I picked up PowerPistol, AA #5, 231, TiteGroup and N320. All in 1lb containers. From the reading I have done, it seems 231 is the preferred choice because it measures well, and burns relatively cleanly. I have found unique measure within .2 grains each way of my target in my Hornady powder measure. Out of what i picked up, what would you guys recommend to shoot through my 1911? I am using starline brass, and Hornady XTP or Hornady HAP bullets or Berry's 230 GR, Flat Nose.

I apologize if this has been posted before, but all i could find was 231 vs N320 or AA#5 vs TiteGroup. Nothing went into so many powder choices. I will use the Berry's for target shooting and plinking and the HAP for competitive shooting.

Thank you for your time.

 

[buck460XVR]

They all would work, depending on the weight of the XTPs/HAPs. Since you have small quantities of all(1# cans) I'd suggest you try them all over a period of time to find what your gun and your personally prefer. Power-pistol should work well for the 230 grainers and the N320 if the XTP/HAPs are 185s. Refer to your manuals and try the powder first that performs at the velocity you are after. Part of the fun of reloading is playing with different combinations and experimenting to find the load that works best for you. What works best in my gun may or may not work well in yours. Just stay within the recipes and keep a record of accuracy, reliability and if you have a chrono, velocity of how each powder and bullet combo performs..

 

[orionengnr]

I would look through my manuals and find recipes for each powder, and then load 10 of each.
Take them to the range and take some notes on which ones demonstrate which characteristics, and go from there.

A couple years ago a local guy was wanting to start to load .45acp and had the same questions (but he had no powder). I gave him a small quantity of five different powders and recipes for each.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm a big fan of W231 especially in the 45 Auto and .38 Special. There is nothing wrong with testing other powders but if components are in short supply with you like they are with me I would test W231 first and see if you like the results. AA#5 was developed with the 45 Auto in mind so that's not a bad choice either but since you have both I would still give W231 the first shot.

Now for which gun you shoot that ammo, for the most part the gun doesn't matter. A good 45 Auto load is a good 45 Auto load no matter which gun you shoot. Sure too light of a load might not cycle the heavy slide on a 1911 but remember, I did say a "good 45 Auto load." Of course accuracy will change with every gun you shoot including other 1911 pistols but for the most part a good load is still that, a good load. My favorite 45 Auto load is 5.5gr W231 under any 230gr bullet with an OAL of between 1.250" and 1.265".

Welcome to the forum, good luck and keep us updated...

 

[rodinal220]

Win 231/HP38

 

[chop]

Tried the 231

I loaded up 10 rounds based on 231. Hornady HAP 230 gr, 5.3 gr of 231. They shot well from 30 feet. Seemed to be a bit louder than unique, not that it matters. I am headed out of town fishing the next 3 days, but I will try the AA #5 next and report back.

I must say, I am impressed by the 231. No jams, shot well. Recoil was moderate. Ten rounds was not enough to tell if it was any cleaner than unique.

What do you guys suggest for an OAL? I loaded to 1.21 and they shot well. I got this from Hornady's 49th edition. Lyman's has an OAL a bit higher, around 1.27 I believe.

 

[LBEE]

I reload 45 acp & tried all kinds of Powder until I used Ramshot Silhoutte which now is my Favorite Powder for the 45, Might give it a try bet you will like it.

 

[chop]

I would love to try it. Right now i am sitting on 16 lbs of powder in 6 different varieties, all that will work in the two calibers i shoot. I need to upgrade my press already so i can get through what I have. ='(

 

[Walkalong]

I loaded to 1.21 and they shot well. I got this from Hornady's 49th edition. Lyman's has an OAL a bit higher, around 1.27 I

I load 230 Gr RN bullets to 1.260 to 1.265 in .45 Auto. 1.275 is the SAMMI max OAL. 1.21 is pretty short for RN, but may be about right for the HAP. 1.230 to 1.235 is what the XTP should be loaded to.

 

[ljnowell]

Power pistol is great with jacketed bullets in 45acp, AA#5 is great with lead or jacketed. I prefer AA#2 myself.

 

[swiss_seth]

I have been using 700x behind 230 gr hard cast with my Kimber. It ran perfectly with nice groups and was pretty clean. Not the kind of bullets you're talking about but just a FYI 700X is good stuff


If memory serves I had lighter loads with WST and still good results

 

[ljnowell]

I have been using 700x behind 230 gr hard cast with my Kimber. It ran perfectly with nice groups and was pretty clean. Not the kind of bullets you're talking about but just a FYI 700X is good stuff

My very first 45acp loads were with 700x. I ran through several pounds of it before I tried another powder. They made some of the most accurate loads I ever made. A 200gr LSWC loaded over 4.6gr of 700x was very soft shooting, would lay very tight groups, and leave the brass in a little pile two foot to my right and one foot behind me. Good stuff all the way, except the fact that it meters like corn flakes, lol. Thats the only reason I stopped using it. I found that AA#2 or AA#5 meters so much better and still produces very accurate loads.

 

[TfflHndn]

Of the powders you listed, you may find that the TiteGroup and 231 will burn cleanest and give you good accuracy with milder recoil than the others. TG burns hot, and will scorch your casings if it is loaded too light to expand the case and get a good seal. I also like Silhouette and 700x in the .45 if you find any and want to try others. Unique works with just about everything, but you have to find a load that your gun likes best and I have to hand measure it because it meters so poorly. Have fun, stay safe!

 

[777TRUTH]

AA#5 I load to

AA#5 - 8.0gr, 230gr RN X-Treme, C.O.L 1.255, Excellent accuracy

Power Pistol I load to

Power Pistol - 6.6gr, 230gr RN X-Treme, C.O.L 1.255, Nice load but I like AA#5 better.


My pet load for the 45 is 5.0gr of Bullseye under a 230gr plated or jacketed bullet with the same C.O.L listed above.

 

[Blue68f100]

WSF is very close to the same speed as Unique but a ball powder. WSF will allow you to go up to +P loads if you want. I mainly use WST for the 45acp. Burns extremely clean, 100 rounds of it is cleaner than 10 round of unique. Besides it's a ball power and easy to meter. I load the 230gr in the 4.2-4.4gr of WST behind Berry's plated. I mainly shoot the 185gr HBRN using WST.

 

[KC45]

I only have 45ACP load and I've been using it for past 25+ years in all different 45ACP handguns with very good or excellent results. It's 200gr H&G 68 SWC cast bullet loaded with 5.6gr of Winchester 231 or HP-38 with OAL of 1.265". It will do average of 950 fps from 5" barrel and about 850 fps from 3.5" Officer model. I have used it as my IPSC and Pin load back in the 80' and early 90's and it's my current IDPA load. It was used to take several deer and hogs too.

 

[2bfree]

I load mine with a 230 JRN or plated Xtreme, 5.2 HP-38/231 with an OAL of 1.240 for my range loads. Is accurate out of my full size 1911. Don't have a chrono so have no idea the fps. I did find that going with more did not make it any more accurate, it is a range load