45 ACP Powders

[zanders]

So I currently only have 3 powders:

Clay's
Unique
HS-6

Out of these I've had pretty decent performance in 45 Colt with the first 2. HS-6 was all unburned and made a huge mess. I'm just curious will the performance of various powders generally translate from 45 Colt to 45 ACP?

 

[25-20 WCF]

It depends on the pressures you are loading to. HS-6 can be a fine .45LC powder but probably best at top SSA pressures, up to Ruger pressures. Loading it to low pressures invites poor ignition and lots of partially burned powder. All three powders work well in the .45 ACP.


.

 

[jmorris]

My “major” 45 ACP load is 3.7gn of clays with a coated 230 @ 1.230”

It’s been too long since I have shot a sanctioned match with a 45 but last time it worked OK.

 

[Charlie98]

Unique has worked well for me in both the Colt and ACP, but both with heavier bullets and/or high end loads. As much as I love Unique, I’ve found it’s not the best setup in a shorter barrel... I’ve moved to a faster powder with the 230grn bullet in the 4” .45ACP.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

So I currently only have 3 powders:

Clay's
Unique
HS-6

Out of these I've had pretty decent performance in 45 Colt with the first 2. HS-6 was all unburned and made a huge mess. I'm just curious will the performance of various powders generally translate from 45 Colt to 45 ACP?

The unburned HS-6 powder will go away if you use a magnum primer.

As for powders for the 45 Auto, there are many many powders that work well.

I use mostly W231/HP-38 but others work well.
Sport Pistol, BE-86, Bullseye, Power Pistol, Unique, Red Dot, Promo, AA#2, AA#5, Zip, True Blue, CFE-Pistol, W572, W244, AutoComp, Universal, IMR Target, WST, IMR Red, 700x, Clays and probably a few more I missed can all be used in the 45 Auto.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Unique works great in .45 ACP for me.

 

[1KPerDay]

Unique or Clays of those choices.

 

[kmw1954]

Currently using Ramshot Silhouette and Accurate AA#2 with 185gr and 200gr plated bullets. Working well.

 

[brewer12345]

I have been using bullseye with plated and cast bullets. It works well, but it is a bit of a nuisance to stock yet another powder. Would I lose anything by switching to unique?

 

[forty_caliber]

Unique goes with .45ACP like biscuits and gravy.

.40

 

[Blue68f100]

WST for BE loads, WSF and W231 are used for heavier loads.

 

[Charlie98]

I have been using bullseye with plated and cast bullets. It works well, but it is a bit of a nuisance to stock yet another powder. Would I lose anything by switching to unique?

Depends what weight bullet you are shooting, and what you are shooting it in... and what you expect out of it. From what I've read, Bullseye is the gold standard for target velocity loads and/or lighter bullets. I've always had good service out of Unique with heavy (200 and 230grn ) bullets in a 5" 1911, and even in my 4" 1911's... with the added muzzle flash... this for factory-level loads. After stewing on it a bit, I've decided to work up a good 200grn load using a faster powder like WST or W244, particularly for my alloy 1911... full-house loads pop my hand pretty good, and I don't want to beat the pistol to death, either. I have found, however, if I want factory velocity with faster powders, like W231 and WST, I have to run it right up to max load data, and those faster powders are not as forgiving as something like Unique.

 

[brewer12345]

Depends what weight bullet you are shooting, and what you are shooting it in... and what you expect out of it. From what I've read, Bullseye is the gold standard for target velocity loads and/or lighter bullets. I've always had good service out of Unique with heavy (200 and 230grn ) bullets in a 5" 1911, and even in my 4" 1911's... with the added muzzle flash... this for factory-level loads. After stewing on it a bit, I've decided to work up a good 200grn load using a faster powder like WST or W244, particularly for my alloy 1911... full-house loads pop my hand pretty good, and I don't want to beat the pistol to death, either. I have found, however, if I want factory velocity with faster powders, like W231 and WST, I have to run it right up to max load data, and those faster powders are not as forgiving as something like Unique.

I mostly shoot 200 grain plated out of an xdm. Will be adding 230 grain once the weather improves and I have time to cast some. Sounds like I should try unique. I may also switch my bullseye loads to hp38 since I use a ton in 38 special.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I mostly shoot 200 grain plated out of an xdm. Will be adding 230 grain once the weather improves and I have time to cast some. Sounds like I should try unique. I may also switch my bullseye loads to hp38 since I use a ton in 38 special.

HP-38/W231 will serve you very willing the 45 Auto.

 

[joneb]

So I currently only have 3 powders:

Clay's
Unique
HS-6

Out of these I've had pretty decent performance in 45 Colt with the first 2. HS-6 was all unburned and made a huge mess. I'm just curious will the performance of various powders generally translate from 45 Colt to 45 ACP?

I use Bullseye, W231 and Accurate #5 for 45 acp. I've tried Unique but it was sooty and did not meter well. I have some WSF that has worked very well for 44spl with 210gr MB coated bullets. I need to try WSF in 45 acp.

 

[nettlle]

Bullseye works very well.

 

[cfullgraf]

My favorite powder for 230 RN 45 ACP is 700-X. Accurate #5 is my alternate.

I've loaded Unique and W231 in 45 ACP.

I recently got a Colt Gold Cup and load 185-200 grain SWC 45 ACP with Accurate #2.

Follow the published data.

There are lots of other powders that work well in 45 ACP.

 

[243winxb]

Bullseye powder.

 

[Tcruse]

International was initially used for handgun applications, but now seems to be recommended for shot gun power. However, when powder was hard to get, I found International 5g for 230g bullets and 5.2g for 200g bullets works really nice. The older labeled bottles have such loads on the label.

 

[Galil5.56]

International was initially used for handgun applications, but now seems to be recommended for shot gun power. However, when powder was hard to get, I found International 5g for 230g bullets and 5.2g for 200g bullets works really nice. The older labeled bottles have such loads on the label.

Interesting, I recently mentioned the same here:

.45ACP Hardball Duplication Loads with Case-Filling Powder & LRN 230gr

And in the past made mention of Internationals use in cowboy action loads (.38 Special and .44 mag). Seems so obscure to many, that even asking Hodgdon many years ago the tech I asked did not know any data existed. I really liked International when I used it; It was super bulky (changed its properties recently from what I have seen going from ADI/Thales to Canada), super clean, and found accuracy very good. I found it exceptionally good in 12 ga International type loads.

Adapted it to a lot of off label loads in 9mm, 9x18 Makarov, .38 Special, 30/06 cast, on label .45 and .44 Mag... Kinda like Red Dot with a hot temper when pushed. FWIW, some of my results.

4.8 gr International - CCI 300 - MC 200 SWC - WCC Match cases = 845 fps of clean burning small grouping fun.

 

[FROGO207]

I also like the 700X as it burns so clean with any 230 grain bullet. Never tried to fix what is not broken either.

 

[243winxb]

700X

And the cloud of smoke gives you good cover after firing.

Still trying to burn it up in the 45 acp. Was used in 12ga shotgun, till i stopped shooting trap and skeet.

 

[test drive]

When I was into IDPA I was casting 200grn simi wad cutters made from wheel weights with HS-6 and it worked well in my Taurus 1911 very clean with no leading. My buddy shooting a Springfield 1911with the same load was having fouling problems till he went to a magnum primer.

 

[entropy]

Of those three, Unique.