45acp 185hp full power loads. Powders?

[anothernewb]

Thinking on making some defensive loads. Got a couple powders on hand I think will work. Anyone used any of these. Thoughts?

What I have On hand:
HS6
Universal
N340
BE86
Longshot
Power Pistol
231
WSF

185 Hornady xtp is the bullet I'll be using

I know they'll all work. But I was wondering if anyone could share any preferences or results from experience using them.

 

[RemoW]

Win 231 is my go to for 185gr .45 acp. I have used Universal but always end up with unburnt powder. HS6 would probably give you highest FPS but I don't much care for the recoil. HS6 loads always seem to have stiffer recoil. (not scientific, just my observation for experimenting with the powder trying to get max speed.)

 

[AJC1]

In a sd situation where I had no hearing protection and possibly at night I would never want power pistol. I would only want 850 or so fps to mimic the design character as much as possible. I would be asking people who have tested in low level light and night for low flash powders...

 

[call1911]

Vihtavuori N105 if you got the b@lls.
If you ever tried N110 in 357 Magnum you know what I'm talking about.
It sure is not for wimps but should get you what you are looking for.

 

[41 Mag]

I would load around the 800-850fps range qith which ever give the lowest signature when fired in the dark.

As mentioned previously, in low to no light you don't want to be blinded by a muzzle flash.

Load up 3 or 4 with HS6, BE 86, and 231 and see how they fair.

 

[Howland937]

I've never used BE86 because I never felt the need for powder with flash suppressant. Several things I've seen indicate it's very nearly if not the same as Power Pistol, only much less flashy.

I like Power Pistol in several calibers and have used quite a bit of WSF and HS6. If for potential home defense, I'd probably start off with BE86 and doubt you'll need to go any further.

 

[LightninST]

BULLET WEIGHT
185 GR. HDY JSWC

Starting Loads Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
Winchester 231 BUY NOW 0.451" 1.135" 5.0 762 12,000 CUP 5.9 906 15,800 CUP
Winchester WSF BUY NOW 0.451" 1.135" 6.8 886 13,400 CUP 7.5 981 17,400 CUP
Hodgdon HS-6 BUY NOW 0.451" 1.135" 8.6 888 12,200 CUP 9.5 996 16,800 CUP
Hodgdon Universal BUY NOW 0.451" 1.135" 6.0 908 13,100 CUP 6.4 977 16,800 CUP
I like Win 231 or WSF best ! I did not like Universal but was loading in the middle of the load specs (6.2)

 

[Dudedog]

I like W231/HP38 for .45 always seems to shoot well for me with different bullets/bullet weights,
I have never used N340 or HS6 in .45 but it looks to me like everything on you list will work.
If you are not concerned with flash you can load some pretty stout .45 loads with Longshot. Slower than I would normally use for .45 but if you are after MAX vels
might be worth playing with.
WSF and BE86 should give better vels than W231 but W231 was more accurate for me. (WSF and BE86 were fine accuracy wise W231 just a bit better)
Universal should work to but my gun didn't care for any of the combos I tried with it (but I didn't try a lot)

 

[BC17A]

BE86 is an excellent powder for full power and also +P loads with the 185XTP.

 

[joneb]

I have had very good results with VV N-340 with 185gr jacketed in 45 acp. Works well in my 1911 and my blow back carbine.

 

[Blue68f100]

I've used WSF and 231 for 185gr XTP's with good success. I've also used WST which can be a little moody at the top end, and it's reverse temp sensitive. If I recall I settled on WST since it produced less flash in low light. I have not loaded any full power loads in many years. Just don't need full power for punching holes in paper.

 

[Kaldor]

Any medium speed burn rate powder will get you to about 1100 FPS with the 185 XTP. Pick your poison, work it up and test it out.

My personal favorite is CFE Pistol. Im pushing over 1200 FPS with 185s with it safely, but it is a handful to hold onto!

 

[The Bushmaster]

For field and target loads using185 grain bullets I use W231. When I load for self defense using 185 grain Hornady XTP I use WSF. It gives very good accuracy and burns clean and is very stable at the high end of the load data. My load is 7.7 grains of WSF. From a .45 ACP Kimber UCC II with a 3" barrel (chronograghed) at 850 fps.

Kaldor...1200 fps from what? A 20" barrel? I have two .45 ACPs. Colt 1911 series 80 (modified by Wilson) and the for mention Kimber and I would NEVER load either one of them to 1200 fps.

 

[Howland937]

Sierra shows one load listed for 185gr @1200fps, and it's AA7 maxxed out. I didn't see anything from Hornady pushing 1200.

 

[Kaldor]

For field and target loads using185 grain bullets I use W231. When I load for self defense using 185 grain Hornady XTP I use WSF. It gives very good accuracy and burns clean and is very stable at the high end of the load data. My load is 7.7 grains of WSF. From a .45 ACP Kimber UCC II with a 3" barrel (chronograghed) at 850 fps.

Kaldor...1200 fps from what? A 20" barrel? I have two .45 ACPs. Colt 1911 series 80 (modified by Wilson) and the for mention Kimber and I would NEVER load either one of them to 1200 fps.

From my S&W E-series full size. Im a bit above the book max of 8.1 of CFE Pistol as listed by Hodgdon, but Im getting no pressure signs, no cases getting beat up, no wear and tear on the gun, and most importantly its been a safe load. It also shoots like a laser beam.