Based an inquiries with the Bullseye Pistol shooters I know, Bullseye Pistol powder is still the number one in the sport. Pistol competitors find a good load and stick with it, so there are not a lot of early adopters, someone has to prove the latest Wunderpulver is as good as the advertising before the market moves.
If my web research is well remembered and correct, Bullseye pistol is the oldest gunpowder on the market, and it was used in the 1910 developmental cartridges that were used in the field testing that lead to the adoption of the 1911. The load was a 230 FMJ with 5.0 grs Bullseye for a speed of 800 fps.
don't know what Dupont used in their early ammunition, I am very sure Remington used whatever the lowest bidder provided.
Bullseye powder was used in two World Wars, and has a great track record in the 45 ACP. It has been used forever, basically, as a target powder because the charges can be reduced without any ruination of accuracy. I found some of my Bullseye loads date back from 1950's American Rifleman magazines. Shot great then, still does. In my testing both the extreme spreads and standard deviations are outstanding in the 45 ACP with 200 gr and 230 bullets. Consistent velocities are good, because that means the pressure variations are also tight, and that leads to better pistol function.
Ernest is in his 70's, is a still active Bullseye Competitor, and these are some of his bragging targets.
Let me tell you, I am still working on keeping all my 45 ACP shots on the repair center at 50 yards, never mind keeping the all in the black! Of course the real internet experts can shoot as well as Ernest with their eyes closed, but I never see these guys on the firing line.
When Bullseye pistol powder got hard to find, a number of competitors moved to Titegroup. That powder is also a fast powder and shoots well. Every so often someone is using 700 X powder.
I asked the All Guard team captain about the Zero 185 gr JHP ammunition the All Guard team was using. He had contracted with Zero Bullets for loads that were supposed to go 800-810 fps, but in actuality, were running about 790 fps. His accuracy criteria was 1.5 inch ten shot groups at 50 yards from two of the three match 1911 pistols he sent them for lot acceptance testing. The bullets used, are Zero 185 gr JHP's. The powder choice is Zero's and I have no idea what firewater they pour into the case.
That type of bullet is the most common JHP on the firing line, it has a light recoil and is very accurate. I believe were you to duplicate these velocities you would have to use a lighter recoil spring, maybe 12 lbs to 14lbs, or you would have failures to function.
I used kegs of W231 with a 230 grain lead and FMJ's and it is an outstanding powder, but I don't know how well it does at the powder puff loads used in target practice.
I am still shooting 200 grain bullets, so I think if you copied Ernest's load, bumped it up a tenth or two tenth, with a JHP, you would have an accurate load.
