giggitygiggity
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Is anyone else a fan of Tightgroup? I made some excellent .40SW rounds with 180gr Zero flat pointed FMJ bullets and 4.5-4.7gr Titegroup. Extremely accurate rounds.
Anyone a fan of Tightgroup?
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MattTheHat
Member
I use it in 380ACP, 9mm, 10mm, 45ACP, .38 and .357. Me likie. Very similar to Winchester 231.
-Matt
-Matt
D. Manley
Member
I'm not a particular fan of Titegroup however, I do shoot a great deal of it in .40. One of my favorite range loads is 3.5 grains of TG under either a 180 grain Zero JHP or 180 grain Rainier FP...soft shooting, easy on the gun and more accurate than I can shoot. I drop it to 3.2 grains under the same bullets for the wife and she prefers that in the .40 to her own 9MM. FWIW, even at 3.2 grains, still makes Minor PF from a Glock 35.
HOWARD J
Member
Hornady reloading manuals are a big fan of Tightgroup.
When I run out of Unique --- I will try it..........................
When I run out of Unique --- I will try it..........................
Glock20
Member
I've had good results with TG and Berry's plated 180gr FP in 10mm. Very accurate.
Titegroup is a very versatile powder whose main selling point has always been that it is position tolerant. That's why it is a favorite with the cowboy action crowd who shoots 45 LC. 45 LC has a very large case meant to hold 40 grains of black powder. To achieve classic 45 LC performance it takes about 6 to 8 grs of titegroup. That' not much powder in a very large case. Titegroup's characteristics mean it can be anywhere in the case when the primer goes off and you'll get reliable consistent ignition. That cannot be said of other powders that mostly have to be near the rear of the case to get the same level of reliable consistent ignition.
As an example: With 8.2 grs of titegroup under a 250gr lead bullet I get around 880 FPS consistently out of a 5.5" barrel.
With 10.2 grs of AA#5 I can get 940FPS under the same bullet if I make sure I've pointed the barrel at an up angle to get all the powder at the base of the case. Typical standard deviation doing that is around 10 to 15 FPS. IF I ignore the process and just fire the gun the SD goes up to 40+ FPS. Is that a big deal difference? Maybe - depends on what you expect out of a load. Why the larger spread? Because without pointing the barrel up to get the powder all at the base of the case it can be anywhere in the case. AA#5 like most powders is somewhat position dependent on how consistently it ignites and burns.
All that boils down to if you're going to reload a pistol cartridge that has a very large case you can't go wrong with titegroup. You can't load the magnum cartridges to full power levels but you'll use less powder and can get close. And that's good enough for casual target shooting or plinking.
As an example: With 8.2 grs of titegroup under a 250gr lead bullet I get around 880 FPS consistently out of a 5.5" barrel.
With 10.2 grs of AA#5 I can get 940FPS under the same bullet if I make sure I've pointed the barrel at an up angle to get all the powder at the base of the case. Typical standard deviation doing that is around 10 to 15 FPS. IF I ignore the process and just fire the gun the SD goes up to 40+ FPS. Is that a big deal difference? Maybe - depends on what you expect out of a load. Why the larger spread? Because without pointing the barrel up to get the powder all at the base of the case it can be anywhere in the case. AA#5 like most powders is somewhat position dependent on how consistently it ignites and burns.
All that boils down to if you're going to reload a pistol cartridge that has a very large case you can't go wrong with titegroup. You can't load the magnum cartridges to full power levels but you'll use less powder and can get close. And that's good enough for casual target shooting or plinking.
Jesse Heywood
Member
Titegroup is one of my favorites.
.32-20 100 gr LRN 3.5 gr
.45 Colt 250 gr LRN 5.7 gr
.38 Spl 148 gr WC 3.3 gr
.357 Mag 158 gr SWC 5.0 gr
It meters almost as good as W231. I haven't experience the case charring reported by others with lead.
.32-20 100 gr LRN 3.5 gr
.45 Colt 250 gr LRN 5.7 gr
.38 Spl 148 gr WC 3.3 gr
.357 Mag 158 gr SWC 5.0 gr
It meters almost as good as W231. I haven't experience the case charring reported by others with lead.
mallc
Member
+1 for TiteGroup
Load Titegroup in 9MM and 40SW so far. Switched to it when I couldn't buy W231. It seems to burn cleaner than W231 and costs less.
Scott
Load Titegroup in 9MM and 40SW so far. Switched to it when I couldn't buy W231. It seems to burn cleaner than W231 and costs less.
Scott
Sapper771
Member
I may have to try some tightgroup soon. I am a big fan of W231, but I can't find any of it or HP38, so a similar substitute would be great.
How clean is tightgroup ?
I am still new to reloading, and in the phase where I am experimenting with new powders (PowerPistol & Unique).
How clean is tightgroup ?
I am still new to reloading, and in the phase where I am experimenting with new powders (PowerPistol & Unique).
RustyFN
Member
I was. I use TG in 9mm and 45 auto. I tried WST in my 45 and if WST is as clean and accurate in my 9mm as it was in my 45 then I won't be buying much TG any more.
I do like Titegroup and I load it quite a bit. I have been using it in 9mm and 38spl and I have been very pleased with the performance. It seems to be a hotter burning powder than some of the others I use. As a result, it discolors or scorches the brass. This is noticable by a darkening of the brass around the case mouth. It usually cleans up in the tumbler though.
Jesse Heywood
Member
I would put it up there with W231, which is pretty good. And it's a darn sight cleaner than Unique. I have no experience with Power Pistol.
evan price
Member
I use Titegroup as my target powder pretty much exclusively.
I load .380, .32 acp, 9mm, .40, .38 special, .357 Magnum, .44 special, .44 magnum and .45 colt with it.
In a 38 special I load 3.5 grain under a 158-grain slug. It's barely a pinch of powder, and it doesn't care if it is in the front or back of the case so no need for fillers or anything.
It won't give true magnum velocities, but it is a great powder for just blasting ammo. Meters like water, doesn't take a lot to get a load so it is cheap, plus it is cheap to begin with.
Only problem with it is it is graphite coated and a dark grey, and it takes a tiny pinch for a load, so in tall cases it almost looks empty. You could double, triple, or even quadruple charge a tall case if you are not careful, and there's pictures of a Colt Anaconda which recieved a double charge of Titegroup and disassembled itself pretty spectacularly out on the Internet if you want to see them.
It's not the first powder I would suggest for a novice loader. But it's a pretty dang good powder.
I load .380, .32 acp, 9mm, .40, .38 special, .357 Magnum, .44 special, .44 magnum and .45 colt with it.
In a 38 special I load 3.5 grain under a 158-grain slug. It's barely a pinch of powder, and it doesn't care if it is in the front or back of the case so no need for fillers or anything.
It won't give true magnum velocities, but it is a great powder for just blasting ammo. Meters like water, doesn't take a lot to get a load so it is cheap, plus it is cheap to begin with.
Only problem with it is it is graphite coated and a dark grey, and it takes a tiny pinch for a load, so in tall cases it almost looks empty. You could double, triple, or even quadruple charge a tall case if you are not careful, and there's pictures of a Colt Anaconda which recieved a double charge of Titegroup and disassembled itself pretty spectacularly out on the Internet if you want to see them.
It's not the first powder I would suggest for a novice loader. But it's a pretty dang good powder.
Runningman
Member
Not me, tried one can of Tightgroup in 9mms, that was enough. That stuff burns to hot for my tastes. Could not believe how much warmer my slide was getting after 4 mags of Tightgroup compared to WSF. Went back to my old standard of using WSF, much better linear qualities on mid range loads in the 9mm.
Titegroup burns too hot to load with lead bullets, causing considerable smoke and, in my limited experience, a little more leading than cooler burning powders. Titegroup works fairly well in 9mm and .357 mag. target loads with jacketed and plated bullets. One the plus side it is fairly position insensitive in revolver cartridges. On the negative side, it is very dark and dense making it easy to inadvertently double charge a revolver cartridge. That's why I don't recommend it for beginning reloaders.
LiveLife
Member
.
FYI, if you can't find W231/HP38, Ramshot Zip / IMR 700X / Alliant Green Dot are similar burn rate powders (some report Green Dot is dirtier burning than W231).
I loaded up a bunch of 9mm (124 gr plated, 4.2gr Titegroup) awhile back that I finally got around to trying. Not impressed with the accuracy at all.
My XD9 is quite accurate with Winchester White Box ammo, but the stuff I loaded was kind of all over the place on a silhouette target (15-20yrds).
I think I am going to drop it to like 3.8grains and try again. The 4.2gr was definitely a 'snappy' feeling round out of the XD, but that doesn't mean much when my accuracy went way down. Not saying it's only the powder, but something in my recipe and the XD don't mix.
I need to duplicate the Winny white box recipe and my XD9 will be happy.
My XD9 is quite accurate with Winchester White Box ammo, but the stuff I loaded was kind of all over the place on a silhouette target (15-20yrds).
I think I am going to drop it to like 3.8grains and try again. The 4.2gr was definitely a 'snappy' feeling round out of the XD, but that doesn't mean much when my accuracy went way down. Not saying it's only the powder, but something in my recipe and the XD don't mix.
I need to duplicate the Winny white box recipe and my XD9 will be happy.
GoHerdGreg
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- Feb 24, 2010
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- 13
As others have said, it works well in .38 special and also in .380.
I load 3.8 grains in .38 special behind a 125-grain Rainier plated bullet. Very fun to shoot out of my LCR at the range.
In .380, I use 3.1 grains behind a 95 grain Rainier plated bullet. This load feels almost identical (in terms of recoil/noise) to a factory (PMC) load.
TiteGroup does leave some powder marks around the case mouth (especially in .38 special), but it cleans up easily in the tumbler.
And...a one pound jar will last, like, forever.
I load 3.8 grains in .38 special behind a 125-grain Rainier plated bullet. Very fun to shoot out of my LCR at the range.
In .380, I use 3.1 grains behind a 95 grain Rainier plated bullet. This load feels almost identical (in terms of recoil/noise) to a factory (PMC) load.
TiteGroup does leave some powder marks around the case mouth (especially in .38 special), but it cleans up easily in the tumbler.
And...a one pound jar will last, like, forever.
griff383
Member
+1 for TG
I use 4.6 grains under a 180 FMJTC bullet for target and love it. I compared it with similar velocities using different powders and like TG the best.
Less recoil and lower pressure = less stress on pistol = more fun
I use 4.6 grains under a 180 FMJTC bullet for target and love it. I compared it with similar velocities using different powders and like TG the best.
Less recoil and lower pressure = less stress on pistol = more fun
kimbernut
Member
TiteGroup
I substituted with three one lb. bottles of Titegroup when I ran out of Bullseye 3-4 years ago and am now on my second 8 lb jug. It does leave a scorch/soot mark on most cases(particularly low power target rounds) but I use it in everything .380 through .45 Colt.
I substituted with three one lb. bottles of Titegroup when I ran out of Bullseye 3-4 years ago and am now on my second 8 lb jug. It does leave a scorch/soot mark on most cases(particularly low power target rounds) but I use it in everything .380 through .45 Colt.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
TiteGroup
I sell [and use] a lot of TiteGroup; as it has produced most excellent results
without fail~!
I sell [and use] a lot of TiteGroup; as it has produced most excellent results
without fail~!
zxcvbob
Member
I dislike Titegroup. It smokes too much with cast bullets, and it scorches my brass. (I have about 1/4 pound left; I probably should at least try loading 9mm with it, maybe it works better with tapered cases.)
International Clays seems to be interchangeable with Titegroup in low pressure cartridges, and it's a lot cleaner. Don't use International Clays in high pressure cartridges. ADI has load data for it, but Hodgdon says don't try it because the powder gets spiky.
Mostly I use Alliant Promo when I want a fast powder that is position-insensitive. 8# of that stuff (the only size canister they sell) goes a long way
International Clays seems to be interchangeable with Titegroup in low pressure cartridges, and it's a lot cleaner. Don't use International Clays in high pressure cartridges. ADI has load data for it, but Hodgdon says don't try it because the powder gets spiky.
Mostly I use Alliant Promo when I want a fast powder that is position-insensitive. 8# of that stuff (the only size canister they sell) goes a long way
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