Best 45 auto powders
- Thread starter velosa
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Classics are Bullseye and W231. Clays, WST and Titegroup also have numerous loads available. Less common but they have their adherents are AA#s 2 & 5, Unique and 700x. If money is no object (and it's available locally) VV310 or 320 are very nice.
/Bryan
/Bryan
robertbank
Member
You are going to get a host of opinions so here goes with mine.
I shoot a lot of 200 gr LSWC. Wincherster 231 is a great powder for the .45acp. My pet load:
5.3 gr win 231
Win LPP
Cases Mixed
Boolit Saeco Mold H&G 68 Style Truncated Cone 200 gr LSWC, also used for Lyman 200 gr LSWC Mold # 452460
Load is economical, accurate and makes PF for IDPA/IPSC shooting. I cast my own on a Saeco mold (H&G 68 style boolit) - truncated cone.
Bullseye is another standby powder for the .45acp and 4.5 gr under 200 gr LSWC is an accurate load as well.
Stay Safe
Edited to add boolit type
I shoot a lot of 200 gr LSWC. Wincherster 231 is a great powder for the .45acp. My pet load:
5.3 gr win 231
Win LPP
Cases Mixed
Boolit Saeco Mold H&G 68 Style Truncated Cone 200 gr LSWC, also used for Lyman 200 gr LSWC Mold # 452460
Load is economical, accurate and makes PF for IDPA/IPSC shooting. I cast my own on a Saeco mold (H&G 68 style boolit) - truncated cone.
Bullseye is another standby powder for the .45acp and 4.5 gr under 200 gr LSWC is an accurate load as well.
Stay Safe
Edited to add boolit type
Last edited:
Lennyjoe
Member
W231 with 230gr Plated bullets
Unique with lead
Power Pistol for +P loads.
Unique with lead
Power Pistol for +P loads.
moxie
Member
Bullseye and Unique. There's nothing they can't do in .45 ACP. Lots of loads out there for these powders with kind of bullet. Add a can of 2400 and you've really got all the powders you'll need for any handgun task.
Jim Watson
Member
I have shot with several of the powders mentioned, they all work.
I am at present loading .45 ACP with HP38 and it has things I like. It is a Ball process powder - made at St Marks, Fla. on the Win 231 production line, close if not identical - which means that even though flattened to control burn rate, it meters very precisely. It is light in color which means that a glance in the case as I set the bullet on my Dillon is enough to confirm that it has one and only one load in it. Its main disadvantage is that velocity gets erratic at powderpuff levels. I use Clays for those loads.
Some folks complain that Ball powder is "dirty." I clean my guns often enough that is not a problem. HS6 is the only pistol powder I have ever shot that coked up a chamber enough to affect operation in a normal day's shooting.
I am at present loading .45 ACP with HP38 and it has things I like. It is a Ball process powder - made at St Marks, Fla. on the Win 231 production line, close if not identical - which means that even though flattened to control burn rate, it meters very precisely. It is light in color which means that a glance in the case as I set the bullet on my Dillon is enough to confirm that it has one and only one load in it. Its main disadvantage is that velocity gets erratic at powderpuff levels. I use Clays for those loads.
Some folks complain that Ball powder is "dirty." I clean my guns often enough that is not a problem. HS6 is the only pistol powder I have ever shot that coked up a chamber enough to affect operation in a normal day's shooting.
caz223
Member
Max power= power pistol.
mild load, low recoil, cheap= clays
accuracy with lead= unique
I'll let you guys argue about the rest.
mild load, low recoil, cheap= clays
accuracy with lead= unique
I'll let you guys argue about the rest.
Copied
I posted this before but it certainly applies. They all came out clean as in not a cornflake layer of soot.
chrony range report
I tested some factory loads and several book loads.
Factory loads performed dismally
230gr jhp golden saber 6 shot group
850.3 fps
865.4 fps
844.6 fps
883.7 fps
810.1 fps
858.1 fps
I like loading the bullet because the shape allows for reduced friction in the barrel. Bullet surface area is reduced to about 2/3 as this is a banded bullet. My book loads where all much faster than expected. What I load for range ammo will end up as a very reduced load.
I was using 2 different chronys on different days. I think the first set where read wrong or the chrony was reading muzzle blast.
Original test had clays loaded from 4gr to 4.*gr (CAUTION PUBLISHED LOAD FOR THIS WIEGHT/SIZE/TYPE STOPS AT 4GR DO NOT EXCEED!). Second test was some 4.* gr loads.
942.3fps
934.5fps
942.9fps
936.5fps
935.1fps
940.3fps
931.3fps
930.4fps
931.7fps
12.2 spread
936.1 ave
Other book loads I have tried with this. Golden Saber 230gr JHP 45acp.
Universal Clays 5 shot groups except where noted
5gr 774fps av 55.2es
5.1gr 804.9fps av 102 es
6gr 1004.6fps av 35.7es
6.3gr 1036 fps av 30es
6.4gr 1055 fps av 22es 4 shots
Vihtavuori N340
6.3gr 963.7 av 19.3es
6.5gr 982.7 av 61.2es
6.7gr 1017 av 12es
Longshot
6.4gr 839.3av 19.9es
6.6gr 876.7av 30.7es
6.8gr 906.8av 58es 4 shots
I inspected and kept seperated all cases from the top loads for a second opinion. I do not see evidence of over pressure in any loadings. Not sure it can with published loads given the reduced barrel contact and possibly a softer alloy jacket. Again this is a banded bullet. For my purposes I will be down loading these to target an 850-875 av.
I posted this before but it certainly applies. They all came out clean as in not a cornflake layer of soot.
chrony range report
I tested some factory loads and several book loads.
Factory loads performed dismally
230gr jhp golden saber 6 shot group
850.3 fps
865.4 fps
844.6 fps
883.7 fps
810.1 fps
858.1 fps
I like loading the bullet because the shape allows for reduced friction in the barrel. Bullet surface area is reduced to about 2/3 as this is a banded bullet. My book loads where all much faster than expected. What I load for range ammo will end up as a very reduced load.
I was using 2 different chronys on different days. I think the first set where read wrong or the chrony was reading muzzle blast.
Original test had clays loaded from 4gr to 4.*gr (CAUTION PUBLISHED LOAD FOR THIS WIEGHT/SIZE/TYPE STOPS AT 4GR DO NOT EXCEED!). Second test was some 4.* gr loads.
942.3fps
934.5fps
942.9fps
936.5fps
935.1fps
940.3fps
931.3fps
930.4fps
931.7fps
12.2 spread
936.1 ave
Other book loads I have tried with this. Golden Saber 230gr JHP 45acp.
Universal Clays 5 shot groups except where noted
5gr 774fps av 55.2es
5.1gr 804.9fps av 102 es
6gr 1004.6fps av 35.7es
6.3gr 1036 fps av 30es
6.4gr 1055 fps av 22es 4 shots
Vihtavuori N340
6.3gr 963.7 av 19.3es
6.5gr 982.7 av 61.2es
6.7gr 1017 av 12es
Longshot
6.4gr 839.3av 19.9es
6.6gr 876.7av 30.7es
6.8gr 906.8av 58es 4 shots
I inspected and kept seperated all cases from the top loads for a second opinion. I do not see evidence of over pressure in any loadings. Not sure it can with published loads given the reduced barrel contact and possibly a softer alloy jacket. Again this is a banded bullet. For my purposes I will be down loading these to target an 850-875 av.
another okie
Member
I usually use 231. It's fine. I tried some N340; just about all the listed loads from the company were quite hot and I found lighter loads were inconsistent. I won a pound of 330 at a shoot, but apparently it's not meant for .45, since the web site of VV doesn't list any .45 loads for it.
The Bushmaster
Member
Gentlemen...When you are giving a load recipe don't forget your bullet weight and style (Robertbank)...
Colt Series 80 somewhat modified...
W-231 5.7-8 grains [860 fps] ( maximum favorite load 6.5 grains [985 fps])
Cases Remington/Winchester
Primer WLP
Bullet 185 grain JHP (Remington/hornady XTP)
Colt Series 80 somewhat modified...
W-231 5.7-8 grains [860 fps] ( maximum favorite load 6.5 grains [985 fps])
Cases Remington/Winchester
Primer WLP
Bullet 185 grain JHP (Remington/hornady XTP)
neoncowboy
Member
+1
5.3 - 5.7 grains of 231 behind a 230gr plated or FMJ seems to work really well for me.
I like N320 too, cleaner but it's a lot more expensive.
Win 231 is pretty much ideal: it's cheap, reliable, always available, used by millions of reloaders, tons of well substantiated data for it.
What more could one ask for in a pistol powder.
Thanks for the replys so far. I could have been more specific. Looking to develop a load for 230 gr. jhp in a 1911. I've heard a lot about Universal, and I'm a little curious that no one has mentioned it yet. Any experience with Universal out there?
caz223
Member
Here's funny question about nomenclature. (I really want a spock raised eyebrow smilie.)
When you say universal, and clays, are you both referring to hodgdon's universal clays?
I guess I don't really know who I'm asking, but aren't they the same?
Or are universal clays and clays different powders?
Is there a powder called universal that isn't universal clays?
The name confusion is enough for me to avoid anything that sounds like universal or clays.
I'm personally not a fan of anything that burns faster than unique/hs-6/WSF anyway, so I guess I don't care either way.
I tried bullseye and wasn't impressed, I guessit's ok for REAAAllllllyyyy low power loads where the bullet is recessed deep in the case like wadcutters, wax/plastic bullets with a little more 'oomph' and round ball crimped in a case.
Heard it's good for fireforming cases in rifles too, but you need to know EXACTLY what you're doing.
When you say universal, and clays, are you both referring to hodgdon's universal clays?
I guess I don't really know who I'm asking, but aren't they the same?
Or are universal clays and clays different powders?
Is there a powder called universal that isn't universal clays?
The name confusion is enough for me to avoid anything that sounds like universal or clays.
I'm personally not a fan of anything that burns faster than unique/hs-6/WSF anyway, so I guess I don't care either way.
I tried bullseye and wasn't impressed, I guessit's ok for REAAAllllllyyyy low power loads where the bullet is recessed deep in the case like wadcutters, wax/plastic bullets with a little more 'oomph' and round ball crimped in a case.
Heard it's good for fireforming cases in rifles too, but you need to know EXACTLY what you're doing.
You can easily power std military ball loads w Bullseye - 830 - 850 fps is spec
Clays
Universal Clays
International Clays
All different powders, latter two are often referred to as only the first name...when it just says "Clays," that's plain old Clays with no prefix.
/B
Clays
Universal Clays
International Clays
All different powders, latter two are often referred to as only the first name...when it just says "Clays," that's plain old Clays with no prefix.
/B
caz223
Member
So hodgdon has 3 powders that have the word 'clays' in them. 
That really helps to avoid confusion.
I generally avoid fast burning powder like the plague, they work OK in .45, but I need more versatility, I can't store a lot or powder where I live.
Besides, if I wanted standard power loads, I prolly wouldn't be reloading.
That really helps to avoid confusion.
I generally avoid fast burning powder like the plague, they work OK in .45, but I need more versatility, I can't store a lot or powder where I live.
Besides, if I wanted standard power loads, I prolly wouldn't be reloading.
caz223
Member
Recoil battering is not the only source of wear and tear on a gun, in fact, I'd say (IMHO, of course.) that the faster powders that are loaded with heavy bullets INCREASE wear and tear on the gun due to the fact that that they unlock while the pressure is so high that it erodes the flats on the barrel mating surfaces at the rear.
I have no proof of this, but I notice a lot of the shooters that load heavy and fast have overbuilt guns that are made for this sort of thing. From what I've seen, the stock guns that are shot heavy and fast take a real beating from major loads. I would have to ASSUME that the loads in question are not book loads, but ones that have been 'proven safe' by shooters with the aforementioned 'overbuilt' guns.
If you go by the book, you're prolly in the clear in most cases.
Sometimes not, but it's a small price to pay for faster splits. Flogging hardware is nothing new to me, and I'd assume it's nothing new to gun gamers, either. No disrespect.
I wish I had the skills to compete, but I don't.
I don't bs myself by saying stuff like 'If I had more practice', yeah, I'd get better, but not good enough.
It's still fun to play around with, but I have found that 'improving' the gun and ammo is secondary to improving my skills and it's my job to adapt to the gun, not the other way around.
I have no proof of this, but I notice a lot of the shooters that load heavy and fast have overbuilt guns that are made for this sort of thing. From what I've seen, the stock guns that are shot heavy and fast take a real beating from major loads. I would have to ASSUME that the loads in question are not book loads, but ones that have been 'proven safe' by shooters with the aforementioned 'overbuilt' guns.
If you go by the book, you're prolly in the clear in most cases.
Sometimes not, but it's a small price to pay for faster splits. Flogging hardware is nothing new to me, and I'd assume it's nothing new to gun gamers, either. No disrespect.
I wish I had the skills to compete, but I don't.
I don't bs myself by saying stuff like 'If I had more practice', yeah, I'd get better, but not good enough.
It's still fun to play around with, but I have found that 'improving' the gun and ammo is secondary to improving my skills and it's my job to adapt to the gun, not the other way around.
loadedround
Member
Best 45ACP powder
Unique
Unique
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