Clean burning powder for .45ACP

[joustin]

I have a Kahr CW45 and I have been loading 200gr LRNFP over 4 grains of Bullseye. This stuff is nasty! After 100 or so rounds I have tons of unburnt powder on me and the gun. What is a cleaner burning powder that I can use? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Jswebb45]

v.v or clays maybe?

 

[rfwobbly]

The cleanest burning powder is always going to be Vihtavouri brand, just from their chemistry. I'd suggest N320 as a starting place.

It is slightly more expensive per pound, but calculate your increased cost on a 'per cartridge basis', or on a 'per 50 basis' and it's actually very reasonable.

Failing that, Win231 (aka HP-38) is a good second.

 

[The Bushmaster]

W-231 or WSF

 

[Oro]

I have had excellent success with WST (very like the WSF The Bushmaster mentioned above). Both were originally developed as Winchester shotgun powders.

About 15 years ago, I settled upon 4.3 gr. of WST under a 200 gr. LSWC as a good all-around load for plinking and practice. Last year I read that the USMC pistol team loaded as their practice round a 200 LSWC over 4.3gr of WST. I take that as validation it's a solid load.

 

[jr_roosa]

It might be the lube on the bullets.

Bullseye burns pretty clean for me behind jacketed bullets, especially when loaded a little hotter than what you are shooting. I use 230 grain HP-XTPs with loads based on the alliant website.

When I shoot 200gr lead cast SWCs over 3.6 to 4.2 grains of bullseye I just tolerate the gunk and clean it out afterwards.

Try the same powder load behind a jacketed bullet and see if it's the bullseye or the lube making the mess.

-J.

 

[Mags]

I use HP-38 which is the equivalent of Bushmaster's suggestion of W-231. I used to use AA#7 but that stuff was real dirty.

 

[Steve C]

You can chase powder brands all you want but most of the "dirt" is from the bullet lube and your light charge not sealing the bullet in the bore and burning the power correctly. Up your charge to 4.5 grs and it should clean up some. Lube the bullet with a little bit of Lee Liquid Alox on top of the commercial lube and it will clean up some more.

 

[delta5]

I load .45acp with Hoddgdon Titegroup and it seems to burn fairly clean.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

W231/HP-38 has always been clean burning for me. HS-6 is also clean burning and low flash when loaded close to the top end of it's pressure range.

 

[jfh]

The two major points here are 1) select the right powder for your ballistics / pressure range, and 2) the lube on a lead bullet is a major factor in 'clean' shooting, once you have the recipe tweaked for a clean burn.

Jim H.

 

[Blackrock]

I use either Hodgdons Titegroup or Alliant Power Pistol with good results.

 

[243winxb]

You can chase powder brands all you want but most of the "dirt" is from the bullet lube

+1 Bullseye very accurate powder for me.

 

[Fatelvis]

+1 Bullseye very accurate powder for me.

I agree with 243. Bullseye is dirty, buy 4.5 grns behind any 200SWC, is an accurate combo. I clean my guns regularly, and don't really understand the "clean" factor questions. Are you guys shooting THAT much ammo between cleanings, that the powder's cleanliness is a factor?

 

[HankB]

The "traditional" short-range target load with a 185 or 200 grain lead bullet is 3.5 grains of Bullseye, good for about 650 ft/sec out of my old National Match. Upping the charge to 4.2 grains is good for about 730 ft/sec., still very mild. My old Lyman Pistol & Revolver Handbook lists a maximum of 5.0 grains with a 200 grain cast bullet, good for 860 ft/sec at 13,400 CUP, fired out of a "Universal Receiver" with 5" barrel.

If pressures aren't high enough, powders may not burn cleanly. Try increasing your powder charge a bit.

I actually use more 700-X these days, for "hardball equivalent" loads with a cast 230 RNL. A charge of 4.8 grains burns clean and give me around 830 ft/sec or so out of a 5" 1911.

Agree with earlier posts that most of the soot and schmutz is bullet lube residue.

 

[Walkalong]

N310 & N320. As good as it gets for clean burning powder in .45 ACP, but, as noted, there is more to the equation than powder.

A couple more good ones are AA #2, WST, & Competition.

 

[joustin]

Gunk from the bullet lube is expected, I have recognizable powder flakes left after firing. If this is unavoidable I can live with that if need be, they shoot very well and fairly light.

 

[Walkalong]

I have recognizable powder flakes left after firing. If this is unavoidable

It is not.

 

[EMC45]

I like Bullseye. It is dirty, but also so is the Lee Alox and Moly lube I use for my cast bullets.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I am a diehard Bullseye shooter with the 45 but I admit I am trying to break the habit. I don't see it as that dirty because it is accurate. I use 4.9 grns with a 230 grn FMJ for my target shooting. Works great and very reliable.

My complaint is I don't like the risk of double charges. I want a more fluffy powder so I am experimenting with different powders to more fill the case and maintain the accuracy I have grown accustomed to.

 

[Palehorseman]

LOL, I have lots of old Unique and never gave the clean load for .45 acp much thought.

 

[zxcvbob]

If you have unburned powder -- any brand of powder -- you need to either increase the load or use a faster powder; like Red Dot, Clays, AA#2, or maybe American Select. (Bullseye is not as fast as you think it is, it just has more energy per ounce than other powders)

 

[tooltech]

I found AA#2, and AA#5 to both be extremely clean under a Missouri 200 gr lswc. Bullseye on the other hand, would turn my pistol black by the end of the day. Even with fullhouse loads.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

the op's problem may be a not-tight-enuff crimp also. I have had good luck with BE but it is somewhat dirty. I've lately favored Red Dot under cast slugs, it has more 'bulk or fluff' than BE and definitely 'cleaner' many cases after fireing are still shiny inside! it is 'spikey' though so watch max charges (which I don't load for cast anyway)
one of my B-IN-Laws is an avid shotty loader and gave me 1/8th lb of RD to try, pleasantly surprised.

 

[kildar]

After shooting 231 and Bullseye for many years, I found Clays to be a much cleaner burning powder.