Favorite powder for 45 acp

[kk0g]

4.0 grains of Bullseye behind a 230 grain cast bullet, it's literally the only thing I load for .45ACP. It's cheap and it works.

 

[newrugersafan]

I just shot up 100 rounds of 230 grain LRN with 4.5 grains of 700X, showed promise. It is a bit dirty at that charge, I may bump it up a bit and see if it cleans up. Lyman #49 shows 5 grains as the max with 225 grain lead round nose.

Mike

 

[Jumping Frog]

Most of my .45 ACP shooting is target shooting, since I do not hunt with that caliber, and I haven't had to fire actual self defense rounds in anger.

I tend to use Clays the most because it meets my most important powder criteria:

1. Inexpensive
2. Accurate
3. Meters well
4. Burns cleanly
5. Readily available

At some level, I continue to load with Clays because that is what I am comfortable with since it has given good, consistent results. There are other good powders that I like as well, such as Titgroup, WST, WSF, Ramshot Zip, and Accurate No.7, but none of them are as inexpensive as Clays. I've got a lb. of Bullseye to try one of these days, but I haven't loaded it yet.

However, it is also quite instructive to look at the cost per hundred rounds for various powders, because the costs really vary a lot.

This is what I posted in a previous discussion in .45 ACP powders.

I updated an analysis where I looked at powder cost per hundred rounds for 200 gr LSWC bullets in .45 ACP. Powder prices were updated this week at Powder Valley, Inc., and reflect the largest size cannister sold (4#, 5# or 8#).

Sorted from least expensive to most expensive. These cost calculations assume MAXIMUM published loads for powder charge/round (worst case scenario -- actual cost should be less assuming non-maximum loads).

Cost/100 = $0.77 Alliant Red Dot ---> 4.5 grains; 831 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.79 Alliant Bullseye ---> 4.6 grains; 807 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.80 Ramshot Competition ---> 4.3 grains; 896 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.83 Hodgdon Clays ---> 4.3 grains; 888 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.93 Alliant Unique ---> 5.4 grains; 790 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.98 IMR 700-X ---> 5.3 grains; 921 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.99 Accurate S1000 ---> 5.3 grains; 952 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.00 Hodgdon Titegroup ---> 5.4 grains; 957 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.05 Winchester WST ---> 5.1 grains; 910 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.08 Hodgdon HP-38 ---> 5.6 grains; 914 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.09 Accurate No.2 ---> 5.8 grains; 939 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.16 Winchester 231 ---> 5.6 grains; 914 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.28 Hodgdon Universal ---> 6.3 grains; 962 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.29 Vihtavuori N310 ---> 4 grains; 892 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.31 Ramshot ZIP ---> 6.2 grains; 997 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.34 IMR Trail Boss ---> 5.5 grains; 816 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.38 Winchester WSF ---> 6.7 grains; 970 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.45 IMR PB ---> 5.7 grains; 915 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.46 IMR 800-X ---> 7.7 grains; 958 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.49 Winchester AutoComp ---> 7.2 grains; 914 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.64 Vihtavuori N320 ---> 5.1 grains; 958 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.65 Ramshot True Blue ---> 7.8 grains; 990 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.78 Ramshot Silhouette ---> 8.4 grains; 1071 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.78 IMR SR 7625 ---> 6.9 grains; 952 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.79 IMR SR 4756 ---> 8.2 grains; 966 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.80 Accurate No.5 ---> 8.7 grains; 1025 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.87 Hodgdon HS-6 ---> 8.4 grains; 907 fps.
Cost/100 = $2.12 Vihtavuori N340 ---> 6.6 grains; 1039 fps.
Cost/100 = $2.38 Accurate No.7 ---> 11.5 grains; 1022 fps.

BTW, just because a powder is expensive doesn't mean it is "better". I've used a lb of AA #7 in the last year in .45 ACP and it was less accurate (for me) than Clays.

 

[Ky Larry]

I like AA#2 and #5. I've used most of the powders listed and they all work fine. The .45ACP is not a picky round. Most any listed powder will work just fine.

 

[ljnowell]

I just shot up 100 rounds of 230 grain LRN with 4.5 grains of 700X, showed promise. It is a bit dirty at that charge, I may bump it up a bit and see if it cleans up. Lyman #49 shows 5 grains as the max with 225 grain lead round nose.

I love 700x for its accuracy potential in 45acp. I used a metric butt-load of it before I switched. I tried Bullseye and several other poplar powders before I settled on AA#2. The only complaint I ever had with 700x is that a pound can isnt really a pound, and that it does not meter well at .45acp charge weights in many powder measures. I found myself dropping weights that varied by .3gr at times. I think that if you have a powder dispenser with scale like the RCBS, it is a perfect powder for .45.

I like AA#2 and #5. I've used most of the powders listed and they all work fine. The .45ACP is not a picky round. Most any listed powder will work just fine.

Amen to that brother. I have found that most .45s will shoot pretty darned well with just about any appropriate powder, and without much work. However, I recently found the wonders of AA#2, as you mentioned also. I am running 5.2gr of AA#2 under a Missouri Bullet 230gr LRN(Softball) and have great accuracy out of a stock barrel glock, a SA XD45, and my 1911. It even shot good out of a Kriss!

 

[frankge]

I use Bullseye and AA#2 the most.

 

[newrugersafan]

I did notice that the 700X did vary a bit more then I'd like. I set my powder drop a little light so at 4.5 grains I'm really at about 4.45 most of my drops were within .1. I did have one at 4.8 but that was the worst.

I loaded up another 100 rounds with 4.5 of bullseye. It meters very well with very little variance. I have AA#5 so I'll give that a try also. I may pick up a pound of AA#2 and give it a try.

Mike

 

[Prion]

Unique 6gr 230g fmj 1.25 oal

 

[JGrelle]

VV N320,N330, N340 depending upon bullet weight & desired velocity. very clean & low flash

 

[schmeky]

For mild to mid-range loads, I can't find anything that can beat 231. I also use Clays and Bullseye, but 231 is my 45 go to powder.

 

[grubbylabs]

Well I tried some Blue Dot since I had some for loading shot gun and it did really well. I loaded 8.1-8.4-8.8 and it did really well with all of it. Thanks to for your help.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

RDot for cast slugs because it's clean, bulky and cheap.
Power Pistol for jacketed because it's clean, meters/dips well and is good for 'power' loads.

 

[Noveldoc]

Very happy with Titegroup for target.

Tom

 

[frankge]

I have power pistol too but have not used it for .45, isn't it too slow burning, I thought the .45 liked poweders at the faster end of the spectrum.

 

[bear375]

i've burned a lot of 700-X in .45 acp, now a days i'm using universal for the hardball loads

230g HB, 4.5g 700-X, CCI 300, 1.25" OAL

230g HB, 5.7g Universal Clays, Rem 2 1/2, 1.25" OAL

230g Speer GDHP, 5.6g W231, Rem 2 1/2, 1.200" OAL

 

[slamfirev10]

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