favorite powder for both 40 and 45

[Reefinmike]

what are your guys' favorite powder for use in both 40 and 45acp? Im getting a friend started reloading and I would like to keep him on one powder for simplicities sake. He'll be loading 180gr plated 40's, 185gr plated 45's and 230gr lead 45's. Ive gotten him lined up with everything but powder. supposedly there is a place local to me that has just about anything you'd ever want as far as powders and primers go.

 

[dsm]

I like Winchester 231.

 

[ljnowell]

AA#5. Its a little better for 45 than 40, but works great in both giving very good results in 40. As a plus it meters very well.

 

[Motownfire]

I have used Unique in my .40 cal loads for years & really like it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

While W231 can be used for both they are really not similar cartridges. The .45 Auto is a low pressure round and the 40 S&W is a high pressure round more in line with the 9mm than the .45 Auto.

W231/HP-38 is a great powder for the .45 Auto but Longshot, HS-6 and other middle speed powders are more suited for the 40 S&W but if you want only 1 powder for both I would go with W231/HP-38.

 

[gahunter12]

I really like WST for .40 , and .45acp. It meters very well like W231, clean burning, and soft recoil. Also WST has low smoke behind lead. W231/HP38 is also a great choice.

 

[GLOOB]

I've used HP38/W231, Unique, and AutoComp in both of those calibers.

I personally feel HP38 is a tad fast for hotter 40SW loads and AutoComp a tad slow for milder 45ACP loads. Unique is pretty darn great for both for medium to hot loads, with both cast and jacketed bullets.

I reserve the AutoComp for my jacketed 40SW loads, and the HP38 for... well for nothing, once my last can is used up. It's too similar to Unique, and I could live with only one of the two. Unique is just a tad better for my calibers/loads.

 

[sourdough44]

I'd look to Hodgdon Universal. It does well in both for me.

 

[twice barrel]

sourdough hit the nail on the head.

 

[kerreckt]

Titegroup and Clays are what I use for all my straight wall handgun reloads. I have pretty much tried them all and these two are what I have settled on for these reloads. They give me good velocities, accuracy, meter well and are clean. I have started using Lil Gun for some .357 loads as well as some SR7625. I haven't witnessed any of the breech cutting some folks talk about with Lil Gun but I am still undecided on these two.

 

[jim243]

For a single powder for most pistol cartrages - Win 231 or H-38.

Just an opinion
Jim

 

[Blue68f100]

You want a powder that will fill the cartridge for a novice. I would suggest a powder like WSF, WST (best 45acp).

Tightgroup would be my last choice since it has a history of Kbooms in 40's due to setback. Beside powder is the cheapest component in the reloading. Besides you could put 4 charges in a 45 and a novice would not know a difference.

 

[kerreckt]

I admit it is very easy to double charge using Titegroup. I trust (perhaps foolishly) that people are using extreme caution and paying attention to what they are doing when reloading. My guess is that about any powder would cause a Kboom if double charged or otherwise used carelessly. I have used Titegroup for many years with no problems but I examine each case after dropping the powder. Not just with Titegroup but with everything I reload. I don't want to overcharge or undercharge and visual inspection is the surest way I know of eliminating those two problems.

 

[readyeddy]

W231 for me. I save my slower burning powders for 10mm and 44 Mag.