Help me choose a powder for 45 acp

[Tackelberry11258]

I want to load some Hornady XTP 230 grain thumpers for the up comming deer season for up close and personal work on bambi. I need oppinions on what to use for powder...... The most prevelant powders I have available is Unique and HP38. I have some other powders but I wanted to keep it narrowed to these two. What say you? I really have only loaded Unique in my 45 acp and havent touched the HP38 (it was a craigs list score). Any advice is appreciated and pet loads as well....

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

You can't go wrong with Unique in the .45 ACP. The 8th edition manual lists starting 5.2 to a max of 6.6 for 900 fps. They used a win. primer and Federal case c.o.l. of 1.230. Hope this helps.
RDH

 

[Tackelberry11258]

Yeah, I really like Unique, but I wasnt sure if HP38 would be better for this application. I havent loaded for hunting before. I like loading my FMJ rounds at 6.0 and they fly great out of all my pistols....

 

[blarby]

Well, FWIW- you might be better off with a 200 gr XTP.

You are going to appreciate the additional velocity when it comes to expansion.

But, unique is fine either way.

My power plinker is a 200 gr speer GDHP, on top of 7 grs of Unique.

I tried getting good expansion in 230's, and gave up.

 

[joshf128]

Agree on the 200gr XTP. I load more for target than hunting, but 4.9gr of Bullseye and 5.2 of Unique under 200gr bullets both shoot great out of my 1911.

 

[CZ57]

According to the SIERRA manual 6.0 grs. of Ramshot ZIP will give you 900 FPS and burns cleaner than Unique or HP-38. I load to 6.0 grs with a ZERO 230 gr. JHP but haven't had a chance to chronograph yet. The Ramshot loading guide shows a max. charge of 6.2 grs. with a 230 gr. FMJ. About the best standard pressure data I am aware of comes with Ramshot Silhouette with a 200 gr. FMJ loaded to 8.4 grs. max. for 1041 FPS and a 230 gr. FMJ loaded to 8.1 grs. max. for 964 FPS. These are both standard pressure loads (under 21,000 PSI) and you should get the same or better performance working up from a start charge substituting JHPs or XTPs at a shorter OACL. According to the SIERRA manual, ZIP was the most accurate powder tested with their 200 gr. Match FMJ. www.ramshot.com

 

[Hungry1]

I shot some 200 gr XTPs over 6.5 and 7.3 gr of Unique. I was only shooting paper, so I can't speak on expansion but accuracy was very good.

 

[AnthonyRSS]

I have used Blue Dot under a 230gr LRN at >1000fps and 185gr XTP over Power Pistol at >1100fps. My notes aren't handy right now but I bet they were max book loads and nothing extravagant.

 

[rg1]

Unique works very well from 6.0-6.5 grains with the 230XTP and I really like Accurate Arms #5 from 8.1-8.3 grains. Hornady's recommended overall length at 1.230" works in my pistols. I've used both CCI 300's and RP 2 1/2's with CCI's giving a few feet per second less velocity but very uniform fps's. Consult your manuals before using these loads.

 

[gpb]

Unique works well in the 45 ACP with heavy bullets (230 grain) and high end listed loads. See loading data.

If you want light bullets and light loads, Unique is not a good choice for the 45 ACP, go to Bullseye.

 

[beatledog7]

Mixed brass, any LPP, 5.0 grains of Bullseye under a 230gr FMJ is far and away my most common .45ACP load. It feeds and ejects, it's accurate enough, and it's economical. Works for JHPs, too.

There are slower powders that might enhance accuracy, but Bullseye is adequate since I only use .45ACP for an "I need something that can shoot .45ACP in case that's all I can find when the thing we don't talk about happens" tool, as a near-handshake-range defense tool, and as a "here's what it feels like to shoot .45 ACP" teaching tool.

 

[Hondo 60]

Tite Group has a nice soft recoil & is economical too as charge weights are low.
(*be careful cuz case capacity can hold double, triple even quadruple charges)

My other powder for 45ACP is AA5.
It's tiny bit slower burn rate gives an extra 50-75 fps.

With lead or plated, I've found both to be very good powders.
For me, it just depends on which I have more of.

 

[Tackelberry11258]

Thx everyone for the replies. Unique it is.... I guess its safe to assume HP38 is going to be my back up/target ammo powder. I have 6#'s of it so I need to find something to do with it. lol

 

[Tackelberry11258]

Ok, so I just picked up some 200 grain XTP'S to try s well as the 230's. Can someone tell me what the Hornady book says for the seating depth on the 200's?? low and high data for Unique would rock too

 

[Hungry1]

I followed the Speer 14 load for 200 gr GDHP

Unique 6.5-7.3 With 7.3, recoil was stout, but it was very accurate.
Coal 1.200
Federal Large Pistol Primer
Once fired brass

Good Shooting

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

power pistol is the cleaner and better metering unique. good bit of flash though I've never tryed tight group but have heard it's good stuff.
PP should be used for max 185gr loads IMO.

 

[FROGO207]

I like 700-X for 230 grain bullets in lead, plated, or jacketed. Good results on target and reasonably easy felt recoil.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I am a huge fan of Unique. However for jacketed .45 loads I prefer Power Pistol.

 

[ultratec1]

I used unique and still have half a pound left but the problem i was having was the auto index was throwing innaccurate charges with unique. I moved to titegroup and have had great results with it.

 

[rbernie]

HP38 is the same powder as Win 231 (and Zip, by the way), and you won't find a much better powder for 45ACP than that. I have shot a LOT of Unique and 231 in 45ACP, and I prefer the 231. It's cleaner, recoils mo' softly, and gives good velocities for a given pressure.

 

[natgas]

hasn't been mentioned yet----Clay's, very soft shooting and easy to measure; it's my go to powder for 45, 9 and 40

 

[Blue68f100]

I prefer WST and WSF over Unique. They both burn cleaner and meter better. WSF will give you higher velocities.

 

[crimsoncomet]

One word BULLSEYE! It's still doing what it was doing 100 years ago, shooting tight groups! People complain about it being "dirty", but you dont get unburned powder in the upper pressure levels, just some soot. I use it because i cant beat the accuracy and I can shoot more for less $$.

I have also shot Vihtavouri N320 and N340 in the 45ACP. Both are excellent. It's going to be your cleanest powder most likely, but it's pricey. And man i have worked up some tack driving loads with it. Seeing as these are for hunting use, it really woudln't hurt your wallet but so bad. You could get some decent velocity with N340. More so than with the super fast burning powders.

Between your powders, Unique would be my pick. You wont get near the velocity with the fast burning powders like WST, Bullseye, titegroup as you will with powerpistol and N340. Powerpistol will be quite flashy as well. N340 will not (single base).

And come one, it's a 45auto. Recoil really wont matter trying to make that one well placed shot.

 

[Shmackey]

Oh how I detest Unique. I have stick powders that meter better.

For target loads in .45 Auto: WST, BE, Clays.

For thumpers in .45 Auto: PP, Longshot.

If you must have a "jack of all trades" powder: 231/HP38/Universal.

 

[CZ57]

HP38 is the same powder as Win 231 (and Zip, by the way),

Sorry to have to disagree with you but ZIP comes from Belgium, not from St. Marks in Florida. You can confirm this with a call to Ramshot. It is very similar in appearance to W231/HP-38, but it is an entirely different powder and in .45 ACP gives better performance.