Less flashy?

[badkarmamib]

I have loaded .40S&W 180 lead and .45ACP 230 lead with 4.7 grains of HP-38/WIN231 since I started. I took some of the loads to the range yesterday, very overcast, and found that there was quite a bit of muzzle flash in the 3.5" and 4" .40S&W barrels. I am currently out of pistol powder, and hoping to go from scooping powder to an auto disk. Looking at loading lead bullets, 115 9mm in a 3", 180 .40S&W in 3.5" and 4", and 230 .45ACP in a 5" 1911. I would like to get close to factory loadings, minimal flash, and good metering. Extra points for fewest different powders. Suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Bcwitt]

Faster powders generally flash somewhat less. Short barrels tend to flash a bit more. High pressures flash more. Metal shavings in the case flash the most.

 

[kcofohio]

BE-86, if you can find it. But also Silhouette, True Blue (I have read), CFE-Pistol. CFE-Pistol tends to be sooty at lower pressure.

I'm sure there are other low flash powders.

 

[FROGO207]

I also find generally the faster the propellant the less the flash. Though sometimes the flash makes an impressive display for onlookers ( 500 S&W especially ). The ones mentioned above have flash retardant in them to help matters.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

W244

 

[Soonerpesek]

Alliant Sport Pistol

Alliant Powder - Sport Pistol

Powder Valley had some the other day, don't know if they still do.....

 

[Bfh_auto]

CFE-P works well for me. I don't shoot in like light very often. I also went from blue dot to it in my 40. So my idea of flashy is skewed.

 

[AJC1]

Silhouette for the win.... good luck finding the Alliant product.

 

[bluetopper]

In my experience Accurate brand powders flash less. But I don't mind flash and boom.