Powder help for 45acp

[dannyabear]

I reload for a bersa uc45 and taurus pt145 which both have 3 1/4 - 3 1/2" barrells. I usually load 5-6 grs of W231 with 200 gr rainer for plinking and use 7 -8 grs powwer pistil with 200 gr gold dots for other use.
I currently have no problem with either load, but was wondering if I'd be better off going to a faster powder like bullseye for these short barrel pistols.
Anyone every done a comparision or what are y"all thoughts, thanks

 

[halvey]

Bullseye is a great powder. Now some will say it's "dirty". If your gun jams after a few rounds of bullseye, you have more problems with your gun than you think. And, how long does it take to clean your gun with a dirty powder over a "clean" powder?

 

[Steve C]

Faster powders do not provide higher velocities in short barrels but they do reduce muzzle flash and they are more economical. If you are trying to reproduce a factory defense load velocity level with your JHP's stick to Power Pistol, I've had best luck with Unique personally. W231 is a pretty fast powder to begin with so swapping it for Bullseye won't gain you anything but its always fun to experiment with different powders and loads.

 

[Walkalong]

AA# 2....... W231 is a very good choice for .45 though.

Welcome to THR

 

[The Bushmaster]

Faster powders DO have higher velocities then slower powders. I tried to get over 1100 fps from a S&W Mod 19 Combat Magnum with a 2 1/2" barrel. The slow powders won't do it. So far W-231 (I'm sure there are other fast burning powders that can do it too) is the only powder that can do it using a 125 grain SJHP. If the powder is so slow that it burns powder outside the barrel it is not delivering all that it can if it all burned in the barrel...Think about it...By the way...This is a .357 magnum for those that don't know...

 

[DogBonz]

+1 for Win 231

It works for me

 

[CZ57]

I'll be predictable and recommend Ramshot Zip. If you have access to the latest Sierra manual, take a look at the powder that gave them the best accuracy with their 200 gr. Match bullet. Similar to 231 but cleaner. It will also provide a slight velocity advantage with 200 and 230 gr. bullets. The burn rate should allow you to minimize velocity loss from the shorter barrels.

 

[Walkalong]

Zip can be accurate, but it did not do any better for me than W231 and is not necessarily any cleaner. It is not as forgiving as W231. By that I mean you have to fine tune it more, whereas any reasonable charge of W231 in the .45 will be very accurate in the real world.

 

[CZ57]

That being the case, shouldn't WWB be pretty accurate factory ammo?

 

[xring44]

The most accurate powder I've tryed in the .45 ACP with 200 grain bullets has been Winchester's WAP (Winchester Action Pistol) Awesome accuracy in a couple of my .45s, but it takes quite abit of it.

 

[Steve C]

Faster powders DO have higher velocities then slower powders. I tried to get over 1100 fps from a S&W Mod 19 Combat Magnum with a 2 1/2" barrel. The slow powders won't do it. So far W-231 (I'm sure there are other fast burning powders that can do it too) is the only powder that can do it using a 125 grain SJHP.

Try that 125gr bullet on top of 13.8grs of Blue Dot with a CCI magnum pistol primer and it will be 1,200 fps or better. It leaves my 3.5" M27 at 1,364 fps. Another inch less of barrel wouldn't drop it more than 100 fps. It will have a big flash though.

 

[Walkalong]

That being the case, shouldn't WWB be pretty accurate factory ammo?

Not if they are using crappy bullets, and I don't know if they are using W231. The all knowing might, but I don't. Many have had great sucess with W231 over the years for a good reason. It is excellent in the .45. whoops, I mean

 

[CZ57]

WA: the all knowing? cute Based on the number of times and all of the number of forums this type of question gets answered with 231 and Unique you would think that many have had success, or you might wonder if anything else has ever been tried. Not much different from when I started 27 years ago. The gun rags had about the same opinion then. And, since 231 is the best selling propellant sold with Unique not far behind, well, there is kind of a trend there. I know this is not the case with you because I remember at least one thread when you gave pretty high praise for Zip, and AA#2 would be a good choice as well. As far as the bullet, they're the same ones sold in bulk to reloaders.

dannyabear: with the powders being mentioned and considering the operating pressure of the .45 ACP, I doubt that there is going to be any significant velocity issue to begin with considering the recommendations or the powders you're already using. I'm not a big fan of Power Pistol, but I've used it with decent results in .45 ACP. I was trying to burn up what I had remaining on the bench.

xring: I haven't tried WAP for this, but I have it with a different label: Ramshot Silhouette. I'll be giving it a shot!

The one powder that has worked best in my (4.25") barreled Ruger P-345, with all of the different bullet styles I use has been Ramshot True Blue. 185 gr. NOSLER JHPs, 185 and 230 Gr. Golden Sabers, 200 gr. hard cast RNFPs and SWCs. Velocity will not be an issue, it will take you up to +P velocity if you have the need, and yes, I've done it with 185 gr. JHPs.

 

[Walkalong]

A light charge of Zip and Berry's 230 RN will shoot through one hole for me. I believe that is what I said and it will, but further trys at real velocities were average for me.