Powder Recomendation

[uf-engineer]

I’ve been using Winchester 231 in my 38 auto, 40S&W and 45 ACP. I’d like to try another powder. Any recommendations? I’m happy with 231 but would like to try something different.

I was going to try Unique but I’ve heard that it does not meter well. I’ve got a Hornady LNL.
Thanks

 

[Clarence]

Lots of people love Unique and a lot won't use it because it's too dirty.

For the calibers you've listed I would probably recommend Hodgdon's TiteGroup..........or my personal favorite - Bullseye

Bullseye is a great powder that gives you nice light loads with small charges of powder. Plenty of people will tell you to avoid it because of the fact that with such small charges you can double-charge it and blow your gun up. The reality is you can do the same exact thing with most of the faster burning powders, including 231 & TiteGroup.

 

[uf-engineer]

I thought Bullseye was a dirty powder?

 

[Walkalong]

Universal Clays in .40. Light or medium to medium plus loads.

AA #2 or N320 for light .38 Super & light .45 ACP loads. AA # 5 or WSF to make them go faster.

WSF should work well in .40 as well.

Lots of good powders out there.

 

[pbratton]

Bullseye is a great powder. Just like any other, there is a load range that will be dirty. I've found a load that is a close doubel for WWB loads with very low fouling.

 

[Seedtick]

You might give Power Pistol a try. I've had good luck with it in .380 auto, 9mm and 40 S&W.

ST

 

[Maj Dad]

I used Blue Dot in my 38 Super (NOT 38 Auto - distinction made) for hot IPSC loads. Unique is one of my perrenial favorites in the 38 & 45, but there is AA5, too, and a pile of others. I must have over 60 lbs of powder of all sorts, but I find myself using Bullseye, 231, and Unique, with occasional forays into AA2/5/7 and a couple others for non-fullhouse (magnum) loads. I have found repeatable, accurate and clean burning recipes with these. My metering issues are usually with the teeny-weeny ball powders (296/H110, WC820) that get into crevices and gum up the works (Lyman 55 and Dillon) Just my experience with some old favorites...

 

[Kernel]

Vihtaviouri N320 has a burn rate similar to 231, will work well in all of your listed cartridges, meters well, and burns clean as a whistle.

 

[bluetopper]

A powder for all three? Bullseye, Red Dot, or Green Dot.

 

[1SOW]

Kernel +1: n320 in 9mm, PRICEY! I use it.

n320 meters well and shoots very clean, even with light loads. I've used 231 and it is really sooty at low power factors, but improved a lot as the power factor went up.

The .45 shooters I know who want more 'push' than 'snap, move up to n340/50.

 

[Steve C]

W231 is a fine powder for target loads in the cartridges you mention. No reason to change to another powder unless you can find any of the numerous fast powders cheap enough. For cast bullets Bullseye, Red Dot, Green Dot, Clays, AA#2, Tightgroup, etc. will work too.

If you want full power jacketed loads with FMJ or JHP's you will need a little slower powder like Unique, Universal, Power Pistol, AA#5 and the like.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm surprised no one mentioned Winchester AutoComp yet. I've heard nothing but good things about AutoComp. It was specifically developed for short straight wall semi-auto rounds. It works great in the .38 Super, 9mm, 40 S&W and .45 Auto, give it a try and you will probably be very happy with it. Also, since it's a new powder that was released during the later part of the "shortage" there seems to be a good supply available in most stores I've been in.

 

[rfwobbly]

Kernel +1: n320 in 9mm, PRICEY! I use it.

n320 meters well and shoots very clean, even with light loads. I've used 231 and it is really sooty at low power factors, but improved a lot as the power factor went up.

+2, and everything 1SOW added.

When I finish a 160+ round IPSC match using N320 under 124gr target loads it's very hard to tell the gun has ever been fired. There is absolutely no particulate matter present inside or on the gun. None.

For a real rush, try N340 with 147gr 9mm loads.

 

[MichiganShootist]

I use Titegroup (as do many other competitive shooters) and it's a great powder designed just for pistol loads.

They have load data for 9 mm, 38 spl, 40, 45 ACP and others right on the container.

It is priced right and it meters great.

 

[mongoose33]

I'm using WST after a longtime reloaded suggested it. It's not a commonly-used powder because there aren't as many load listings for it in reloading manuals, but I've found it to be quite good.

It meters as well as anything I've used, and it burns pretty clean. I've used it in both .45ACP and 9mm to good effect.

It has (had?) the additional benefit of being available whereas many other powders have been difficult to find.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

+1 for Bullseye. I shoot it in 38 Spcl., 9mm, and 45 ACP. I've tried 231 but it takes a backseat to Bullseye. Never thought BE was dirty; but I never shoot max loads either.

One powder you seldom hear mentioned is IMR/Dupont PB. I've had good luck with it in 38 Spcl and 9mm. My Browning HP seems to love the stuff. Not only does it group the bullets well, it groups the empty cartridge cases!! Never tried it in the 45 ACP.

PB just seems to keep on keeping on. I'm surprised it wasn't discontinued years ago.

 

[MichaelK]

I use Blue Dot for everything from 9mm up to 44 magnum.

 

[Radaray]

My best .45ACP loading which closely matches the 230 grain hard ball round consists of the Hornady 230 gr XTP over 7.5 grains of WAP in R-P cases and Fed 150 primers, seated to 1.238". This gives an average velocity of 830fps with and extreme spread of about 12 and a SD of 5.0. Groups are excellent at 25 yards out of a Ruger P-90.

However, I'm not sure if this powder is available any longer. This is the only cartridge I found that it worked well in for me.

Lots of good results with all the above listed powders with most bullets. AA-5 will give top velocity with 185gr. bullets.

 

[Mags]

If you are pressed hard to change , how about HP-38.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You do know W231 and HP-38 are the same exact powder, right?

 

[PO2Hammer]

in my 38 auto

.38 acp or .38 Super?
I use Titegroup in .38 Super, 9mm and .45acp (all jacketed or plated) primarily because it meters so well and delivers the accuracy without weighing each charge. I'm trying to get some VV N320 to try, but my dealer can't find any right now.

 

[evan price]

I'll buck the trend and say that if you are happy with HP38/W231, know how it shoots, know how it looks, etc. then why bother changing it? It's a good powder for the calibers you listed, it meters well, and it is clean and easily available. There's no reason to change "just because".

 

[bullseye308]

I use Bullseye in 9mm, 38, 357, & 45 right now. It it is all you can find you won't be hurting if you have to buy some.

 

[atblis]

For something different try Ramshot Zip. It meters rather well.

I use Unique and have never noticed that it is dirty (newer cleaner version though).

 

[MikeS.]

+1 for Bullseye. I use it in 380, 38spl, 357, 44mag & 45acp.