Powder

[chief99]

Trying to understand the importance of using the right powder . Loading 45 acp , 230 gr. plated bullet . Would it be better to use a fast burning powder like Bullseye or a much more slower burning powder such as Power Pistol ? Got this data from the Lyman manual on the burning rates of different powders. How would the burn rate affect accuracy , recoil ,etc. or would it make a difference at all ? Thanks.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

The right amount of either will work just fine...I prefer Power Pistol, though, out of those two.

 

[Jim Watson]

Accuracy is a crapshoot, either might be better in a particular gun.

I have heard people to say they could tell a difference in recoil from one powder to another, but I can't. Assuming the same bullet and velocity, of course.

 

[db_tanker]

not sure about power pistol but bullseye can be sooty depending on the load.

one of the better powders, IMO, for the 45ACP would be W231.

Also seen good luck with HS-6.

My FAVORITE was Winchester WAP (winchester action pistol) but they discontinued it.
Ramshot started making Silhouette and it meters just like WAP and the performance is spot on with my WAP and right next to each other on the burn chart.

Bottom line...and this is kinda the fun part of reloading...you gotta figure out which powder/bullet/brass/primer your pistol likes.

 

[ants]

You ask a very fundamental question.

The answer: Because choice is everything.


There are several very basic purposes for handloading: Economy, performance, enjoyment, necessity.

One of the Performance goals is to develop ammunition that works BETTER in your guns than factory ammo. One powder may work better for you, you have to test it yourself to find it.

To that end, you have many different powders to try. You are absolutely right to get a load manual like Lymans and study it. Check the components available to you (including powder!), and select a load to try. Start low and work upward, seeking a load that works great in your gun, far better than factory ammo. If you don't find it, change components next time and try again. That's what handloading is all about.

It is very fundamental to handloading to have many choices to choose from.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

The difference between fast burning (low bulk) and slower burning (i.e. bulkier) powders is one of safety for me. I use a powder that will fill the case up at least half way, so if I accidentally get a double-charge, it will fill or overflow the case.

Double charges of Bullseye (which are easy to do) are a BIG No-No.

I use Unique for .45ACP because I know that powder and it is readily available. Others in the same range are also fine.

 

[MDof2]

Buy both, shoot both, see what you like.

 

[Dudedog]

I really like HP38 in .45 Just picked up some ZIP but have not had a chance to try it yet. N320 worked well for also as did Promo. Since I prefer to load on the lighter side of the charge range for practice rounds the faster powder have given me better results. I did get good results with CFE-Pistol at the high side of it's charge range, amd am going to be testing WSF in .45. (WSF is one of my go tpo powders in 9mm)

But I would say try on at the fast side one in the middle and one on the slow side of powders listed for .45 and see what you (and your pistol) happen to like.

 

[smitty1942]

Using Ramshot Silhouette for 9mm and 45acp with x-treme bullets (115gr and 200grn RN) mainly because everything else is almost impossible to find in my neck of the woods.

 

[Hangingrock]

I've employed Unique from day one reloading and HP38/W231 when that became available in the 45ACP. That said I've never used Bullseye.

 

[jwalts27]

That's the fun part of reloading. Trial and error. I have a load that shoots aces in my
SR1911 using Unique. I shoot it in my M&P45 and its terrible. Similar load suing Bullseye and its the other way around. Funny how stuff works.

 

[Sunray]

Really doesn't make a lot of difference, especially with recoil. No plated or cast bullet listed on Alliant's site, Power Pistol produces 76 fps more velocity with 230 grain TMJ's than Bullseye. That will be unnoticeable. The PP needs a bit more powder to get there though.

 

[buck460XVR]

The PP needs a bit more powder to get there though.

Which is usually the case with slower burning powders. Myself, like Kevin Rohrer tend to stay with powders that fill the case for safety reasons as I can readily see any difference in the powder charge with a quick glance and double charges are impossible. But, many folks that shoot much more than I, tend to use faster powders that take up much less case capacity because they get more many more rounds per pound. What it comes down to for those new to reloading, is using what works best in your firearm for accuracy and function, what you feel safe using and have the most confidence in.

 

[Toprudder]

Generally speaking, a max charge of slow burning powder will give maximum velocity. Really fast powders at max charge will not result in near the velocity of a slow burning powder.

Not all fast powders are the same, not all slow powders are the same.

Some powders (especially in 45acp) will burn dirty until you get near max charge, such as Power Pistol and HS6 in my experience.

What performance parameter(s) are you looking for in a load?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My FAVORITE was Winchester WAP (winchester action pistol) but they discontinued it.
Ramshot started making Silhouette and it meters just like WAP and the performance is spot on with my WAP and right next to each other on the burn chart.

Silhouette is a lot like WAP because it is WAP. They are the same exact powders so if WAP is your favorite 9mm powder you should be loading Silhouette.

 

[db_tanker]

that is nice to know now. I was always worried about the WAP load info I had worked up for 9 and 45 and dropped it down a hair or two when using Silhouette.

 

[kerreckt]

Generally, a faster powder for lighter loads and a slower powder for heavier loads. A bullet usually won't reach max velocity with faster powders. Ideally, the powder burns until the bullet leaves the barrel thus generating max power. This still does not address the fact that most guns have specific loads that are most accurate in that particular gun. That's my two cents.

 

[Steve C]

When first started reloading I was worried about double charging so fast powders where avoided. I mostly used Unique (and still do) for the .45 and .38 spl. Over time with more experience faster powders where tried and now I'll burn just about anything that I can find data for.

The advantage to the faster powders is that since you use less of it for a load the cost per round declines and number of loads per pound of powder increase. The disadvantage of the faster powders is that they produce lower velocities than a slower powder.

I use the faster powders mostly for loading target velocity loads with lead or plated bullets. For the 9mm, .45 acp, and .38 spl the slower mid burn rate for handgun powders like Unique are used to maximize velocities using JHP or lead HP bullets.

If you only plan on loading bullets for punching paper for the .45 acp a faster powder will be the most economical. Bullseye is a perfectly good, time proven powder for use in very accurate target ammunition. Personally I've never used Bullseye, instead I've loaded .45 target loads using mostly Red or Green Dot since these powders where bought in bulk for loading shotgun shells for trap. Have also used some Clays and AA2.

If you want to load full power defense ammo using JHP's or FMJ's then a slower powder is in order. I have yet to find any powder I like better than Unique for such application in the .45 acp.