Putting the reloading cart before the horse...

[joatman66]

I know I'm getting ahead of myself as someone just beginning to get into reloading.

With the current state of availability of components, I'd like to start keeping my eyes out for items I need and snag them as I can.

I have a Lee Turret on back order, and a couple thousand pieces of brass I've collected.

I'm only looking to reload .45ACP right now.

Seeing that I lack knowledge and experience, I turn to you for advice.

What powder should I be on the hunt for? So far in my reading it looks like Unique is a good place to start. But, with so many different powders out there and the given scarcity of anything, are there other suitable options for loading practice rounds?

Thanks!

 

[clutch]

If I could only have one handgun powder, it would be Unique.
Link to a burning rate chart. Powders near Unique would be likely candidates subject to having loading data.

 

[thomis]

I know Clays is a popular choice for .45 acp.

 

[LiveLife]

Pistol powder selection should be based on the velocities you are looking for.


If you are looking to load lighter target loads using mid-to-high range load data, I would recommend faster burning than W231/HP-38 - - http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

8 Alliant Red Dot
9 Alliant Promo
10 Hodgdon CLAYS
11 Alliant Clay Dot
12 IMR, Co Hi-Skor 700-X
13 Alliant Bullseye
14 Hodgdon TITEGROUP
15 Alliant American Select
16 Accurate Arms Solo 1000
17 Alliant Green Dot
18 Winchester WST
19 IMR, Co Trail Boss
20 Winchester Super Handicap
21 Hodgdon INTERNATIONAL
22 Accurate Arms Solo 1250
23 IMR, Co PB 96
24 VihtaVuori N320
25 Accurate Arms No. 2
26 Ramshot Zip
27 IMR, Co SR 7625
28 Hodgdon HP-38
29 Winchester 231


If you are looking to load full-power loads using high-to-max load data, I would recommend slower burning than Unique

31 Alliant Unique
32 Hodgdon UNIVERSAL
33 Alliant Power Pistol
34 VihtaVuori N330
35 Alliant Herco
36 Winchester WSF
37 VihtaVuori N340
38 IMR, Co Hi-Skor 800-X
39 IMR, Co SR 4756
40 Ramshot True Blue
41 Accurate Arms No. 5
42 Hodgdon HS-6
43 Winchester AutoComp

 

[mike.h]

I've been very happy with Bullseye. It's a little smoky for the indoor range, but I like it's accuracy and ease of metering through the Lee equipment. I've also used WST for 45acp.

 

[9w1911]

231 was my first foray into .45 and i think it works great for that load and you can really dial it in, I use both 4.7gns and 5.1gns of 231 for target or plink

I own but have yet to try in .45 but will be soon,
red dot
green dot
bullseye
tightgroup
700x
and a few more like Zip

 

[holdencm9]

My first reloads were .45 auto with W231 as well. It seems to work great, and meters well in my Lee Pro Auto Disk, but I have no special allegiance to it. One thing I dislike is it doesn't fill the case much, so you need to really look in deep to make sure a charge fell, and a double charge is possible (volume-wise). I installed a book-reading light directly above the press to see inside better. I am not sure if any other powders meter as well, but have more volume to them and fill up cases better. Someone else can chime in on that. Otherwise, it is accurate and relatively clean to me.

I would also say, if you come across small pistol primers, pick a few up boxes. A lot of .45 nowadays uses the small pocket primers. Also, you'll have it if you end up reloading 9mm or any other pistol cartridges.

 

[steelerdude99]

Unique is a great powder, but it “meters” poorly. As you are a self-professed beginner, metering is using a specific volume of powder to measure how much powder to load. As Unique consists larger flakes that most powders, it does not fill the volume measuring device consistently. One load may be 6.0grain, the next 6.4, then 5.9 or rarely something much less. These variations can cause a squib. That is why I look in the case after each round to see if it looks “about right”. A powder like HP-38 or Powder Pistol looks like gray salt. They meter much better. Unique is more like black oregano. 45 ACP is just on the border or having a large enough volume that the variations are small.

chuck

 

[taraquian]

If you have a smartphone you can use my technique, I stand in the powder aisle and look up loads forthe powders they have on the powder co's website, as a newbie I don't have prefrences or loyalties yet so I'll try anything.

 

[gspn]

Bullseye.

 

[Lost Sheep]

I know Clays is a popular choice for .45 acp.

Which Clays?

Universal Clays
International Clays
Clays

I know you meant "Clays", but a new reloader (the original poster) and any novice reading the thread might make a bad mistake if a store were sold out of Clays and International Clays and had only Universal Clays on the shelf.

It's a pet peeve of mine that some naming conventions seem to encourage confusion. So, you get a collateral post. No offense, thomis.

Lost Sheep

 

[joecil]

I've loaded 45 ACP and 9mm without much problems using Bullseye, HP-38, Unique, Universal Clays, Clays, Titegroup and AA#2. All worked fine for me.

 

[Dmath]

I started with Unique when I first got into reloading about six years ago, and I have stayed with it -- for .45ACP, 9mm, .38 Special, all of the handgun loads. (I think that's what makes Unique unique; it works for just about everything.)

My only problem with it is the inconsistency of charges in the powder hopper. The metering problem mentioned above. It's so coarse that the powder hopper sometimes gags, and sometimes throws slightly too much or too little. It's kind of annoying.

After charging the cases with powder, I line them up in wooden trays and go down the line with a tactile check. I hold a wooden dowel in my fingers and insert it into each case so that my fingertip just touches the mouth of the case. That way any significant difference is immediately apparent.

 

[Jhass]

Get a reloading manuel to start with. Look at the powders listed under the grain of bullet you will be using. Then I would personally choose the one with the highest velocity using the least amount of powder. Most handguns don't take much powder anyway. Alliant Unique is user friendly.

 

[HighExpert]

If you can find Bullseye it will be the cheapest and most stable over time. 8# are now going for a little over $100. You will use somewhere from 4-5gr per round. There are 56,000gr in that 8#. You can do the math.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

While Clays and Bullseye will make very accurate 45 Auto ammo, especially Bullseye, I don't like such fast powders in large cases. My favorite handgun powder is W231/HP-38 and it works extremely well in the .45 Auto. W231 works equally well with FMJ, JHP and lead bullets too.

 

[Fire_Moose]

While you wait. Go thru yer brass and seperate into small primer and large primer

Sent from my CZ85 Combat

 

[MarcoPolo]

I use Accurate Arms No. 5 for all of my pistol loads. I've been very happy with it.

 

[dirtengineer]

W231 is great for plinking loads. It is also great for 9mm when you expand.

 

[jb27]

I use Win 231 for both .45 and 9mm. I bought it specifically to be the 'jack of all trades' for both rounds. I'm sure there's better powders out there for each caliber, but for me, 231 works good enough and I only need 1 powder for all my handgun needs.

 

[GT1]

Get a reloading manual to start with

This. Get a couple manuals, you will find lots of powders listed for the bullets and caliber you are looking to load. You'll be able to make a list of acceptable powders and go from there. Being picky in this time of scarcity will make it difficult.

I'd suggest staying away from the most bang for the least amount of powder, that is the most dangerous path and not for the inexperienced. Some of those powders are easy to double or triple charge with lots of room left over. Look for powders that have the most spread from min to max and a higher volume so it is easier to track in the case.

 

[joatman66]

Thanks for all the great info. Struck out at 2 places today...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[ljnowell]

If you are looking to reload 45acp only right now, assuming you are looking for economy, I would use AA#2. Low charge weight, meters very well in a cheap powder measure, so you can use a Lee autodisk for like 25 bucks. You will not be dissapointed with AA#2. Bullseye would be another good powder for you, as would AA#5.

If you are going to be using jacketed bullets any of the above powders plus Power Pistol would be a good option.

 

[Hondo 60]

Before you do any reloading, you need to read a reloading manual or three

Reloading without the benefit of several reloading manuals is just plain lunacy.

My favorite, by far, is Lyman's 49th Reloading Handbook.
It has a GREAT how-to section & the widest array of reloading data.
After that, what manual you buy depends on what bullets you buy.
As each bullet manufacturer has a good manual with their own bullets.

Please stay safe!!!!!

 

[Uncle Richard]

I know I'm getting ahead of myself as someone just beginning to get into reloading.

With the current state of availability of components, I'd like to start keeping my eyes out for items I need and snag them as I can.

I have a Lee Turret on back order, and a couple thousand pieces of brass I've collected.

I'm only looking to reload .45ACP right now.

Seeing that I lack knowledge and experience, I turn to you for advice.

What powder should I be on the hunt for? So far in my reading it looks like Unique is a good place to start. But, with so many different powders out there and the given scarcity of anything, are there other suitable options for loading practice rounds?

Thanks!

join a range, club, or somewhere to meet like minded reloading/shooting enthusiasts. You will gain a lot of knowledge from these individuals and typically, these groups buy bulk reloading supplies. This helps reduce the cost per reloaded round.

just my 2cents.