Some Alliant powder Questions.

[ljnowell]

Ok guys, got some newb questions for you. I recently started reloading for 45acp. So far I have loaded a 200gr ranier hollowpoint load, 200gr LSWC and a 230Gr JHP. So far all I have used is 700x. I am going to need to get more powder soon and was looking at all the variety. I am getting a powder measure and have found many that say the 700x doesnt meter well due to its flake texture. I have been looking at Unique, Red dot, and Bullseye. Can anyone tell me about the texture, as in how well it meters in a powder measure? Any recommendations from the list, or care to add others? It seems the alliant powders are the cheapest and cost is definately a concern. I am trying to balance this habit with the costs of the family.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have loaded a lot of pistol ammo with 700X because I keep it for 12 gauge and agree that its large flakes do not meter as well as Ball or small granulation powder. If you load .45 ACP to hardball or IPSC Major Power Factor (4 to 5 grains 700X) it might fluctuate enough to annoy you but not to where it would make a lot of difference in the gun's performance. I am now mostly loading midrange to powderpuff ammo and 3.3 grains 700X is just not enough to meter well. I will be trying Clays, Solo 1000, and Bullseye.

For standard loads in non-magnum calibers like .38 Special, 9mm P, or .45 ACP I prefer a Ball Process powder, usually Win. 231 or its identical twin under the Hodgdon label, HP38.

If you are set on Alliant, Bullseye meters pretty well but some people are scared of that fast a powder in their .45, notwithstanding the fact that it worked for the US Army for some years. Unique is a large flake but you would be loading 6 grains or more and it would do ok. Of course you will spend more money on 6 grains Unique than 4 or 4.5 of Bull. Been a long time since I loaded any Red Dot and I do not recall its handling characteristics.

 

[pmeisel]

The guys who got me started in reloading were Unique fans, who shot mostly 45 ACP. I use it mostly in 38/357 and tend to use it more than anything else, particularly for target-type lighter 357 loads. These guys (there were 4 or 5 of them) liked Unique so much I never tried a lot of others. (there were some Bullseye fans at that club, too, though).

 

[MP3Mogul]

I typically use exclusively red dot with my .45 loading. It meters well without any problems.

I use 4.7 grains with a 230 gr fmj bullet. These shoot extremely accurate. I use Federal primers as well, no problems with them either.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Alliant PowerPistol is very small flake that appears to be a ball powder and meters very well. I use it with 185 and 230 gr jacketed bullets in my 45acp.

I have used Unique, and the "dot" powders in the past and find any flake is a pain to measure with a thrower.

 

[Galil5.56]

I have been looking at Unique, Red dot, and Bullseye. Can anyone tell me about the texture, as in how well it meters in a powder measure?

Bullseye meters extremely well, Unique and Red Dot not as well. I would say overall Unique meters better than Red Dot from most measures as I recall sitting in front of a computer.

 

[Sam1911]

I used to use a lot of Hodgdon's Clays for .45ACP as did almost everyone I knew who shot competitions with the .45.

When I started shooting more IDPA where I needed to be at a certain power factor, I found that Alliant's "American Select" was similar but offered a bit better "power band" for what I was doing. (Meaning that I wasn't at a max load to get a 200 gr. slug moving at 850 fps.)

I tried it out and found that it is very accurate for me, too. I keep a target pinned to my wall from that round of load development. A magazine full into 2.5" at 25 yds. (off the bench...of course!). Much better than I can shoot.

Meters just fine in my Dillon 550. Don't know how much it fluctuates throw-to-throw, but my standard deviations and extreme spreads are low and the accuracy...well, I mentioned that.

It is also pretty clean burning which is nice in longer matches, or stretches between cleaning sessions.

-Sam

 

[Seafarer12]

I use Red dot for my pistol and will use in shotgun loads. I reload 45 but my father inlaw does and he likes red dot or 231. He usually uses red dot unless the store is out. He uses a Dillon and I use a uniflow and don't have any issues with throwing red dot.

 

[The Bushmaster]

W-231, WSF and AA #7. 185 grain Rainier plated HP...

WSF works best at the higher levels, but work up carefully...

 

[Brillo]

In my experience Unique measures just OK. Power pistol meters slightly better, and WSF is even better as someone above mentioned. It's not an Alliant powder though. By far HS-6 meters the best.

 

[ljnowell]

hmm, I have been doing some researching this evening and it seems like AA #5 may be a pretty good choice. Not quite as fast as bullseye, low charge weights, and supposedly fairly clean. Anyone use this one by any chance?

 

[Black Dime]

Go to Wally World or clone and buy a $9.95 fish areator (as in vibrator). Duct tape the aerator to the powder holder, plug it in and walla!! no bridging and almost any powder will meter without a hitch.

 

[zxcvbob]

Bullseye it a *tiny* flake powder that measures perfectly. It is a classic powder for loading .45 ACP.

Red Dot and Unique (and Herco and Green Dot and Blue Dot and American Select) are medium flakes, and they measure OK but not great. Power Pistol and 2400 are tiny flakes again, like Bullseye (2400 is useless in .45 ACP, but Power Pistol might be good for very heavy loads)

 

[luzyfuerza]

hmm, I have been doing some researching this evening and it seems like AA #5 may be a pretty good choice. Not quite as fast as bullseye, low charge weights, and supposedly fairly clean. Anyone use this one by any chance?

My favorite powder for .45 ACP is AA #2. Low charge weights, broad range of acceptable powder charges for a given bullet weight, awfully clean, and meters consistently in my Dillon 650.

AA #2 is a good choice for most other common pistol cartridges, too.

 

[Jim Watson]

Go to Wally World or clone and buy a $9.95 fish areator (as in vibrator). Duct tape the aerator to the powder holder, plug it in and walla!! no bridging and almost any powder will meter without a hitch.

Been doing that for light loads of 700X. It sure helped but is still not where I want to be. I think Clays is a LITTLE better and I have some to shoot. Will be trying Solo 1000 which one of our guys thinks is great because it is a single base powder and does not produce the nitroglycerine haze. Always Bullseye, which is most consistent in light loads.

 

[Steve C]

I use Unique for defense load and full power ball ammo duplication with jacketed bullets. Unique is a bit slow for light target loads.

For target loads I use something faster, mostly W231 now but I've used Red Dot in the past as well as Green Dot. I got a bargain at an estate sale on an unopened 4lb can of Green Dot so that's likely to get some use soon.