Suggestion for 45acp

What powder

  • Red dot

    Votes: 7 13.2%

  • Green dot

    Votes: 6 11.3%

  • Power pistol

    Votes: 5 9.4%

  • Unique

    Votes: 35 66.0%
  • Total voters
    53
  • Poll closed .
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3

32_d3gr33s

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I just started loading for 45 acp and haven't found my "go-to" load yet. Curious what you guys think would be the best powder out of what I have available.

I've got a lot of green dot and power pistol, but not near as much red dot or unique.

230 gr plated round nose (berry's and X-treme).
Shooting from 5" 1911

Out of those 4 powders I've tried a few loads of both green and red dot, both with decent results. Haven't tried the other two. Which of the 4 do you guys prefer? I'd normally have no problem making numerous charge weights of each and trying them, but shooting has proven difficult lately as the field I normally shoot in is about 4ft deep of snow and it's only 10 degrees out. Probably will try more loads in the spring but for now I just want to work up and find one load for whatever powder you guys suggest.
 
You did not list Bullseye Which has been the GI load for a 100 years but if you do not have it then I have to vote Unique out of what you have.
 
I'm sure there are much better powders than what I have listed, but after buying a 1911, a progressive press, and a few thousand rounds worth of supply's for 9mm and 5.56, my spending has been put to a stop. So no new powders for me for a while... Thanks for your suggestion
 
Basically I use W231 but I've also used in the past Unique which I found to satisfactory also.
 
I started with W231, but for the last several years I have been quite happily using Green Dot.
Unique does not meter well for me, so I only use unique when I am willing to weigh each charge.
Power Pistol is (IMHO) better suited to such things as 10mm--at least, that is what I use it for.
HS-6 is IIRC part way between Unique and Power Pistol. IOW, it is useable for .45acp, but not optimal.

Try a few of each and see what you like.
 
I've done 7.9gr of Power Pistol under 230gr LRN. Around 950fps. But I don't like PP. Too dirty and too much flash. My goto load is 5gr Bullseye under 225gr MBC Flathead.
 
Unique is definatly a classic powder for 45acp. I have had very good results with power pistol with 230 plated and cast.
 
As I've got an over-abundance of Red Dot, I would definitely go with that. I've found 4.5-5.0 max to be quite accurate with the 230 grain fmj. Reckon you'll have to work your way up to see what is the most accurate for ya.

Incidentally I got the loads from an older Alliant Reloaders' Guide, which has served me well over the years.
 
Of the powders listed, Unique is the only that I have tried in 45 ACP. Works great.

But, I have never purchased any of the other three so I am sure they work fine as well as long as there is published data for them.

Personally, my 45 ACP powder is 700-X, but that is not on the list.
 
I have been using Unique in .45 ACP for nearly 55 years now.

Way too late to teach an old dog new tricks.

Besides, it's hard to improve on perfection! :D

rc
 
Of your 4 choices, I've used Power Pistol and Unique. Both work fine for me. I've also used Bullseye and HS-6. My next load work up will be with W231.
 
Thanks For the input... Looks like Unique it is!! Ill be loading more of the other powders when its warmer out and i have time to accurately test them without freezing to death. But for now i will brave the sub zero temps with just 1 powder with a few test batches.
 
Seems like you have a thing for alliant powders. I started out using Red Dot and Unique, of which i prefer Red Dot. Then after getting frustrated with the way flake style powders meter I started looking for an alternative. I landed on Accurate No. 5 and Accurate No. 2, which meter awesome from my uniflow powder measure.
 
If you're looking for target loads use the Green Dot. If you're looking for full power loads, use the Unique.
 
I have used w231 with great results 5 shots one hole from a rest of course I can not shoot as good as the gun
 
GI_Jared said:
Seems like you have a thing for alliant powders. I started out using Red Dot and Unique, of which i prefer Red Dot. Then after getting frustrated with the way flake style powders meter I started looking for an alternative. I landed on Accurate No. 5 and Accurate No. 2, which meter awesome from my uniflow powder measure.
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When I started reloading those where the only powders that I could find in stock locally that worked for pistol. I don't know if the LGS prefers Alliant powders or what. I've also got 2400 from there and they had blue dot, but ran out before I could buy any. Haven't been back there in quite some time so their powder selection may be different. When I run out of these powders I'll probably try something else, but for now these work great for what I need. If it ain't broke don't fix it right?
 
Of those choices, I would go Green Dot, Red Dot, Unique and Power Pistol, in that order, for target loads. For full power loads I would move Unique and Power Pistol to the top of the order. Like some others, I also don't much care for how the first three meter (I hand measure all three with dippers), and would choose the Accurate or Winchester powders and Power Pistol if all were available, since they are so much more accurate in my meter.
 
This poll is irrelevant to me. It does not list ANY powder I've ever used in .45 ACP. Forced choice polls don't reflect what the respondents are doing....so I choose nothing.
 
Rico567 said:
This poll is irrelevant to me. It does not list ANY powder I've ever used in .45 ACP. Forced choice polls don't reflect what the respondents are doing....so I choose nothing.
Click to expand...
So you expect me to list a powder that i do not have, isnt available to me, and I cant buy even if it was? Dont like the poll dont vote. Thanks everyone else for your input! Made up a few batches with unique today and hopefully will be able to try them out tomorrow!
 
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