What Powder for a Self Defense Load .45 ACP

[red rick]

This is going to be a 2 part thread . I will start the 2nd part after the first part fizzles out in a day or two . This has probably been asked before and I did use the search function before starting this thread , but got tired of searching and most were old threads that I saw . So here is my first question .

I am looking for a good self defense powder for .45 acp 230 gr bullets . I want low flash , accurate and a clean powder that meters well . What powder am I looking for ?

 

[Howa 9700]

BE-86?

 

[Lennyjoe]

BE-86 for more speed than W231/HP38 and low flash would be my guess depending on bullet weight. Maybe CFE Pistol for pushing a 230 around 900 fps

 

[Shak3s1977]

Might be worth looking into True Blue. Definitely one of my favorites for 45acp.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

This is going to be a 2 part thread . I will start the 2nd part after the first part fizzles out in a day or two . This has probably been asked before and I did use the search function before starting this thread , but got tired of searching and most were old threads that I saw . So here is my first question .

I am looking for a good self defense powder for .45 acp 230 gr bullets . I want low flash , accurate and a clean powder that meters well . What powder am I looking for ?

I just did a similar work up for .38Spl and the best for low flash were AutoComp, W244, and Silhouette. W244 gave me the best overall results even though it wasn’t tops for velocity.
I only tested Winchester powders (Silhouette is WAP, Winchester Action Pistol) but those three are available and are a good starting point.

 

[Kaldor]

This is going to be a 2 part thread . I will start the 2nd part after the first part fizzles out in a day or two . This has probably been asked before and I did use the search function before starting this thread , but got tired of searching and most were old threads that I saw . So here is my first question .

I am looking for a good self defense powder for .45 acp 230 gr bullets . I want low flash , accurate and a clean powder that meters well . What powder am I looking for ?

N320
Clean, low volume, light recoil impulse, yields about 800fps

If you want to do faster, I would suggest a 185gr bullet using something slower like CFE-Pistol. Those can get pretty spicy if you want to push on them. Im at about 1100 with a 185 XTP with that combo.

 

[35 Whelen]

I use Power Pistol and a 230 gr. Hornady XTP; accurate and powerful-

Can't comment as to how much flash there is. I used to shoot after dark, but I found it was always.....well...too dark.

35W

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I use Power Pistol and a 230 gr. Hornady XTP; accurate and powerful-

Can't comment as to how much flash there is. I used to shoot after dark, but I found it was always.....well...too dark.

35W

I guess there’s something to be said for lots of flash too. My 1917 Smith is loaded with 240gr Sierras and a near max charge of Blue Dot in .45AR brass. If I miss the bad guy at close enough range I’ll set him on fire.

 

[LV Gun]

Hodgdon HiSkor 700X very underrated powder for 45 acp sadly I have not been able to find it for the last 2.5 years so I am now using Alliant American Select it works great moderate recoil and clean.

 

[Boom Vang]

I don't see the point in "magnumizing" the .45 ACP, and I stick to traditional velocities. Especially for a defensive pistol, massive recoil and muzzle flip, and less reliability, are concerns with the loads I see people pushing. The 1911 was not designed for them, and the changes one has to make to get the gun to function properly with them, including oversprung recoil systems, leads to other problems. Other .45 Auto designs suffer from similar issues with these big boomer loads. In fact, the original idea of JMB for a 200 grain bullet at 900 fps in the 1911 was probably the better idea than the 230 grain bullet at 830 fps, which was insisted upon by the military.

For .45 ACP loads in the above parameters, I use a lot of 700-X and it is accurate. I've also used a lot of Titegroup and W231/HP38 and they are also good. I tried both HS-6 and Accurate No.5 for a full-power loads within normal pressures, and got a 200 grain JHP to 950 fps in a 5" 1911 without much effort with both powders. Of the two, I would recommend No.5 at these pressure levels.

A friend loaded up some of these .45 Auto nuclear loads using BE-86, Power Pistol and Blue Dot with 230 and 200 grain JHP bullets, and asked me to chrono them out of his HK45 Compact. They were quite obnoxious to fire - 230 grain bullet at just over 1000 fps, and 200 grain bullet at close to 1100 fps. Can't see them as viable defensive loads, and not even a good hunting load.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I load .45ACP with VV N310 for exactly the reasons you've listed. My back-up powder is Clays, but I wouldn't have any issues using BE-86

 

[zeke]

For years used V V N-350 for full power 230 jhp's, usually the 230 gn xtp. Was in transition to AA-7, but have switched approach to 215 gn coated hard cast at lower velocities. Was loading the 230 jhp's to about 900 fps in 5 inch barrel, which translated to 800 fps in 3 inch barrel.

 

[dh1633pm]

I go with old school using Unique. If it worked for our forefathers, it works for me. The issue with postings of this type, is the amount of different powders available and ones that do work well.

 

[red rick]

I go with old school using Unique. If it worked for our forefathers, it works for me. The issue with postings of this type, is the amount of different powders available and ones that do work well.

There are a lot of powders that do work well in the .45 like Unique and Bulleye , but do they meet all 5 of my criteria’s , enough velocity for defense , low flash so I don’t get blinded by the flash at night , accurate , clean burning and meters well . Which powder comes the closest to meeting those criteria ?

 

[lordpaxman]

You didn’t mention what velocity you’d like to achieve but I go for a slower powder for SD loads. WSF or slower like N340, CFE Pistol, AA5/7. When I developed loads for them they all performed well. PP is a slower powder but a bit much to flash for me. The others were ok for flash, but, thats on my scale.

 

[Walkalong]

for a good self defense powder for .45 acp 230 gr bullets . I want low flash , accurate and a clean powder that meters well

N-340, Silhouette.....I use much faster for target loads, but you can use a relatively fast powder
for full power, the original 230 Gr load used Bullseye.

 

[red rick]

You didn’t mention what velocity you’d like to achieve but I go for a slower powder for SD loads. WSF or slower like N340, CFE Pistol, AA5/7. When I developed loads for them they all performed well. PP is a slower powder but a bit much to flash for me. The others were ok for flash, but, thats on my scale.

I didn’t mention velocity , I replaced it with defense load . I figured that would be a higher velocity than plinking loads and I am not looking for a number range and not looking for +p , but not opposed to it if it meets the other criteria I listed .

 

[Bill M]

An old friend gave me a box of military 45acp that had 30's datestamp, the box said it was loaded with "Bullseye #2".
I've always wondered if #2 is the same recipe we use today!

 

[Charlie98]

There are a lot of powders that do work well in the .45 like Unique and Bulleye , but do they meet all 5 of my criteria’s , enough velocity for defense , low flash so I don’t get blinded by the flash at night , accurate , clean burning and meters well . Which powder comes the closest to meeting those criteria ?

Some of that is firearm dependent.

I use Unique as well, including in my defensive (practice) loads. However, 'clean burning' is a bit nebulous... Unique isn't as clean burning in my 4" .45's as it is in my 5" .45... a product of the additional 1" of barrel. Any reasonable powder suitable for the .45ACP will give you adequate velocity for defensive bullets. Accuracy is also one of those nebulous quantities... and likely has more to do with the bullet choice, than the powder used to push it out of the barrel.

I think you have some good suggestions... BE-86 (which seems to be available at the moment...) some of the VV powders, and even something like AA#5 or W244.

W244 gave me the best overall results even though it wasn’t tops for velocity.

I tried that as well... it did it's job, but not impressively so. I had to max the charge to get anywhere near published velocities.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I always used Bullseye for my 45 ACP and LC loading up until recently. Haven't found it for a while.

Never loaded it for SD rounds, only for target shooting with 200g RNFP

 

[Shivahasagun]

I would use CFE-P.

I haven't used the Vhivitouri (can't spell it, can't pronounce it!) Powder several others reccomended.

 

[StrawHat]

You do not mention what firearm you are using so this may not help at all.

For this,



I use the load on the left,



A 235 grain wadcutter over a hardball dose of powder. I use Bullseye because I have/had some. Great accuracy, good velocity, meters well for me and is a proven powder. Flash? No idea, concentrate on the front sight and you don’t notice things like that.

It is my edc load as well as my hunting load. Hit hard and gives great penetration. So far, I have not recovered any bullets, complete pass through, which is what I want.

Kevin

 

[Shivahasagun]

You do not mention what firearm you are using so this may not help at all.

For this,

View attachment 1195302

I use the load on the left,

View attachment 1195301

A 235 grain wadcutter over a hardball dose of powder. I use Bullseye because I have/had some. Great accuracy, good velocity, meters well for me and is a proven powder. Flash? No idea, concentrate on the front sight and you don’t notice things like that.

It is my edc load as well as my hunting load. Hit hard and gives great penetration. So far, I have not recovered any bullets, complete pass through, which is what I want.

Kevin

That's a nice gun!

What's is it? Seems a bit customized. Would look better with the safety plugged IMO.

As for the loads, yea that should work while not being difficult to shoot well.

 

[nofendertom]

Bullseye or 231 with a 200gr LSWC.

 

[Charlie98]

I am looking for a good self defense powder for .45 acp 230 gr bullets

The OP is pretty clear with what he wants... and I concur.

Further, some of you guys are recommending cast bullets... I do not, not for SD duty, and not for...

I want low flash , accurate and a clean powder that meters well

My experience with cast bullets is... they can (but not always) produce a... for lack of a better term... cloud of smoke, more so than a jacketed or plated bullet. It doesn't seem to make sense to go through the trouble to find a 'low flash' powder, only to negate some of that benefit by generating a billowing cloud of yuck. Keep it clean: Jacketed or plated.