Win231 dirty?

[Gunner45]

I was just cleaning my Colt 1911 after shooting my first reloads, (They worked great and I still have all my fingers by the way.), and I noticed that my gun was very dirty inside. I had cleaned it just before I went to the range so I know all the build up was from my new reloads.

I am useing 5.0 grains of Win231. I must say I love how well it meters through my Dillon SDB. Do you all consider is a "dirty" powder or am I just being to picky?

Gunner45

 

[Bottom Gun]

Win 231 is one of the cleaner powders available.

 

[WESHOOT2]

DIRT or SOOT

Can try no-lead-exposed-type bullets (Rainier, 230g TCJ-RN) and different powders, with Universal Clays and the offerings from Vihtavuori Oy being exceptionally clean in the 45 ACP.

But not if shooting dirty bullets


Should add that most all my personal 45 ACP ammo is made using W231.
In fact, if limited to just one powder for 45 ACP right now it would have to be W231.

 

[Gunner45]

Thanks guys. I should have said soot. Maybe I was just paying more attention to the little things as I was uesing my first reloads. I was shooting 185grn Rainer total copper platted bullets.

Gunner45

 

[Jim Watson]

Gunner, you are making up a light target load.
Winchester shows 5.1 gr 231 + 185 gr JSWC at 760 fps and 13,300 psi. Powder does not burn as completely at low pressures as it does in max loads. If you are getting good reliability and accuracy, don't worry about it, just clean the gun.

 

[Edward429451]

If you think 231's dirty, try some Unique and see the real difference! I pretty much use 231 exclusively for 45's anymore.

 

[Gunner45]

Thanks for the info Jim. My load of 5.0 grns behind a 185gr platted FP worked just fine funtion wise. I had never considered the isue of incompleat burning due to such a light charge.

They shot great and cycled the gun so I will just spend a little more time cleaning than before.

Thanks again for the info.


Gunner45

 

[Khornet]

Gunner,

I've used 231 for years and years, but recently used up my last, and then spent a few months using up some old Unique I had around. Bought some fresh 231, the first time I've bought it in the plastic jug, and loaded up a bunch of .45ACP with 5.9 gr and the same bullet you used- Rainier 185 plated. My Ruger P90 was never so covered with soot before; looked dirtier than when I used Unique or Bullseye. Something changed somewhere. But it worked fine and shot accurately, so I'll keep on.

 

[Shweboner]

I use it for reloading 9x18. 3.5gr behind a copper-plated RN. I can go about 300rnds or so before I need to clean. I know its not quite the same as a loaded round, but I poured out a little and lined it up, lit it up and it burned pretty nice, and there was NO residue left behind.

~brian

 

[Turk]

Gunner45

231 is one of my favorite powers for two reasons. Accuracy and clean burning. My second choice is Accurate #5. Around 10 years ago I purchased 12-15 lbs. of 231 got a great deal. I'm into my last lb. can now so if the newer manufactured is different I can't say. I quess I need to buy a lb. and see.

I've got a few lbs. of Unique and Bullseye but won't use it because it's too dirty. (I don't like to clean guns) I had heard current Bullseyes is cleaner than the old but I purchased a lb. and couldn't tell the difference.

Also dirty is relitive to the person.

Maybe the newer 231 is dirtier?

Turk

 

[tomr8368]

W231 v. Bullseye

My first bottle of powder for loading 45acp is Bullseye. W231 seems very popular and I wonder what the advantages are with W231. It seems to give pretty much the same Muz Vel as the Bullseye.
Which do you all prefer and why?
Thanks...Tom

 

[Sisco]

The main reason I stick with 231 over Bullseye is it meters better through my measure.

 

[larryw]

Dirty is a relative term. Compared to many powders, 231 is very clean. Compared to others, its filthy.

Try some WST. Similar to 231 in performance (modern verson of 231, loads about 10% lighter than 231), meters great, readily available, and super clean burning.

Not picky to load weight to be clean. Any load that works in your gun will be clean.

In my guns, its cleaner than V V N320 and N340.

 

[1badmagnum]

if its just black soot you should have no problems if you clean the pistol after each shooting session.
If you have any unburnt powder residue,try a little tighter crimp.

 

[Gewehr98]

For IPSC, I switched...

WW231 behind 200gr SWC's left too much soot. So I went to WST, never looked back, much better!

 

[provalov]

I haven't found 231 to be any dirtier, but it sure is smokier than my factory ammo in .40S&W. Sometimes have to wait for the smoke to clear on a fast series of shots so I can see the plates again.

 

[blades67]

I use Unique exclusively in my handgun loads, I don't think it's any "dirtier" than 231 was.

 

[HSMITH]

Try some Hodgdon Clays, for light and midrange loads nothing is cleaner that I have found.

 

[C. H. Luke]

Gunner,

If your running lighter loads (I do too!} you're probably getting some "Blow-by" allowing the gas and firing soot/residue to dirty up your gun inside. Comes from not enough pressure to form the best seal
of case mouth to chamber. Plus as mentioned already some powders
"shoot" dirty at reduced charges, etc.
Check the sides of some recently fired cases & you'll probably see
"flash" marks & soot on one quarter or so.

Ya' oughta see how dirty my Glocks get even way down into the mag well
with their oversize chambers!

 

[Cherokee]

I used WW231 for many years in 45 ACP and just about every other pistol round I load, but have been migrating to Winchester Super Target (WST) lately. It takes up more space in the case than 231 and burns cleaner in light or standard loads.