Winchester 231 Powder

[Palladan44]

W-231 Meters great. Never find clingers to my hopper or shell plate.
It's very consistent in standard pistol loads.
Efficient, with lots of bang per grain.
I've yet to find a cleaner burning powder in handguns.
It's the last powder I'd ever give up due to its versatility (in addition to all the above)

I often go 1500-2000 rounds of 9mm through my glocks, and just wipe them out with a cloth and thats it. No gritiness of any kind with W-231

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I am glad to hear the positive reviews of W231. A friend gave me an unopened 8lb jug of the stuff that I plan to use once my Universal powder is gone.

You are very lucky. I use W231 for most of my handgun loading for the range including the 32 Auto, 380 Auto, 38 S&W, .38 Special, 9mm, 45 Auto and the 45 Colt. Of course I use several different powders in many of those for SD rounds and higher end performance but it's really hard to beat W231.

 

[JDinFbg]

HP38 is Win 231 with a different label pasted on. Has been for the past 6-8 years...data is interchangeable. They are outstanding for light to medium hand gun loads for most any caliber. I use them for 1000 fps load or less in .32 H&R, .380 ACP, .38 super, .38 Spl & .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, .41 Mag, .44 Spl and Mag, .45 Colt, .45 ACP and AP...and probably a few I've forgotten, but you get the idea. Limited to one pistol powder for all uses, except top end loads, you'd be hard to find a more versatile powder.
Best Regards, Rod

HP-38 is a powder I've thought about trying in my 45 ACP with 200 gr., plain-base cast bullets. Do you think this would be a good combo? I don't load a lot of 45 ACP and have used Unique in the past but found it dirty and that it did not completely burn up, leaving powder granules all over and not particularly accurate. I've seen HP-38 on the shelf for a long time at a reloading supply shop I visit, so wonder if it's not liked for some reason of if folks prefer something else. These days it's kind of the story of buy what you can get that works, so I'd like to know if HP-38 works well in the 45 ACP

 

[Charlie98]

HP-38 is a powder I've thought about trying in my 45 ACP with 200 gr., plain-base cast bullets. Do you think this would be a good combo? I don't load a lot of 45 ACP and have used Unique in the past but found it dirty and that it did not completely burn up, leaving powder granules all over and not particularly accurate. I've seen HP-38 on the shelf for a long time at a reloading supply shop I visit, so wonder if it's not liked for some reason of if folks prefer something else. These days it's kind of the story of buy what you can get that works, so I'd like to know if HP-38 works well in the 45 ACP

It's probably one of the better fast powders you can use in the .45ACP, and particularly with lighter bullets... 185's and 200's. Not a fan of it with 230's... I use Unique there. Be aware that HP-38 and W231 are the exact same powder... availability being what it is, if you see one or the other.

 

[Bcwitt]

Hogdon got started in business renaming surplus powders. All the older Hogdon powders have another name.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

HP-38 is a powder I've thought about trying in my 45 ACP with 200 gr., plain-base cast bullets. Do you think this would be a good combo? I don't load a lot of 45 ACP and have used Unique in the past but found it dirty and that it did not completely burn up, leaving powder granules all over and not particularly accurate. I've seen HP-38 on the shelf for a long time at a reloading supply shop I visit, so wonder if it's not liked for some reason of if folks prefer something else. These days it's kind of the story of buy what you can get that works, so I'd like to know if HP-38 works well in the 45 ACP

I use almost nothing other than W231/HP-38 for loading the 45 ACP. I think it's a great choice and it's accurate for me. There is a classic load you can find anywhere on the NET which is 5.5gr W231 under a 230gr bullet. That is more than the Hodgdon site lists but they are also using an OAL of 1.200" instead of 1.265" which I load. Start at 4.8gr and work up until you find an accurate load in your gun. Lyman lists 5.8gr under a 230gr bullet as a max with an OAL of 1.272".

Good luck and have fun...

 

[dannyd]

If you check Handloader Magazine W231 and HP-38 have been the same powder starting in 1988. Loaded 88,888 rounds with 231 or HP-38 works great

 

[CQB45ACP]

I use almost nothing other than W231/HP-38 for loading the 45 ACP. I think it's a great choice and it's accurate for me. There is a classic load you can find anywhere on the NET which is 5.5gr W231 under a 230gr bullet. That is more than the Hodgdon site lists but they are also using an OAL of 1.200" instead of 1.265" which I load. Start at 4.8gr and work up until you find an accurate load in your gun. Lyman lists 5.8gr under a 230gr bullet as a max with an OAL of 1.272".

Good luck and have fun...

For 45ACP, how would you compare the iconic W231 with the iconic Bullseye?

I use both/either and a couple others for 45ACP unscientific plinking and target shooting, I know what I like (most anything), but what is it that you like so much about W231?

 

[Nature Boy]

Like @ArchAngelCD , it’s all I use. It has good case fill in both 9mm and 45 auto. I also hear it’s cleaner burning compared to other options.

I bought 8lbs a few years ago when it was on sale. That will last me a while and it works so well that I’ve not had any motivation to experiment with anything else

 

[Bayou52]

It's my understanding that HP-38 and Win 231 are the same powders and both are manufactured by the St. Marks Powder Company. The powder is sold to different licensees who attach their own brand name, logo, etc.

That's a brief summary of what I've previously read on the topic...

Bayou52

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

For 45ACP, how would you compare the iconic W231 with the iconic Bullseye?

I use both/either and a couple others for 45ACP unscientific plinking and target shooting, I know what I like (most anything), but what is it that you like so much about W231?

I'm going to throw another twist at ya' 5.0gr. of Red Dot under a 230gr. LRN is clean, hits that "perfect" 750-800fps mark in a US Gov't issue 1911A1, not a lot of flash or blast, and it doesn't scorch the brass like some other powders do... (lookin' at you TiteGroup!) I tend to like 5.0gr. Bullseye for 230gr. FMJ, 5.0gr. of Red Dot for 230gr. LRN, and 5.0gr. of W231 for 185gr. LSWC or 4.5gr. of W231 for 200gr. LSWC. Variety is the spice of life! But, that's just me. YMMV, ask your doctor before loading with Red Dot, Red Dot is not a placebo and may have side effects, serious side effects may include enjoying shooting lead in 1911A1 pistols and frequent shooting.... etc. etc. ad infinitum...

 

[dannyd]

For 45ACP, how would you compare the iconic W231 with the iconic Bullseye?

I use both/either and a couple others for 45ACP unscientific plinking and target shooting, I know what I like (most anything), but what is it that you like so much about W231?

Loaded 9,437 rounds of 45 acp with HP38/W231 at 25 yards if you can hold it on the X you will hit it.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Loaded 9,437 rounds of 45 acp with HP38/W231 at 25 yards if you can hold it on the X you will hit it.

Okay but is that not also true of other powders?

 

[dannyd]

Okay but is that not also true of other powders?

Sure, I use 700x, Bullseye, Clays, Unique, WST. There was a company that loaded for the Police here in town, so if you had your own container he would sell HP38 to you at a great price; primers too. That's why I used so much.

I lived in Northern Virginia when they were trying to build the beltway, how time flies.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Good that you escaped this paradise.

That sounds like a powerful incentive for sure.

 

[dannyd]

Good that you escaped this paradise.

That sounds like a powerful incentive for sure.

Escaped 46 years ago, never looked back.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Good that you escaped this paradise.

That sounds like a powerful incentive for sure.

I've been outside Florida before. Spent some time in Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, been up Nawth some - went to New York (Upstate, not the city), Joisey, Pennsy, Oh hi, O - been out west some - Calrada, Texas, New and old Mexico... I always come back here. Not that I hated any one place (okay, maybe Jersey) just that I really like it here. Been all over Florida and the west coast is nice. I sometimes miss the Atlantic coast but, then I remember sand fleas and sticker grass... and the west coast looks better again.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I've been outside Florida before. Spent some time in Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, been up Nawth some - went to New York (Upstate, not the city), Joisey, Pennsy, Oh hi, O - been out west some - Calrada, Texas, New and old Mexico... I always come back here. Not that I hated any one place (okay, maybe Jersey) just that I really like it here. Been all over Florida and the west coast is nice. I sometimes miss the Atlantic coast but, then I remember sand fleas and sticker grass... and the west coast looks better again.

After I retired, I spent the next three Christmas’s in Florida and I’d become a snowbird (Gulf coast for sure) in a heartbeat but I’m also a worrier and no way could I leave my house up here to even the most reputable sitter. Saw quite a few gun ranges in Naples area as I recall.

But I couldn’t bear Florida in the summer I know that. Went to a work conference in Orlando one June and instantly knew why the really plush hotel was only $25 per night. I think it jumped to $300 in December.

 

[dannyd]

You get used to the heat and Hurricanes. From 1973 till 2011 my trucks never had AC in them, love the heat. Our apartment in Virginia had baseboard heat ran by a coal furnace, don't think I was ever warm between October and April. Saw Florida the first time in 1967 looked like the promised land; told my mom I'm going to live there someday she just laughed. Made it in March 1976.

 

[CQB45ACP]

You get used to the heat and Hurricanes. From 1973 till 2011 my trucks never had AC in them, love the heat. Our apartment in Virginia had baseboard heat ran by a coal furnace, don't think I was ever warm between October and April. Saw Florida the first time in 1967 looked like the promised land; told my mom I'm going to live there someday she just laughed. Made it in March 1976.

Here you have to get used to rotation of politicos with each election. We’re dealing with the Delawareans now, was the New Yorkers, Chicagoans before that and then the Texans, and before them the Arkansans. Whew, it’s exhausting. They all follow the traffic laws….but of their home state.

But to stay on topic, few of them know from W231.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

For 45ACP, how would you compare the iconic W231 with the iconic Bullseye?

I use both/either and a couple others for 45ACP unscientific plinking and target shooting, I know what I like (most anything), but what is it that you like so much about W231?

To tell you the truth I have never used much Bullseye. I started using W231/HP-38 a very long time ago and was very happy with it so I didn't change. W231 does meter quite well too.

From what I'm told the faster powder (Bullseye) will be a little more snappy than W231 but I don't know first hand. I never did do a side by side comparison.

 

[BJung]

I skimmed this thread and would like some to comment on their discovering that WW231/HP38 printed a better group than a previous powder they were using. I read of so many people promoting W231, I think of it as cult following, so I avoid it. I think there are other powders there that are just as good. I personally use Bullseye as my fastest powder. It works good. My second powder is AA2. It meters very well and prints pretty decent groups too.

 

[Buzznrose]

I currently have 8 lbs of W231 that's about 16 years old, it was around 100$ for it back when...
My average loads I use it for in many calibers, average out to about 4.3 grains per round, so if I do the math right, I've got about 13,500 rounds to load with it in my future. I figured they made 8-pounders for a reason, the writing was on the wall.

Close. Unless I’m wrong, there are 7000 grains in a pound of powder.

7000 * 8 = 56,000
56,000 / 4.3 = 13,023 (assumes no spillage or waste).

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I skimmed this thread and would like some to comment on their discovering that WW231/HP38 printed a better group than a previous powder they were using. I read of so many people promoting W231, I think of it as cult following, so I avoid it. I think there are other powders there that are just as good. I personally use Bullseye as my fastest powder. It works good. My second powder is AA2. It meters very well and prints pretty decent groups too.

Bullseye is more of a cult than W231 - and I'm a member. It's been around so dang long it's almost impossible to ignore. And, it just plain shoots good. AA#2 I discovered in the 90's - it's good stuff and I tend to keep it around for when I run low on Bullseye. W231 I discovered i the 80's when I got married - my FiL is a two-powders man: W231/W296, and he convinced me to try it. It's good stuff and I tend to keep it around for when I run low on Bullseye. TiteGroup and IMR 700X I discovered just recently (2004/05?) when Midway had them on sale (not at the same time, different sales in different years) and I was following a recommended recipe that called for one of those two powders, only - they're both okay for some things, kinda-sorta similar to Bullseye and W231; but, if I run out I don't work real hard to replace either one.
Bullseye's definitely a club and a good one to join.

 

[Buzznrose]

Lots of great info on this thread…thanks!