Powder for .45 ACP

[glockem]

Hey all,
I haven't purchased powder in a few years. I've been running Vitavouri N310 at 3.7 grs with 200g SWC and was wondering what others are using today. I searched the forum, but I did not find recs for .45. I'd like something cleaner burning. Any thought?

Thanks,
Tex

[signal4l]

I have had good luck with 4.5 g 700X with a 230 g bullet. 4.2 with 200g. Easy on the gun/ shooter

[Detmongo]

i have used win. 231 5- 5.7 grs. behind a hard cast 200 gr. swc. been shooting them for about 20 years very nice load.

[Storydude]

In order of use:
Unique(only because I have Lbs of it)
WST
W231

[Amp Mangum]

Winchester WST. It meters well and burns clean.

[David Thomas]

All I use 45 (and 9mm) is titegroup. Not sure you can get a better powder than Vitavouri, but titegroup is good enough and has a very attractive price.

[buggsb]

I have used WW231 successfully for many years...

[JStor]

Another vote for W231. I use 5.5 grs. under a 230 gr. bullet in Winchester brass.

[DBR]

I have had good results using 200gr and 230gr bullets in 45ACP with 231, Bullseye, VV320, Green Dot, Red Dot and Titegroup. Any of these powders (except VV320) can be a bit dirty if the loads are too light. Many people like Clays for light loads but I haven't tried it myself.

Right now I am using 231 for most of my 45 loads. I load to factory spec velocities and 231 has been consistent and clean at those pressures.

[CryingWolf]

I like Hodgdon Universal; And with all the warnings about working your own load I been pleased with 5.4g under a 230g bullet.

[Vic303]

Fond of Bulleye here for all my pistol load needs (9mm, 45acp, .357mag).

[glockem]

Thanks everyone for the recommendations. Now I just need to find some powder in stock locally.

Thanks again,
Tex

[markm]

I have used WW231 successfully for many years...

Same here. I suppose you can't even get this stuff now eh? I'm down to my last pound or so of it.

[TomD]

I prefer Clays but in the past have used all previously mentioned & several others.

[veeref]

Hey all,
I haven't purchased powder in a few years. I've been running Vitavouri N310 at 3.7 grs with 200g SWC and was wondering what others are using today. I searched the forum, but I did not find recs for .45. I'd like something cleaner burning. Any thought?

Thanks,
Tex

In my experience, the Vihtavuori you're using is already some of the cleanest burning stuff I've used. I use N340 for .40 S&W as well as .45.

Just curious, but why such a fast burning powder? I've used N320 and N340. I think N340 would give you a better burn rate, more room for charging errors and higher velocities if thats what you're looking for.

The vihtavuori website lists between 3.7-4.0 gr for 200gr SWC.

[JGrelle]

In my experience, the Vihtavuori you're using is already some of the cleanest burning stuff I've used. I use N340 for .40 S&W as well as .45.

Just curious, but why such a fast burning powder? I've used N320 and N340. I think N340 would give you a better burn rate, more room for charging errors and higher velocities if thats what you're looking for.

The vihtavuori website lists between 3.7-4.0 gr for 200gr SWC.

Have you tried some VV N330?, I got great results with N340, but N330 seems like it may be perfect, slightly faster than 340, I am going to try some & will post my results when avail.

[veeref]

Have you tried some VV N330?, I got great results with N340, but N330 seems like it may be perfect, slightly faster than 340, I am going to try some & will post my results when avail.

I haven't. I think the main reason being that every store I've purchased has carried either N320 or N340. Now that I'm buying all my supplies almost exclusively online, I might have to try it. Let me know how N330 works out. What type of bullet are you working around? I use Rainier almost exclusively now.

I've started to shy away from N320 on my loads because most of my reloading is for 40 S&W and there's less room for error in that cartridge with faster burning powders.

[QuietShootr]

i have used win. 231 5- 5.7 grs. behind a hard cast 200 gr. swc. been shooting them for about 20 years very nice load.

+1 mine is 5gr of 231, same bullet. Good load.

[LMT4me]

I use Clays now because I have it on hand but have also used and like W231.

[DBR]

A bit off topic but an excellent powder for 9MM and 40SW is Ramshot Silhouette (formerly Winchester Action Pistol). It was designed for high pressure loads like the 38 Super. It is a ball powder that meters like ball bearings. It is flash suppressed and not very temperature sensitive.

I have used it for max 200gr and 230gr 45 ACP loads and it works very well. It is not a good powder in 45 for light bullets or light loads. It likes high pressure and is somewhat forgiving of modest overloads at the high end.

[1911snob]

Ive tried most intro powders, at of all of them I have found 4.7g of Titegroup with a 185g, 200g SWC or 230 Ball bullets to be the perfect combo. this pet load has be a favorite of mine for target shooting. If you ready want to push your 1911 5.0g of TG is also a snappy load...


always remember safe reloading and never trust a online suggestion without checking the manufacture website :D

[glockem]

Well, I ended up with Clays because that is the only thing I have been able to find in stock. I picked up 4lbs today for $80, about have the price the VVN320 would have cost me via the internet. I'm looking at using 4.0 grs with a 200 GR LSWC. I think this load should qualify for major in IDPA and USPSA.

Has anyone worked a load for 9mm with a 147 GR RN using Clays? The only data from Hodgdon lists a 115 and 125 GR using Clays.

Thanks again for all the help.

[Semper Paratus]

Of late I have been shooting alot of Universal clays. 5.6 gr or there abouts with a 200gr LSWC is good for around 900 fps. One of the reasons I like universal is that it works well in the .44 special, .38 spcl/light .357 and .40 S&W. Another that I have used in all but the .44 Special that I really like is AA#5. It needs to be pushed a little harder to be clean. Hot 200s for pins work #5 is the best, far as I'm concerned.

[LonghunterCO]

I have had good luck with 4.5 g 700X with a 230 g bullet. 4.2 with 200g. Easy on the gun/ shooter

Same here 4.5 to 4.7g (depending on which the 1911 likes) of 700X with 230gr hard lead. 700x is my go to for pistol and shotgun.

As with others W231 is my backup powder.

[sinister]

I've shot a lot of Bullseye and Winchester 231. For the last 21+ years I've settled on Winchester Super Target (WST).

It meters well in a Dillon, burns clean, makes major behind a wide range of bullets (for shooting IPSC), and is more a longer "Push" impulse than a sharp "Crack" like with Bulleye (for Bullseye/National Match shooting).

[openbolt]

i have used win. 231 5- 5.7 grs. behind a hard cast 200 gr. swc. been shooting them for about 20 years very nice load.

Ditto. Look no further than the above load information. I have used this same recipe for 30 years. It will take care of all your .45 Auto needs...

openbolt

[aedavis]

I use Power Pistol for 45 ACP (and 9mm and 38 Special). It probably isn't the most efficient powder, but it works and it saves me from having to stock yet another powder in my cabinet.

[TheRock]

I'd used W231, but found it smoky. At the time, I shot extensively at an indoor range, so I switched to Green Dot and have loaded probably 10K (hard to tell since .45 brass is just about immortal) or more with it and been pretty happy.

I load a 230 grain FMJ; though I just got some plated 230s from X-Treme Bullets in NV and will be trying those soon.

TR

[panzerr]

I've been using 4.8 grains of Red Dot with 200 grain round nose Billy Bullets with mixed brass (my Wilson's will shoot anything) for two years now. It's a good, medium load that gives me 820-850 fps depending on which of my Wilson's I put it through (4 vs 5 inch)

[rodinal220]

Win 231/HP38 for all my standard pressure training/practice ammo between .25acp-.45 colt.

used 5.5gr of 231/hp38 over 200gr LSWC in .45acp for last 20+ years.5.0 grs 231/hp38over a 230LRN.

[jc75754]

I am also using clays. This is also my first venture into reloading. so I think that I will tr some of the other powders you guys are talking about.

[QuietShootr]

Another vote for W231. I use 5.5 grs. under a 230 gr. bullet in Winchester brass.

Same, but 6.0gr behind any 230gr bullet, whether lead or jacketed.