I have handloaded for many different calibers but never the 45acp. I am going to start by using a 230 gr lead round nose with either Unique or Bullseye powder. I know there are many good powders but I use a lot of these 2. Which of these 2 powders do you all prefer, if either one? I am just looking for a load to punch paper, shoot tin cans, and have fun with. Thanks.

I am told that 5.0 grains of Bullseye and a 230 fmj bullet simulates an original GI ball load. I've shot a lot of these with satisfaction.

I see no reason why Unique wouldn't work well also. So far, I've not tried it in the 45.

I have used 4.0 of Bullseye with 230gn LRN , reloaded over 4000 of them, been great, very accurate and no cycle issuses!

i have been using bullseye with cast bullets for over 30 years, it will load more bullets than unique.

I have used, as my standard plinking and target load, 4.0 grains of Bullseye with both the 200 grain SWCL and the 230 grain RNL. Both have been accurate and reliable. I've used Unique with good results, but why burn more powder to do the same job.

Yep. I use BE or HP 38 for the 230 gr either lead or FMJ. It just meters better than Unique.

You can drop down to around 4.6 or so on the Bullseye.

There are other powders but those are the "classic"

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Still Running Against the Wind

From what I understand, Bullseye was the original powder for commercial loadings of .45 ACP.

Its the only powder I've ever used for that purpose. There may be newer powders, there may even be better powders, but there is literally a century of reloading data for Bullseye in the .45 ACP.

Just my $0.02.

Enjoy and load safe.

David

I have used both but if I have it I prefer Bullseye.

Thanks to everyone for your quick responses. I forgot to mention I will be loading for my M&P full size. Thanks again.

Another vote for Bullseye. I haven't used Unique in .45 Auto since the early '90s. It works and I wouldn't hesitate to use it if it was all I had, but I think there are better powders. If you're inclined to experiment, another good .45 powder is W231.

I use Bullseye & Green Dot for .45ACP. Unique has a long standing rep for metering poorly and burning dirty. If it's dirtier than Green Dot under a cast bullet I don't wanna know about it!

I would have to get my book for an accurate charge weight but I have used Bullseye and hard cast lead RNs for a few thousand rounds in my 45M&P with no issues.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Either. I made and shot a lot of bowling pin loads with LRN or FMJ bullets and Unique.

My son fired a lot of the target loads I made with Bullseye and a 200 grain
LSWC bullet.

Both work fine.

I'm biased. Unique hasn't been near my load bench since sometime last century.

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

I have been loading 4 grs. of Bullseye and the 230 gr. FMJ or my own 225 gr. cast bullet for many years with excellent accuracy in all my 1911's and revolvers too.

I usually purchase my powder from the Fin, Feather and Fur in Ashland Ohio. Coincidentally they furnish a lot of components to the shooters at Camp Perry Pistol Championships. According to them, virtually all of the 45 guys use Bullseye.

And that's good enough for me that I bought an 8 pound keg.

THIS ^^^^

I've used a fair amount of Unique loading the 45 ACP and it works well while being somewhat dirty shooting. However, every single charge had to be hand weighed due to it's poor metering properties. Meant my best production rate on my single stage press was 50 rounds in 1.5 hours with most of that time spent charging the casings.

Recently a local gunshop go in a shipment of powder and I was able to pick up some IMR SR7625. Shoots a lot cleaner and meters perfectly. As a result my production rate is now a bit more than 80 rounds per hour and I'm not hurrying things a bit to do that.

I've used both powders in the 45 acp for years and they seem equally dirty to me.Unique can be tricky to meter consistently,but I've had good results with an RCBS Uniflow measure.

I've loaded both in 4" sig 220's and a Thompson 1911 both shot good groups. didn't notice a diff in unique metering poorly or being excessively dirty. and I doubt 1 gr a round diff of powder is gonna break anyone's bank. maybe it's me but bullseye seems louder, but then I usually save it for the shorter bbl'd guns, so that could be it. I've had to suspend 45 use and sell the 1911, for now hopefully. but I'd give it a coin flip, whichever you can find/is cheaper, or better yet, let your gun decide. 2400 is obnoxiously loud, burns incompletely in shorter bbl,s, seemingly more recoil, but darn if it doesn't give me very good accuracy.

I use Bullseye for most 45 acp loads but favor Unique for hunting ammo. Bullseye, Unique and 2400 take care of most all my reloading needs in any caliber handgun that I load for.

+1 for Bullseye . For accurate 45acp target loads it's either VVN310 or Bullseye .

Unique, specifically 5.5 grains under lrn and 6.0 to 6.4 grains under jrn.
,depending on specific bullet. While it doesn't meter as consistently as finer powders, am more concerned with it's consistent very fine accuracy and velocitys. The slight variations in charge weights matter little, and it is much more versaltile than Bullseye.

Never liked Bullseye.

I use 4.0 gr of Bullseye for targets, however, I prefer a 200gr. SWC over the 230gr. ball. If I shoot 230gr. RN, I would use Unique (7.5gr?).
Remember, if you use an Auto Loader (1911), be sure to have a box of springs for you to determine the best one. I use the heaviest I can, that will cycle the slide, then I start putting lighter and lighter springs in the gun, until all the empty brass is ejected into a circle about the size of a basketball.
revolvers are a no-brainer....
Terry

tjpopkin-7.5 grains unique for 230 grainers is well beyond any max listings i have seen. It is at listed max for some 200 grainers?

Of the two powders mentioned, I'd go with Bullseye. The stuff has been used in the .45acp for a very long time with good reason. I use it with my 200gr LSWC target loads.
However, I do shoot quite a lot of 230gr LRN in IDPA and have settled on 5.6grs of W231 as it have proven to be powerful, accurate and burns clean.

Stow them both and buy some HP-38 or Win 231 or even some Win WSF. IF it must be one of the two then Bullseye for sure. I think some hard corp Unique loaders only use the stuff since they are actually just that stubborn.

I started reloading in 1986 with Bullseye for my 586 and still use it today. I have branched out to W231 and Clays international. I tend towards Clays for the "cleaner" burn. For accuracy I like all three and am loading about 200 9mm FMJ rds with Bullseye for my son to work in his new 9mm MK-25. Nice weapon but I still prefer my S&W 586 over my other handguns -- my 45 SIG 1911 Nightmare is right up there too. A sweet 45....

I use W231 for my 45ACP and am very pleased with the results - good accuracy, clean burning, and meters well. I really don't see the problem with Unique. I just finished loading some 45 Colt rounds with Unique and I don't have any trouble with it metering in my RCBS Uniflow measure. Most of the "dirt" that I encounter is from the lube on lead bullets. The "new" Unique seems to burn fairly clean when used with jacketed bullets.
Now my question - has anyone used Power Pistol in their 45ACP. I load Power Pistol in my 9mm and 40 S&W but have never tried it in 45ACP.

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Dick

zeke,
Thanks for the good eyesight.....
YOU ARE Correct.....
Unique load I spoke of is my most accurate load for the Nosler 185 JHP in the .45ACP....
WOW.
Bad mistake....
The 230 RN load is more like 5.5gr....but it is one I seldom use.
My apologies!!!!!!

None of these claims ever happened! NO PICTURES
Except for boatbum's I've seen his pictures!!!!!!

JUST KIDDING

I really like WST - first loading attempt at 45 ACP for me, 5 shots using min. charge (4.4gr) under 200gr LSWC using a **** Gold Cup NM

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I'd like to agree with you BUT

I am using the same. Excellent load with my 1911. I sometimes go up to 4.2 which I like as well.

You may also want to try w231. I use 4.8gr - 5.00gr of 231 with 230gr ball. Nice, soft and accurate round.

just because the local powder supply was getting rather thin, I decided to give Unique a try in 45 acp. Forgot why I hadn't loaded it for about 15 years......it's a pain in the metering butt with my 650 Dillon.

I actually prefer 231/HP38 @ 230 RNL for accuracy and pleasantness all day long.

I broke out the Bullseye since I'd never used it in my 30+ years of such efforts. It hasn't won me over yet but certainly is better metering than the Big U.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Almost all Bullseye shooters start with Bullseye powder. Most stay with it. More championships (local, state, regional and national) have been won with Bullseye than any other powder. (Some folks have been gravitation to a Vita Vourhi (sp) powder lately that duplicates BE's pressure curve, but burns cleaner (and costs twice as much)). I use Unique for other purposes, so it's not like I have anything against it. When beginners ask, we recommend they start with 3.6 gr. of BE under almost any 200-gr LSWC (loaded with a thumbnail-thickness of shoulder above the case mouth), and a 10-lb recoil spring (TARGET SHOOTING ONLY). Increase to achieve reliable fucntioning. Lock down the press, make ammo and PRACTICE.

We have had some shooters with leading problems with hard-cast bullets. They were shooting Unique. Switching to BE cured the leading. We think BE's faster pressure build bumps up the bullets to seal better.

Tried 'em both.
Both are very good.
Bullseye is a bit easier to use.

bullseye the original black powder substitute.

loading .45 acp since 1970 permanet load for targets is 200 grain cast SWC over 6 gr Bulleseye working on 185 gr JHP for new load but the cat 200 gr is my I can hit what i aim at at any range load
Just an old marine range coach 2cents worth

I use and like Unique for my 230g lead loads. Accurate, and I prefer the way the recoil feels vs 231. I've never tried Bullseye, so I cannot comment on it. FWIW, I don't think Unique is that dirty, at least not in moderate 45acp loads.

Green Dot is an interesting solution to poor metering problems

I use bullseye. I sometimes question that it is the best choice for hardball loads though. My Hornady manual recommends slower powders, I think specifically Unique and HS6.

It was originally my solution to "Can't find any Bullseye" problems...