Any success with Titegroup and LSWCHP

[frankieb01]

I am having a tough go of finding Bullseye lately locally, and am getting pretty low on it. I know Titegroup is not really ideal, but I have a bunch of it lounging on my bench. Has anyone had any success with loading .38 spl using Hornady 158gr lswc/hp with it? If you did what worked for you?

My concern is TG burns pretty hot and fast. Is this a recipe for scorched cases and leading? Plan B is HP-38 which I can always find in stock locally.

 

[rockquarry]

I'm sticking with Bullseye because I've used it since the mid-'60s, but I've used Titegroup with cast bullets in .38 Special, .45 ACP, and maybe others. About the same accuracy and velocity as Bullseye with approximately the same charge weights as I recall.

If I couldn't get Bullseye, I'd not feel disadvantaged in any way with Titegroup. I've read the claims about the "heat", but have never experienced anything supportive of such claims. I've had no scorched brass or melted barrels from the use of Titegroup and I've seen no leading that could be attributed to the powder. I'm not an expert and I don't deny there may be something to the "heat" aspect, but I suspect many who repeat such allegations do so without basis.

 

[bigboredad]

I have several friends that just use tight group and the load they all prefer 3.5gr except for a few that use 4.2 they use those loads with a 200gr lswc

Sent from my SM-T377V using Tapatalk

 

[gwpercle]

Titegroup is slightly slower burning than Bullseye and was developed to get some of the Bullseye market.
Very similar burning characteristics to Bullseye.

When Bullseye was unavailable I found Red Dot , Titegroup , Accurate #2 and HP-38 to be very suitable substitutes with lead bullets in 38 special.

I must admit that Bullseye is still my favorite target wadcutter load , the other powders may occasionally equal 2.7 grains of Bullseye.... but none beat it !

Gary

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

I've compared Tightgroup to Bullseye in the 38, the 45 Colt and the 45 ACP. It does a fine job and charge weights to velocities are very similar between the two powders. You will find fine accuracy and consistency with the Tightgroup. As I still have a goodly supply of Bullseye, I'll be using it for quite a while.

I might add that in a large case like the 45 Colt, Tightgroup provides the least extreme spread of any powder that I've tested.

 

[joeintexas]

I've not had any problems loading Titegroup in 158gr lswc rounds, loaded to mid range. I've used it in 38sp and 357 mag loads. I really don't recall any more leading with it than any other powder.

 

[frankieb01]

Thanks everyone, once the Bullseye runs out I will give the TG a shot and see how it does for me.

 

[chief38]

Titegroup is my go to powder for .38 special and .357 Mag. reloads. I reload 158 grain lead exclusively and have used it for 20+ years with no problems. I like the way it meters and a little goes a long way. While I sometimes use it for .45 acp as well, my standard .45 powder is W231 although that is sometimes hard to get - so Titegroup is my back-up for .45 acp.

 

[Nevada Ed]

If you have it...........

use it up and see how it does, before you go out and buy more powder.

It might be a "Keeper" ?

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

I might add this addendum to my original post regarding the two powders:

While I still load with Bullseye for the most part, I do so because I've used it for something like 45 years and I'm very comfortable with it.

Were I just starting to reload today, I would probably go with Tightgroup for all of my standard velocity handgun ammo.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

In my guns,Titegroup shoots good in near max loads.Target loads Bullseye,700X.Red Dot and Promo will do better.
Up here,winter is a little rough on us old guys and I shoot indoors.Since I shoot only my own cast bullets,I can vouch for the fact that Titegroup(along with Power Pistol)does burn hotter,producing an objectionnable amount of smoke.That's why I'll resort from now on to the other ones mentioned here above.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Yea;
us old timers have a death grip on our "Old powder" and don't care for
the new kids on the block until there is a LOT of good press and even then
we might not buy it !!

Even though it meters five times better!!

I have to admit that a "Ball" type powder is nice............
and I do have a few.......

just that I bought so much Alliant powder, it is taking a LONG time to use it all.

 

[johngalt]

I had worse leading with Titegroup than anything else, I think because it burns so hot. If ran out Bullseye and couldn't get more, I would probably go back to W231 (which is what I used before I switched to Bullseye). I would be tempted to try AA#2 or WST though.

 

[rwsmith]

Use the Titegroup.....

It's very similar to BE.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Yea;
us old timers have a death grip on our "Old powder" and don't care for
the new kids on the block until there is a LOT of good press and even then
we might not buy it !!

Even though it meters five times better!!

I have to admit that a "Ball" type powder is nice............
and I do have a few.......

just that I bought so much Alliant powder, it is taking a LONG time to use it all.

I'm all with you Nevada...exept I've still got over 20#s of 700 X to burn.Guess I'll shoot a lot of .38 and .45WC loads for 2 or 3 years to come.
Retirement is soooo tough!