Best fast and medium pistol powders for Dillon powder dispenser?

[Lou_NC]

I've been doing some experimenting with my Dillon 550B, finally getting around to setting it up for .45ACP after having used it to load a bunch of .40 S&W.

For the .40, I was experimenting with Universal and 231, both of which seemed to drop fairly consistently from the Dillon powder measure. I used Clays for some .45ACP loads the other day and noticed that I was getting a +/- 0.2 grain variation on a load of 4.0 grains. That seems a bit high but I don't have a lot of experience with this particular powder and the Dillon powder measure.

So my question is this......of the following powders (which I happen to have on hand), which seems to drop most consistently for you in the Dillon powder measure: Clays, Bullseye, AA#2, Universal or 231?

Once I finish my experiments, I'd like to buy a larger quantity of one fast and one medium powder, and before I do that I want to ensure that I can get consistent loads with it.

Thanks,
Lou

 

[indiandave]

In my Dillon, Ball powders meter the best.(231,AA#2)

 

[Harrison]

For 45acp 200 gr and/or 230 gr IPSC loads, I have been using Winchester WST since 1996 in a Dillon 550B. It is a fairly fast ball powder and one of the reasons I use it is that it meters so well through my Dillon powder measure. Besides metering well, WST is also very clean burning in the 45acp, and produces very accurate loads. It is easy to make major power factor with WST. 231 has a bad reputation for losing velocity in cooler weather. Loads that make power factor in 90 degree temps, do not make power factor when the temp is 50 degrees. Not a good thing for competition shooting. WST does not do this.

 

[Dan Cash]

This heretic has great success with Unique and 2400. Got started with them in 1960 or so and have never had reason to change. If you operate the machinery in a uniform and smooth manner, your charges are uniform.

 

[David Sinko]

For match loads I always use Clays, 231 and SR7625. I never had any problems with either of these. The only powder I ever tried that dispensed in a dangerous and inconsistent manner in my 550B was 800X.

Dave Sinko

 

[Skip Sackett]

Think locally first.

My first criteria for finding a powder is to look at the local shops to see what is available.

Fortunately all of the Accurate Arms powders are. From AA#2 to AA#9 for sure. There is a burn rate in there for every need. AA#2 for target loads in 45ACP and AA#5 or #7 for the 40S&W.

It has been proven by Paul5388 that even small throws of ball powder will vary, some powders drastically.

Personally, I think Unique would work fine in the Dillon powder measures as long as the charge weight is above 5gr.

Having a +/_ .2gr in the 45ACP isn't going to be a big deal in a cartridge that is running less than 20,000psi or CUP or whatever, the 40S&W in most semi-auto pistols available today may prove catastrophic.

For me, in the calibers you mention, loaded on either a Square Deal B or the XL650, I use Bullseye or AA#2 for the 45ACP and SR4756 for the 40S&W.

The ONLY powders they suggest you NOT use are the extruded Hodgdon rifle powders. It's in their manuals on the last page usually.

The powders you mention will work fine too. Like I said though, .2gr of Clays in some firearms may be a BIG deal.

FWIW

 

[M29since14]

For 45acp 200 gr and/or 230 gr IPSC loads, I have been using Winchester WST since 1996 in a Dillon 550B. It is a fairly fast ball powder and one of the reasons I use it is that it meters so well through my Dillon powder measure. Besides metering well, WST is also very clean burning in the 45acp, and produces very accurate loads. It is easy to make major power factor with WST. 231 has a bad reputation for losing velocity in cooler weather. Loads that make power factor in 90 degree temps, do not make power factor when the temp is 50 degrees. Not a good thing for competition shooting. WST does not do this.

+1 to all of that. Years ago, I used 452AA for all my .45 Auto loads. I never saw anything better. Then W-W changed 452AA to WST and I retested. It was still good, but not quite as good in E.S. as 452AA. I could not tell any practical difference. Only the chronograph knew.

For some crazy reason, I quit using WST (probably mainly because I changed to Clays for 12-ga. target loads) and never got back to it for .45 loads. I think I am going to revisit this. It was excellent. Way too good to ignore.

To the subject of the OP, all I can say is almost any powder will work well in the Dillon if you handle operation of the machine in a smooth, consistent manner. The worst I have ever seen is 800-X, which I like a great deal in some calibers, but just does not work in my Dillon.

In the fast powders, my choices would be Bullseye and WST, though AA2 is also good. I just don't usually have it around. In the mediums, I like HS-6 a lot. It is a little slow, but I still consider it a medium. I have also had good luck with Longshot, but don't have near the experience with it I do with HS-6.

231 is an in-between for me: neither fast nor medium. It works well in the Dillon too, and if you can get by with just one powder, it is certainly not a bad one.

 

[CGM]

In the fast category, for me, 231 and Bullseye meter well.

Likewise, in the "medium" category I would place Unique, which also meters well.

I use the SDB.

 

[Dale53]

I have used lots of Bullseye in my Dillon 550B's (in fact, I was loading .38 Special target wadcutters with it today).

However, ball powders get my vote as being more consistent in most powder measures, particularly in a progressive press.

I can recommend Titegroup as a really excellent measuring and performing powder for a number of calibers in target loads (.38 Special, .44 Special, .45 ACP and .45 Colt). It has the advantage in large cases (.44 Special and .45 Colt as a for instance) that it is not position sensitive. This can be very important as target loads are typically small charges and can make a difference depending on powder position with a lot of powders.

I must admit that I have shot a lot of Unique through my revolvers and it measures "ok" but not outstanding in the Dillons.

I had won a pound of Clays in a pistol match some time ago, so I finally got around to trying it in my .45 ACP revolvers (625's). It worked extremely well and shot quite clean. I had no problem with it dropping + or - .1 grain. That is about as good as we normally get although some ball powders seem to be nearly spot on. +or-.1 grain is close enough for just about EVERYTHING.

Right now I am running Dupont PB through my .45 ACP revolvers and it is doing well, also. This with my own cast 200 gr SWC MiHec #68 H&G Clone moulded bullets. I get excellent results with a variety of powders with this or the companion H&G #130 bullet in these revolvers.

Frankly, I am generally happy with most of the popular faster burning powders for target use in my revolvers. I have not found a great deal of accuracy difference in any of them with the use of the Ransom Rest to minimize the human element.

For the .357 magnum and .44 Magnum full charge loads my powders of choice are 296, H110 (those two are the same) or the surplus equivalent, a slow lot of WC 820. All three of those powders measure extremely well and perform and the top of the heap for me. All of these are run through my Dillons.

I recently came into several pounds of Blue Dot and will be trying that out in my revolvers for medium to medium heavy loads. I expect it will be "ok" but not measure quite as well as the ball powders.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[Sgt Preston]

Best fast & medium pistol powders for Dillon

Sgt Preston here...
I load 9mm, 38's & 45ACP on a Dillon 550...
I get typical accuracy of + or - 1/2 of a tenth of a grain using Win 231...
I've been using it for years...
It's cheap, readily available..&..coupled with Winchester primers...
They all go bang & hit the dot...
Just one old JarHeads experience & recommendation...
Hope this helps..!