Powder burn rates and the 45 ACP

[fredj338]

I went to WW 231 for a long time, and was happy with it, until I discovered WW 452AA (no longer made). 452AA had about the same burn rate as 231, but had a very smooth pressure curve, so recoil felt lighter, even though actual recoil was about the same as with 231, since the charge weights were nearly identical. Accuracy in most guns was as good with one as the other.

Fast Confused? Don't be. It may all look like voodoo for awhile, but it really all makes sense when you work with it for awhile, and it's FUN to play with. Well, it makes sense until you find out that 452AA had an inverse temperature response, and generated higher pressures at lower temperatures, then it makes one's head spin, or at least, mine does...

You'll find WST is 452AA replacement, almost identical laoding data. I shot #s of it back in the day & I shoot #s of WST today.

 

[oldRoger]

Let me add a bit to Smithcrazy's philosophy.

There is an old question; "Why is it that whatever you are looking for is always in the last place that you look"? Of course it is because you stop looking when you have found it.

I content that in something like the .45 ACP and the H&G 68 bullet; many powders will not only work well, but do an excellent job. Further, many of the suitable powders will do a very good job over a surprising range of charge weights. In other words the system allows a lot of variation.
Given the vagaries and variations in our various skills and measurement methods the "best" load is in the eye of the beholder.

So I think our tendency is to stop looking when we have found a load we like for whatever our reasons may be. Then after a time we can become very possessive and convince ourselves of said load's superiority.

I have cycled through various powders for this combination but because (I suppose) I started with Bullseye and the Ideal 200 gr SWC more than 50 years ago at my Uncle's suggestion, I seem end up back at Bullseye. Just because we have being doing something for 100 years doesn't make it "the best", but it has stood the famous test of time.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I still want to take a bunch of 230gr bullets and load them with some real slow powder and run them through my 16.5" Thompson to see what they will do.

Remember, there was only a 17fps increase per inch of additional barrel. Bet that changes a bunch when I load up some of those AA#9 loads!

This is kind of "liking" your own post but, I just got some info and want to share it.

I loaded some of the same 230gr bullets with AA#7, since I couldn't find a load for AA#9 that was in a book anywhere, and loaded to the maximum for a plated bullet of this weight. Now, I did have one difference and felt that would build a safety factor into these loads. My OAL was .030" longer than the book data said they used.

I really don't think you can put enough AA#9 or H110 or 2400, into a 45ACP case and have it blow up a gun, just me though.

At any rate, I ran them through the PT1911 and the Thompson and had decent results. Not earth shattering but decent. With a bit more work, maybe I will have a good defense load.

The PT1911 averaged 900fps from it's 5" barrel. The Thompson 1200fps from a 16.5" tube. So, 11.5" gave us 300fps difference. So for each additional inch of barrel length with this caliber, powder, bullet weight, cases (mixed I might add) and these firearms, that calculates out to 26fps.

In this less than scientific test, it would seem that the slower the powder, the more per inch of barrel in velocity gain.

I may have to try another powder too, one slower yet.

FWIW

 

[Fishslayer]

So is it safe to say that for low pressure rounds like the 45ACP faster powder produces better results and for high pressure rounds say 9mm or 40 SW slower powders work better?

It depends. Bullet weight & barrel length are two factors.

But... I've tried W231 in my .45ACP. It wasn't bad but I went back to Bullseye & Green Dot.

In 9mm I like Bullseye for certain 146gr loads because while Green Dot is a bit slower, it's much more bulky and I don't want to deal with load compression. In the light target loads Green Dot seems more consistent. Perhaps because it fills more of the case?

I haven't actually tried W231 in nine yet but I might just for fun.

I'm definitely going to give those Blue Dot .45s a try. A healthy charge of slow powder under a 200gr SWC... should be entertaining.