Dan Cash
Member
6 grains of Unique under 200 to 230 grain bullet. Unique is very Unique and will serve well in a wide variety of applications.
Powder Choice for .45acp
- Thread starter Canuck44
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running iron
US Veteran
I shoot and really like WST for target work and Auto Comp and AA#5 for full powder loads for carry. I like 231, but have been less than happy with it in foul weather. I might just need more than 5.3 grs. of it with a 230 FMJ. bullet. I will try 5.6grs. in the future.
RV4driver
US Veteran
I went from 5 gr 231 to 5.5 gr with 230gr plated bullets in my .45 and it was amazing how much cleaner it burned. A bit stout for a target load though, so probably I'll be looking for something else for a lighter load that burns clean.
Harrison
US Veteran
I have been using Winchester Super Target since 1995 in a 45 acp 1911, with 200 gr SWC and 230 gr, RN, with good results. It is clean burning, accurate, not heat sensative, and makes IPSC major with no pressure problems. I also use it with 200gr SWC in my S&W 625, again clean burning and very good accuracy. For 45 acp I don't use anything else.
Powder for 45acp
Full Power= Power Pistol
Best Accuracy =Unique
Cleanest light Loads= American Select
Bullseye works absolutely fine for me too.
It meters better then American Select or Unique too.
I think both Bullseye and Unique are cleaner then they used to be , I
clean my guns after I shoot anyway, what difference does it really make anyway ?
Power Pistol is the most fun !!!
Fire comes out and it is a blast at the indoor range !!
See Speer number 14 for a very hot , but apparently safe load !!
Full Power= Power Pistol
Best Accuracy =Unique
Cleanest light Loads= American Select
Bullseye works absolutely fine for me too.
It meters better then American Select or Unique too.
I think both Bullseye and Unique are cleaner then they used to be , I
clean my guns after I shoot anyway, what difference does it really make anyway ?
Power Pistol is the most fun !!!
Fire comes out and it is a blast at the indoor range !!
See Speer number 14 for a very hot , but apparently safe load !!
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Sorry I got to this thread late and again, sorry if I'm repeating what was already posted.
My favorite .45 Auto load using a 230gr bullet is 5.5gr W231/HP-38.
There are MANY good powder for the .45 Auto since it's a fairly low pressure round and it's not particularly picky.
You choices include:
(* denotes powders I've already used in the .45 ACP)
AA#2 *
AA#5 *
Bullseye *
Red Dot
Green Dot
Unigue *
Hi-Skor 700-X
Trail Boss
IMR PB
AutoComp *
Win WST *
W231/HP-38 *
Clays *
Universal *
Zip
True Blue *
AND probably a few more that I missed. All will work well in the .45 Auto, believe it or not...
My favorite .45 Auto load using a 230gr bullet is 5.5gr W231/HP-38.
There are MANY good powder for the .45 Auto since it's a fairly low pressure round and it's not particularly picky.
You choices include:
(* denotes powders I've already used in the .45 ACP)
AA#2 *
AA#5 *
Bullseye *
Red Dot
Green Dot
Unigue *
Hi-Skor 700-X
Trail Boss
IMR PB
AutoComp *
Win WST *
W231/HP-38 *
Clays *
Universal *
Zip
True Blue *
AND probably a few more that I missed. All will work well in the .45 Auto, believe it or not...
Dale53
Member
ArchangerCD;
I have been loading .45 ACP for a LONG time. My most used platform these days is the pair of 625's that I have.
You are "spot on" with you comments about all of the powders that work well. My favorite powder for years has been 5066 for target loads. It hasn't been made for over twenty years. I had a LARGE supply but finally ran out. I decided to simplify life a bit, and started using up odds and ends of powder that I have around here. Each and every one of them has seemed to work VERY well. I am a serious shooter and accuracy is extremely important to me. I can see little difference in accuracy, whether it is Bullseye, Unique, W231, 5066, 7625, Clays or ....
When I buy my next 8 lb keg of powder it will probably be Titegroup as it measures well, is relatively clean burning and it is NOT position sensitive.
At any rate, what ever powder you have in the fast burning to medium category, it will probably work well in the .45 ACP.
Dale53
I have been loading .45 ACP for a LONG time. My most used platform these days is the pair of 625's that I have.
You are "spot on" with you comments about all of the powders that work well. My favorite powder for years has been 5066 for target loads. It hasn't been made for over twenty years. I had a LARGE supply but finally ran out. I decided to simplify life a bit, and started using up odds and ends of powder that I have around here. Each and every one of them has seemed to work VERY well. I am a serious shooter and accuracy is extremely important to me. I can see little difference in accuracy, whether it is Bullseye, Unique, W231, 5066, 7625, Clays or ....
When I buy my next 8 lb keg of powder it will probably be Titegroup as it measures well, is relatively clean burning and it is NOT position sensitive.
At any rate, what ever powder you have in the fast burning to medium category, it will probably work well in the .45 ACP.
Dale53
clays
You can use many different powders for the 45 acp (and I have) what I have found is clays so far to be best for clean burning and very good accuracy. But clays is not very verseatile.
Universal is also good and very verseatile, but a little dirty. I will be trying american select for my next powder, I have heard that it is so clean that it's spooky. I like clean because I shoot a lot, 3 mags. a day from 45 acp and on most days 9mm, 40 s&w, 44 mag. or 45 colt. So the less I have to clean my guns the better.
You can use many different powders for the 45 acp (and I have) what I have found is clays so far to be best for clean burning and very good accuracy. But clays is not very verseatile.
Universal is also good and very verseatile, but a little dirty. I will be trying american select for my next powder, I have heard that it is so clean that it's spooky. I like clean because I shoot a lot, 3 mags. a day from 45 acp and on most days 9mm, 40 s&w, 44 mag. or 45 colt. So the less I have to clean my guns the better.
venomballistics
Member
theres the greater contributor to your dirty problem in bold print.
The lube does this. you have three choices.
1) accept it. Your going to clean the gun anyhow.
2) Hy Tec Bullet coating. Research how to use this stuff. Look ma, no lube
3) Powder coating. Similar to HT, but trades a few advantages.
When dealing with lead, the coatings make the dirtiest powders seem like immaculate contraptions
AveragEd
Member
I like AutoComp in all my 1911s. It's accurate and very clean. I shot 250 rounds in my S&W PC1911DK in .38 Super last week and the only visible dirt anywhere on the stainless steel gun is some black soot on the barrel hood. Honest!
In my .45 ACPs, I load a cast 185-grain SWC from Precision Cast Bullets with their "match lube" over 6.4 grains of AutoComp. Again, they shoot well and your gun and hands aren't covered with a sticky black coating when you're done.
Here's what might be the best part for some of you - it's readily available!
Ed
In my .45 ACPs, I load a cast 185-grain SWC from Precision Cast Bullets with their "match lube" over 6.4 grains of AutoComp. Again, they shoot well and your gun and hands aren't covered with a sticky black coating when you're done.
Here's what might be the best part for some of you - it's readily available!
Ed
novalty
Member
Auto Comp is put out under the Winchester label.
fredj338
Member
It's virtually identical to 452aa. It is reverse temp sensitive though, so must be watched if you are trying to hit a certain PF or shooting a lot around zero temps with max loads.
I ran a test on an 80deg day. I set 10rds in the sun, 10 in a cooler with ice & 10 left in the shade. The vel were about 25fps higher with 40deg ammo & 25fps slower with ammo near 110deg. Not a huge deal, but you should be aware.
Harley Fan
Member
Had to smile here. I was reading this thread with interest, and got to post #11 where 2fingers said he just bought 8# of WST for $93.
Huh? I then saw this thread is 5 years old!
No matter- the thread is a good one.
Huh? I then saw this thread is 5 years old!
No matter- the thread is a good one.
Well Andy G, since you went and done necroposted I'll keep the party going. 
Another fan of Bullseye here for all the previously mentioned reasons. I'm using 4.6gr for an IbejiHeads 230g RN coated cast bullet. It does the job. If you guys haven't tried these bullets you're missing something special. I've no affiliation other than being a happy customer/user of these. No residue and not one bad egg since I've started using them. I met the owner Alex. He graciously answered all my questions. Nice guy. Give his stuff a shot and I think you'll like them.
Another fan of Bullseye here for all the previously mentioned reasons. I'm using 4.6gr for an IbejiHeads 230g RN coated cast bullet. It does the job. If you guys haven't tried these bullets you're missing something special. I've no affiliation other than being a happy customer/user of these. No residue and not one bad egg since I've started using them. I met the owner Alex. He graciously answered all my questions. Nice guy. Give his stuff a shot and I think you'll like them.
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V V 320 very close to 231 and clean as a whistle
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