Powder for service-type .45 ACP loads?

Ron H.

Ron H.

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Greetings, all:

What powder do you like in .45 ACP? I'm looking to run 200-grain LSWCs at around 900 fps in a 5-inch 1911. These loads will see some use in a 25-2 as well, but the auto will be their main venue.

I have Unique and HS-6 on hand, and I understand W231 is an old standby. Are there other powders I should be looking at?

Thanks, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
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Greetings, all:

What powder do you like in .45 ACP? I'm looking to run 200-grain LSWCs at around 900 fps in a 5-inch 1911. These loads will see some use in a 25-2 as well, but the auto will be their main venue.

I have Unique and HS-6 on hand, and I understand W231 is an old standby. Are there other powders I should be looking at?

Thanks, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
Ron,

I use 5.0 gr of Bullseye for factory duplicate type loads. However, I don't use a progressive, so metering may be a factor to consider.
 
Sir, thanks for the info. FWIW, I'm not progressive, either--no metering worries here.
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Thanks again, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
Sir, I've been poking around all over.
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The bullets I have are from a commercial caster, and the packaging is marked ".45 H&G SWC 200 GR. #68." Assuming these actually are H&G 68s or a close approximation, info specific to that bullet will be right up my alley.

Thanks again, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
Ron,
I was looking on ebay a day or two ago and saw a mold that had a mistake in the description. There were no bids and that mold got re-listed. When it was re-listed the mistake in the description was removed. Want to know what the mold was? A REAL H&G #68 in their 4 cavity configuration. If I would have just bid on it when it was first listed I could have gotten it for $10 + shipping! It went the second time for $130 something. It adds a whole new meaning to "you snooze you lose!" I think I am still going to end up with it though, I notice that the person that won it had the same number of transactions as my wife! What a gal!

Enough of that.

I am exclusively using the H&G #68 type of LSWC in my 1911 for all of my shooting at this time. I have several 3lb coffee cans full, or partially full, of them. I have use a bunch of different powders in the 45ACP all with good success. Bullseye is my favorite and I have no problems with it on progressive equipment.

Another favorite powder for target type loads in the 45ACP is AA#2. I haven't gotten around to loading the #68 with it yet but will after the next batch of casting is done.
I know this is much more a matter of ascetics but I prefer the packaging of HP-38 over that of W231. I know they are the same powder but.... I have used it with this bullet, as Paul posted the link, with HP-38. Good success all around.

I can tell you this. When I started in PPC years ago, there was a fellow there that I got to glean a lot from. He was a real revolver pistolero. His main load for competition was 4.5gr of W231 under the H&G bullet. He shot a M625 with a 5" barrel and usually ended up spanking all of us!

I am still trying to determine which is the best powder for my type of shooting. I will try to keep all posted as I experiment.
 
Over the years I’ve found that 5.7grs of W231 to be optimum with bullet weights of 185gr thru 230gr cast, plated or jacketed.
 
Rin
I'm an old bullseye shooter. I use a NEI version of the H&G #68 that actually weighs 210 grains with my alloy. I set my Dillon for 4.5 grains of 231 when I was shooting matches and now it's set for 4.5 grains of Bullseye. The bullet has never changed, point of impact never changed.
My buddy loads the same bullet but uses 6.5 grains of Unique for his IDPA matches.

Jim
 
W231 has been my 45ACP / 45 Auto Rim powder since the mid 80s, replacing Unique only because the 231 measured more consistently. I use 5.6 gr of 231 for 230 gr bullets, and 6.0 gr of 231 for 185s and 200s.

I also use 231 for 9mm, with 5.2 gr under a 115 gr plated lead FMJ for my 9mm subguns. That load runs like a champ in an S&W 76, Sterling Mk4, and Uzi, and works well in 9mm handguns, too. My one Dillon SDB will crank out 350-375 per hour when I hit my stride and start with all primer tubes full.

Noah
 
I used Red Dot under lead .45 bullets for years. I recently switched to WST under poly-coated bullets to reduce the smoke.

WST costs about the same as 231 (it WAS cheaper; now it costs a little more), but meters better.
 
Ron:

I have been using 200 gr LCSWC from Oregon Trail and Missouri Bullet. I have settled on 5.8 gr of W231 and have measured 900fps. I also had good accuracy with the same bullet over 4.6 gr of Bullseye at 830fps.

I hope that helps,

Frank
 
For light loads, CLAYS will perform much like BULLSEYE, but cleaner- 3.5-4.0 grs
For full power loads, UNIVERSAL CLAYS is similar to UNIQUE, but cleaner.5.5-6.0 grs
 
Originally posted by smith crazy:
Ron,
I was looking on ebay a day or two ago and saw a mold that had a mistake in the description. There were no bids and that mold got re-listed. When it was re-listed the mistake in the description was removed. Want to know what the mold was? A REAL H&G #68 in their 4 cavity configuration. If I would have just bid on it when it was first listed I could have gotten it for $10 + shipping! It went the second time for $130 something. It adds a whole new meaning to "you snooze you lose!"
Click to expand...

I've gotten quite a few deals on Ebay cause things were listed wrong or description was poor.

A set of Harley mag wheels with good tires for 40$ comes to mind. OH, and a ...........
 
Old data is only old because it was printed before the laywers [sic] got out of hand.
Click to expand...

Reality check: Old data is OLD for a reason: TIME

Formulas change. Examples are the new iterations of Red Dot and, IIRC, Bullseye and/or Unique.

Old books are still useful for general parameters, but current data should be used for current propellants.
 
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