w231 & HP-38 replacement for new 45 acp ReLoader

[MJFlores]

Honestly, I cant imagine looking for a substitute to HP-38 when it's readily available. I would suggest you buy a pound and try it, I'd imagine you;d quickly be buying an 8 pounder afterwards. It's my favorite powder, and the only one I use in .44 mag and special, .45 acp, 38sp, and 357 mag.

 

[caduceus]

Glad all are ignoring American Select (Smile)

 

[Bkreutz]

I notice in a lot of posts that people are saying that their local supplier doesn't have powder. When the powder shortage started a few years ago, powder wasn't available (or very expensive) at my local sources. I started buying online because I could find powder (it wasn't easy, but it was there). Powder is still spotty locally, but I'm still buying online because the prices have come down. I just ordered 16 lbs of Autocomp on Thursday from Wideners (they had it on sale, imagine that) after hazmat and shipping, I'm getting it for $20 per lb delivered to my door. (it will be here Tuesday) Wideners puts different powders on sale on an almost daily basis, I signed up for email notices. I kept watching Autocomp dropping in price until I couldn't resist. Just thought I'd pass this on. One never knows what the future availability of powder will be, especially after the upcoming election.

 

[fredj338]

Honestly, I cant imagine looking for a substitute to HP-38 when it's readily available. I would suggest you buy a pound and try it, I'd imagine you;d quickly be buying an 8 pounder afterwards. It's my favorite powder, and the only one I use in .44 mag and special, .45 acp, 38sp, and 357 mag.

If that is all you use in your magnums, you are short changing yourself. Any medium burner is a better tool for the magnums, Unique up thru hs6.

 

[imakmst]

I load Bullseye for .45 ACP, and I buy it when I find because I load Bullseye for .45 ACP.

 

[ninjatoth]

thanks for the thoughtfull comments.

being as I have'nt loaded pistol before. what is the ballpark number of rounds from 8 lbs?

Beartooth Bullets > Ballistician's Corner > Loads/Pound of Powder

This can give you ballparks, so in my instance, for low end .38spl's, an 8lb jug of lets say TiteGroup would yield around 8,000 rounds. In .45acp that would be closer to 6,000 rounds for that particular powder etc.

 

[venomballistics]

you are a new loader ... eliminate titegroup from your list.
This might be a good powder for those seasoned and versed, but for those who might not really know the quirks of their equipment yet, its a KB waiting for a place to be.
Instead, you are better off with slower powders that will better forgive misunderstandings between lab data and reality.
Power Pistol, Unique, Universal, CFE Pistol will do better for you.

 

[jimbo728]

Shelfs were full of 231 and HP 38 today at my LGS. A welcome sight.
Its my goto powder for .38spl, .45 Auto and .44mag light shooters with cast bullets.
Jim

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I use mostly W231 offloading the 45 ACP and I highly doubt it's going anywhere anytime soon. Even if it were to be discontinued I would buy 2x 8Lb jugs and probably be set for life. If I had to substitute I would use Ranshot Zip. I also like AA#5 in the 45 ACP

 

[MJFlores]

If that is all you use in your magnums, you are short changing yourself. Any medium burner is a better tool for the magnums, Unique up thru hs6.

I dont have to have recoil just to have fun. With HP-38, I get velocities in the 1100 fps range in my magnums, a clean gun, very clean cases that barely need to be tumbled, great accuracy, and very long case life. I don't feel short changed, I think I've found the best powder for my needs.

 

[linko]

you are a new loader ... eliminate titegroup from your list.
This might be a good powder for those seasoned and versed, but for those who might not really know the quirks of their equipment yet, its a KB waiting for a place to be.
Instead, you are better off with slower powders that will better forgive misunderstandings between lab data and reality.
Power Pistol, Unique, Universal, CFE Pistol will do better for you.

Thank you for pointing out that titegroup is easy to load incorrectly when not careful. I saw others mentioned this also.

 

[linko]

Mid Post takeaway.

4 powders look to be favorites

Bullseye
CFE Pistol
HP-38
W 231

These are recommended but not as often

Power Pistol
Unique
Universal
Autocomp

I plan to load with a Dillon 550, so metering is very important. Are all 8 powers equally well metering?

And any additional info on the second 4 powders I listed is welcome

 

[smokindog]

It's like being in a candy store these days compared to the recent drought Lot's more than this in stock but .........

Hodgdon CFE Pistol Smokeless Powder 8 Lb by HODGDON , IMR & WINCHESTER
Winchester Autocomp Smokeless Powder 8 Lbs by HODGDON , IMR & WINCHESTER
Hodgdon Titegroup Smokeless Powder 8 Lbs by HODGDON , IMR & WINCHESTER

 

[GCF]

Mid Post takeaway.

4 powders look to be favorites

Bullseye
CFE Pistol
HP-38
W 231

These are recommended but not as often

Power Pistol
Unique
Universal
Autocomp

I plan to load with a Dillon 550, so metering is very important. Are all 8 powers equally well metering?

And any additional info on the second 4 powders I listed is welcome

I've found that Unique's metering characteristics leave something to be desired - w/ my Dillon 550 powder dispenser.

That said, when hand measuring (which I do a lot of), It works well for heavy bullets - in large cases.

Interestingly, no one has mentioned VV N-310 for .45acp. Pricy, but popular. Got a reputation for clean burn, efficiency, & accuracy.

VV powders provide fairly good, case filling bulk, & also meter very well.

 

[venomballistics]

Mid Post takeaway.

4 powders look to be favorites

Bullseye
CFE Pistol
HP-38
W 231

These are recommended but not as often

Power Pistol
Unique
Universal
Autocomp

I plan to load with a Dillon 550, so metering is very important. Are all 8 powers equally well metering?

And any additional info on the second 4 powders I listed is welcome

these shouldn't necessarily be sorted into a powder popularity contest.
often times in a Ford Vs Chevy debate, its most gratifying to drive away in the Porsche

a better way of looking at powders, quirks aside, is to organize them like gears in a transmission.
of the 8 we will drop Unique for its dubious metering leaving 7
HP-38 and 231 are the same powder so its really 6

bullseye ... clearly first gear
231 is probably second
power pistol and auto comp run tight to eachother for third
cfe pistol 4th


Universal fits somewhere in the power pistol area as well

Where an engine might make peak power at 5000 RPM and become shrapnel after 6500, this stuff works similarly.
Powders come into their grooves at some point in the upper end of the pressure curve without playing chicken with the redline.

you need an easy shooting target load ... bullseye might be your thing.
want a little more power to make that 45 feel like what you paid for, something out of second or third gear might be what your looking for.
defense / bear / special collection .... 4th gear.

 

[linko]

these shouldn't necessarily be sorted into a powder popularity contest.
often times in a Ford Vs Chevy debate, its most gratifying to drive away in the Porsche

a better way of looking at powders, quirks aside, is to organize them like gears in a transmission.
of the 8 we will drop Unique for its dubious metering leaving 7
HP-38 and 231 are the same powder so its really 6

bullseye ... clearly first gear
231 is probably second
power pistol and auto comp run tight to eachother for third
cfe pistol 4th


Universal fits somewhere in the power pistol area as well

Where an engine might make peak power at 5000 RPM and become shrapnel after 6500, this stuff works similarly.
Powders come into their grooves at some point in the upper end of the pressure curve without playing chicken with the redline.

you need an easy shooting target load ... bullseye might be your thing.
want a little more power to make that 45 feel like what you paid for, something out of second or third gear might be what your looking for.
defense / bear / special collection .... 4th gear.

Hey thats great, being a car guy that makes a lot of sense. Thanks. Not having loaded pistol rounds I started with the favorites approach. your explanation is better.

se

 

[linko]

do all weights and type of bullets work with all of the powders we are discussing or is it based on burn rate?

 

[OldChief]

I'm an OLD bullseye guy. Have used it since I began loading pistol many years ago. For .38 at the range, I load 3.2 grains of BE pushing a 158 grain plated semi-wadcutter produced by Xtreme bullets from Carson City, NV. Comfortable load which won't beat your hand and very accurate. As for the .45 ACP, I load 4.2 grains of BE pushing a 200 grain plated semi-wadcutter also from Xtreme. Again, this is a load that doesn't beat you up and provides excellent accuracy.

 

[SLT223]

Any of the very fast powders will work best for moderate target loads. If this is the route you go, try to find some Hodgdon Clays or Alliant Bullseye. If you want to velocity a bit, try the medium burn rate powders like BE86, HS6, Unique. The medium powders work best toward the warm end of their load spectrum.

 

[Bkreutz]

these shouldn't necessarily be sorted into a powder popularity contest.
often times in a Ford Vs Chevy debate, its most gratifying to drive away in the Porsche

a better way of looking at powders, quirks aside, is to organize them like gears in a transmission.
of the 8 we will drop Unique for its dubious metering leaving 7
HP-38 and 231 are the same powder so its really 6

bullseye ... clearly first gear
231 is probably second
power pistol and auto comp run tight to eachother for third
cfe pistol 4th


Universal fits somewhere in the power pistol area as well

Where an engine might make peak power at 5000 RPM and become shrapnel after 6500, this stuff works similarly.
Powders come into their grooves at some point in the upper end of the pressure curve without playing chicken with the redline.

you need an easy shooting target load ... bullseye might be your thing.
want a little more power to make that 45 feel like what you paid for, something out of second or third gear might be what your looking for.
defense / bear / special collection .... 4th gear.

I'm going to disagree a bit. From what I've observed, CFE Pistol and Autocomp are the same powder (much like HP38 and W231). I use both powders CFE for minor and Autocomp for major power factors. But I have substituted CFE for Autocomp in my powder drop, didn't change any settings, and the weight of the powder was identical for both powders, then I shot them over a chrono and found that up to 160 power factor, they both shot the same speed. Now when I got over 165 and finally to the 172 that I normally shoot 9 major, the CFE was 20 fps slower. I was getting 1380 fps from CFE and 1400 from Autocomp. Hard to say what the difference was caused by, I could load up some new rounds and the results could be reversed. But in the minor power factor range, I use them interchangeably.

Disclaimer...9Major loads are not for the inexperienced (or timid). the load data is well off the chart on the right side of published data

 

[scattershot]

231 and HP38 aren't going anywhere to my knowledge. Hodgdon sells tons of the stuff, and it,wouldn't make much sense for them to discontinue it.

That said, if you want another powder that works well in the 45ACP, look at Bullseye, Unique, or Red Dot.

 

[stan v]

HP 38 and Win 231 are both available at Powder Valley in 8lb's

OOPS! 231 in 4lb

 

[Sauergrapes]

Glad all are ignoring American Select (Smile)

LOL, yeah, me too! Surprising how many calibers I can use it for.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

HP 38 and Win 231 are both available at Powder Valley in 8lb's

OOPS! 231 in 4lb

I really like the fact W231 comes in 4lb jugs. I have 3 left but just opened one. Even though I load a lot it still lasts a long time because I don't use much in each case. The possibility of the powder going bad is less when tapping a 4lb jug than an 8lb jug. I fill a 1lb jug with the bigger jug for loading.

I just hope Hodgdon doesn't stop selling the 4lb jugs.

 

[stan v]

I picked up an 8lb jug of Universal a month or so ago before 231 was back in stock. I do keep my powder and primers in a/c.

If this stuff lasts as long as my SR 7625 and SR 4756 have I'll be happy.

 

[ChuckS1]

Bullseye is all you need.

 

[Thomas15]

What was the original question?

Oh yes, what powder to use for 45 ACP instead of W231 or HP-38?

Good question anyone know the answer?

 

[arjay]

Unique,Bullseye,Herco,etc... [emoji12]

 

[Thomas15]

Unique,Bullseye,Herco,etc... [emoji12]

I think you might have forgotten one?