winchester 231 and .45 ACP

[David LaPell]

I am branching out into reloading some .45 ACP. Is 231 a good powder for it?

 

[David LaPell]

I am branching out into reloading some .45 ACP. Is 231 a good powder for it?

 

[mstuhr]

Hi Dave,
231 is a very good powder for the .45
Refer to a manual for loads for various bullet weights. Max loads in my man. vary as much as a grain for 200-230 cast/jacketed bullets
Bullseye and Unique are two other powders I like for .45 loads.
Good luck
Mike

 

[Snapping Twig]

Yes. Quite good indeed.

 

[Sgt Preston]

David, I use Win 231 for my 45ACP loads. I fire them out of my S&W PC 945 with excellent accuracy. I typically fire 500 rounds before cleaning the gun. FYI I load 200 grain Berry's copper plated SWC's. I load 5.0 grains of Win 231, set the overall length to 1.250 & crimp to .469 /.470 diameter. My brass is an assortment of used "range brass" & I use Win standard large pistol primers. This load cycles my 945 perfectly 100% of the time. I also use Win 231 for my 38 Specials & 9mm's with similar results. Hope this helps. Sgt Preston USMC LLA

 

[Amici]

Originally posted by David LaPell:
I am branching out into reloading some .45 ACP. Is 231 a good powder for it?

Yes. However, you may also want to look at it's new cousin, Winchester Super Target (WST)

 

[Noah Zark]

Originally posted by Sgt Preston:
David, I use Win 231 for my 45ACP loads . . . FYI I load 200 grain Berry's copper plated SWC's. I load 5.0 grains of Win 231, set the overall length to 1.250 & crimp to .469 /.470 diameter. My brass is an assortment of used "range brass" & I use Win standard large pistol primers. This load cycles my 945 perfectly 100% of the time. I also use Win 231 for my 38 Specials & 9mm's with similar results. Hope this helps. Sgt Preston USMC LLA

Like Sgt Preston, W231 is my "45 ACP powder" and has been for over 25 years. My standard load is 5.2 gr of W231 under a Ranier or Berrys plated 230 gr FMJ. They cycle fine in everything from a 3" Springfield MicroCompact to a 5" Govt Model and SIG 220, to Uzi carbine and Marlin Camp 45. Accuracy is minute of claybird at 25 yds.

Noah

 

[max]

5.0 of 231 and a 200 gr cast swc has been my standard for almost 30 years.

 

[TSQUARED]

I know of a number of people who use W-231 in 5 ACP. Personally I prefer the faster burning powders-HS-700X, American Select, WST or Clays with either lead, plated or jacketed bullets.

 

[xrmattaz]

I've loaded billions of 5.3gr 231 and 230 grain cast bullets for my .45 ACPs........billions.

 

[Steve C]

W231 is a great powder for target loads. Its the fastest of the Winchester powders, meters well and is quite economical. I use for jacketed target loads and lead bullet loads in the .45 acp, 9mm, and .38 spl.

Like any fast burning powder it has its limitations and isn't optimal for higher velocity loads. For defense and military ball equivalent loads with jacketed bullets I prefer Unique.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Its the fastest of the Winchester powders

Almost but not quite. There are three faster powders that Winchester offers. Winchester WAALite, Winchester Super Handicap and WST.

I have never used the first two in the 45ACP or any other cartridge for that matter but WST works very well for target loads and the lighter bullets.


In fact, it smells like Trail Boss when fired, only not as strong.

FWIW

 

[Joni_Lynn]

There's several good powders for 45acp, WW231 & HP38 (same thing) are my favorites