Which powder for .45acp?

[MoJo]

I use Unique and have used most of the ones mentioned above from time to time. I am experimenting with IMR Trail Boss in .38 Special and .45 ACP in both cartrages 4.5 gr seems to work well. I use a 125 gr cast bullet in .38 and a 230gr Ranier round nose in .45. I got the load dats from Hodgdon's website. Both loads are soft shooting and make IDPA power factor in my guns. It meters like water, it's impossible to double charge, it's very bulky. Hdgdon says you can/t put enough Trail Boss into a pistol case to cause a Kboom unless you have compressed the charge. (Fill the case then seat the bullet)

Try it you may like it.

[chuckfw]

I have been using Unique and Bullseye for many years in .45acp, .38 spl and 9mm (read thousands of rounds in each caliber). Both meter well, are very consistant and versitile powders. Never saw a need to change, but I will admit....I would like a cleaner powder if it gives similiar ballistics.

[HankB]

I used to use Bullseye - with a 200 grain SWC bullet, 3.5 grains is a very light "plinking" load that still functions in my NM, and 4.2 grains is good out to at least 50 yards for paper punching.

My "competition" load essentially duplicates hardball ballistics - 4.8 grains of 700-X under a cast 230 grain round nose. I started using 700-X when I was shooting and reloading for trap and skeet, and buying it in 12-lb kegs.

[A-R]

Hope y'all don't mind me tagging on to this thread instead of starting my own (my questions are very closely related) ...

I just started reloading last week. Picked up a good deal on a used RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Kit (the one Cabelas sells for about $330 - got the complete kit in original boxes AND a three-die set of RCBS carbide .45 ACP dies for $250 gently used - scale had barely been touched as owner used a digital instead).

Anyway, I went to Cabelas to stock up on primers, powder, and a few bullets to start. Went with Fed 150 primers and Berry's 230-grain plated bullets as I had loaded those before on my buddy's press and they worked fine. But they were out of Titegroup so the helpful sales guy steered me toward Bullseye.

Loaded my first 100 or so rounds with three different grain measurements and found both my .45s (M&P full size 4.5-inch barrel and a Springfield 1911 full-size 5-inch barrel) liked 4.6 grains best, with M&P favoring the lighter 4.2 grains second best and 1911 favoring the 5.0 grains second best.

So far I'm happy, but am interested in knowing which powders would:

a) shoot a bit cleaner - Bullseye is not horrible dirty like Monarch or Wolf ammo, but I'd say it is probably on par with WWB - ultimately would like something a bit cleaner if possible

b) meter a bit better - of course, this could be a slight problem with either my RCBS powder measure, RCBS 5-0-5 scale, or just that I'm a bit to anal retentive with such things. But I did notice some slight variations in powder throw when I checked every 5-10 throws as recommended (and it usually varied upward - meaning if I started with everything checked, rechecked, and triple checked at 4.6 grains - it would inch up to 4.7 or even 4.8 grains after about 10 throws.

Am I being TOO particular about it? My initial setup and check procedure is to throw about 5 measures to get the powder measure primed. then throw single measures and weigh each until I nail the targeted grain weight. Then throw 10 measures into same pan and weigh that to see if I'm off by more than a few 10ths of a grain on a 10X measurement.

Lastly, I'd also like to know best way to get some super low-recoil 230-grain "mouse fart" loads. I'm considering using my M&P45 to compete in BOTH SSP and CDP divisions of IDPA. The CDP power factor is easy enough - 165,000 = 230 gr. x 718 fps. But how low can you get a 230 gr. .45? SSP pf is 125,000 = 230 x 545 ... probably too low, but what's a good muzzle velocity to aim for in a consistent .45 load (600? 625? 650?) and what's the best way to get there? Have shot .38 special loaded with Trail Boss that hit below 600 on the chrono with no problems (but that is obviously a wheel gun, with no recoil spring issues to worry about).

Anyway, I've much enjoyed reading this thread as I start the reloading adventure. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

EDITED to ADD: on the "mouse fart" loads, I guess I could go with a lighter bullet too. Just checked IMR manufacturer data on Trail Boss and they show about 650 fps on the low starting end with either 185, 200, or 230 grain ... but wondering which of these would have lowest "felt recoil" if anyone has first-hand experience.

[Jumping Frog]

But they were out of Titegroup so the helpful sales guy steered me toward Bullseye.

a) shoot a bit cleaner - Bullseye is not horrible dirty like Monarch or Wolf ammo, but I'd say it is probably on par with WWB - ultimately would like something a bit cleaner if possible

b) meter a bit better - of course, this could be a slight problem with either my RCBS powder measure, RCBS 5-0-5 scale, or just that I'm a bit to anal retentive with such things. But I did notice some slight variations in powder throw when I checked every 5-10 throws as recommended (and it usually varied upward - meaning if I started with everything checked, rechecked, and triple checked at 4.6 grains - it would inch up to 4.7 or even 4.8 grains after about 10 throws.

Am I being TOO particular about it?

I wouldn't sweat a variation of 0.1-0.2 gr. I don't notice any difference in accuracy with that kind of variation.

Clays is cheap like Bullseye, but burns cleaner. It doesn't measure as easily as Bullseye. It measures close enough for me.

But how low can you get a 230 gr. .45? SSP pf is 125,000 = 230 x 545 ... probably too low, but what's a good muzzle velocity to aim for in a consistent .45 load (600? 625? 650?)

I've always heard when you get much below 700 fps you are risking getting a bullet stuck in the barrel.

[Texas Size 11]

Alliant Unique like some of the others have mentioned.

[A-R]

I've always heard when you get much below 700 fps you are risking getting a bullet stuck in the barrel.

Thanks for the tips.

Quick follow up to quoted sentence above. In your mind, would this apply to any round from any gun any caliber? Only .45 ACP? Only .45 from a 1911?

Reason I ask is I've routinely fired .38 special loads doing less than 700 fps with no problems (but perhaps I was ignorantly taking risks).

[Jumping Frog]

(but perhaps I was ignorantly taking risks).

Yep.

[HankB]

I've always heard when you get much below 700 fps you are risking getting a bullet stuck in the barrel.

The 3.5 Bullseye / 200 LSWC load clocks about 630 - 650 out of a 5" 1911 - I've fired thousands of rounds of this with nary a problem.

[Jumping Frog]

I've always heard when you get much below 700 fps you are risking getting a bullet stuck in the barrel.

The 3.5 Bullseye / 200 LSWC load clocks about 630 - 650 out of a 5" 1911 - I've fired thousands of rounds of this with nary a problem.

Yeah, there is more leeway with lead. Jacketed creates more resistance against the rifling and at 630 would be a far larger risk.

[A-R]

I've always heard when you get much below 700 fps you are risking getting a bullet stuck in the barrel.

The 3.5 Bullseye / 200 LSWC load clocks about 630 - 650 out of a 5" 1911 - I've fired thousands of rounds of this with nary a problem.

Yeah, there is more leeway with lead. Jacketed creates more resistance against the rifling and at 630 would be a far larger risk.

How does plated fit into that comparison? Berrys says to load on the low to mid range of jacketed bullet load data.

[rm9792]

bullseye for over 10k rounds, works fine.

[Bear67]

I have been loading .45acp since 1959 for plinking competition and SD. 95% of these loads were with Bullseye and Unique--Buy it in big containers and shoot a lot. I am loading lots of plated bullets right now and find loads in the mid range of recomendations work fine. I am not casting as many bullets as I think old age is making me sorry.

[mktacop]

FWIW, i loaded some 230gr LRN with 4.0 gr Clays, got an average of 730fps. Nice soft recoil (maybe equates to the "mouse fart" load you are looking for. Pretty darn accurate out of my 5" 1911.

Loaded the same bullet with 4.1 gr Clays and averaged 814 fps. Still a nice recoil but a bit more speed. Both rounds are nice and accurate and either would make IDPA power factor.

As an earlier poster said, Clays is a nice clean-burning powder. It meters very well in my Dillon measure.

[Reloader]

Other good choices are Titegroup and Win 452AA (don't know what replaced it), Red Dot, and Herco (smokey, but accurate).