45 ACP Powder Preferences

Overly-explanitory, open ended question, with no real difinitive answer (perfect for a forum):
I am currently loading 45 acp with federal LP primers, mixed brass, jacketed 230 gr .451 "zero" projectile at full OAL, and Universal powder. I just bought two pounds of titegroup to try. I've heard that accurate #5 is good, as well. What do YOU use for your 1911? ready...go...

I've used Titegroup with success and also Bullseye. My favorite for cast loads is WST and my go to powder for hp and some fmj is Unique.

All in all, I use WST 80% of the time...so I guess that's my #1 choice in 45acp. WST is also my powder of choice for light 12 gauge loads.So..yeah, I use it alot

200gr SWC, Winchester LP, and Bullseye is usually what I use.

Accurate 2, 5, and 7 are all listed as powders suitable for the .45 ACP. I have never used them though.

I use a lot of Bullseye which is my go to powder for plinking loads, but lately I have been trying some Win Autocomp. It is super fine powder, worse than TAC, and if you use one of the older Lee powder measures will leak all over the place.

I have used WSF a few times and it was OK. I still load most of my cast and jacketed plinking .45 ACP loads with Bullseye because I have a 8 lbs jug that I bought a few years ago before prices got stupid. I have about half that jug left.

I like IMRsr4756 a lot. I started using it because I had 24lbs of it. reckon im down to about 18 - 20 lbs now. I used to use Bullseye and I liked it ok but for the same velocity the bullseye is a lot more snappy on the recoil and the IMRsr4756 is more of a push which I have learned to really appreciate. Both seem equal to me in terms of cleanliness.

6.3 6.8gr IMRsr4756 WWLP primer 230gr Lead

i have a pound of IMR 4756, still haven't cracked it. The universal seemed less "snappy" (taken from Reload3006) than factory loads, but is a little more dirty. Does anyone have an opinion on titegroup?

I used Titegroup when I was loading 9mm and it was fine. Much cleaner than WSF and Bullseye.

I do not mind the "snappy" feel of the Bullseye but it does burn a little dirty.

I use Titegroup and for the 45 loads and am happy with it.

Titegroup is good in my book. It burns clean, and isn't affected by unused case volume. It doesn't take much powder either, so it last longer.

In the same ballpark as Bullseye, really.

I have used IMR 700X and Unique for years. I just started using Winchester 231 and have been impressed.

tripples wrote:I have used IMR 700X and Unique for years. I just started using Winchester 231 and have been impressed.

Just FYI: Winchester 231 and Hodgdon HP38 are the same powder.

EdgarEg wrote:

tripples wrote:I have used IMR 700X and Unique for years. I just started using Winchester 231 and have been impressed.

Just FYI: Winchester 231 and Hodgdon HP38 are the same powder.

That's good to know, thanks

Just finished a few hundred rounds with 4.6 gr. of titegroup, Federal primers, 230 gr. FMJ zero's and mixed brass. I will give a full report when I have empty cases and a full brass bag.

Longshot here ,but keep an eye on the tolerance

Unique is something I have always used. Creature of habbit, worked good the first time, did not see any reason for me to change lol.

george457d wrote:Longshot here ,but keep an eye on the tolerance

Tolerance? which one? powder? OAL?

Lately I have been loading stiff Bullseye plinking loads in a bunch of .45 Super cases to shoot in my .45 Win Mag T/C barrel.

The Bullseye is laid under a 185 gr truncated cone cast plain base in Starline cases that have been flash hole chamfered, primer pockets swaged and cut square with the base.

I was given the .45 Super brass by someone that used to own a converted and customized S&W 4506 but sold it when times got tight. He thought he had sold all the brass with the gun but found some while cleaning out his garage and gave it to me.

It is a fun plinking round in my 14" T/C Contender barrel which was worked over by Mike Bellm in Colorado to have a longer and smoother forcing cone.

I have the bullet seater set long so as not to able to chamber these rounds accidentally in one of my .45 ACP pistols.

I am friendly with a local organic dairy farmer who lets me come on his place and shoot nuisance starlings, crows, magpies, and feral pigeons. I would love to shoot one of the nuisance birds with my pet load but fear the round would poke holes in his building's roofs.