Powder for .45 ACP

General Firearms Reloading & Ammunition
1

Hey all,
I haven’t purchased powder in a few years. I’ve been running Vitavouri N310 at 3.7 grs with 200g SWC and was wondering what others are using today. I searched the forum, but I did not find recs for .45. I’d like something cleaner burning. Any thought?

Thanks,
Tex

2

I have had good luck with 4.5 g 700X with a 230 g bullet. 4.2 with 200g. Easy on the gun/ shooter

3

i have used win. 231 5- 5.7 grs. behind a hard cast 200 gr. swc. been shooting them for about 20 years very nice load.

4

In order of use:
Unique(only because I have Lbs of it)
WST
W231

5

Winchester WST. It meters well and burns clean.

6

All I use 45 (and 9mm) is titegroup. Not sure you can get a better powder than Vitavouri, but titegroup is good enough and has a very attractive price.

7

I have used WW231 successfully for many years…

8

Another vote for W231. I use 5.5 grs. under a 230 gr. bullet in Winchester brass.

9

I have had good results using 200gr and 230gr bullets in 45ACP with 231, Bullseye, VV320, Green Dot, Red Dot and Titegroup. Any of these powders (except VV320) can be a bit dirty if the loads are too light. Many people like Clays for light loads but I haven’t tried it myself.

Right now I am using 231 for most of my 45 loads. I load to factory spec velocities and 231 has been consistent and clean at those pressures.

10

I like Hodgdon Universal; And with all the warnings about working your own load I been pleased with 5.4g under a 230g bullet.

11

Fond of Bulleye here for all my pistol load needs (9mm, 45acp, .357mag).

12

Thanks everyone for the recommendations. Now I just need to find some powder in stock locally.

Thanks again,
Tex

13

Same here. I suppose you can’t even get this stuff now eh? I’m down to my last pound or so of it.

14

I prefer Clays but in the past have used all previously mentioned & several others.

15

In my experience, the Vihtavuori you’re using is already some of the cleanest burning stuff I’ve used. I use N340 for .40 S&W as well as .45.

Just curious, but why such a fast burning powder? I’ve used N320 and N340. I think N340 would give you a better burn rate, more room for charging errors and higher velocities if thats what you’re looking for.

The vihtavuori website lists between 3.7-4.0 gr for 200gr SWC.

16

Have you tried some VV N330?, I got great results with N340, but N330 seems like it may be perfect, slightly faster than 340, I am going to try some & will post my results when avail.

17

I haven’t. I think the main reason being that every store I’ve purchased has carried either N320 or N340. Now that I’m buying all my supplies almost exclusively online, I might have to try it. Let me know how N330 works out. What type of bullet are you working around? I use Rainier almost exclusively now.

I’ve started to shy away from N320 on my loads because most of my reloading is for 40 S&W and there’s less room for error in that cartridge with faster burning powders.

18

+1 mine is 5gr of 231, same bullet. Good load.

19

I use Clays now because I have it on hand but have also used and like W231.

20

A bit off topic but an excellent powder for 9MM and 40SW is Ramshot Silhouette (formerly Winchester Action Pistol). It was designed for high pressure loads like the 38 Super. It is a ball powder that meters like ball bearings. It is flash suppressed and not very temperature sensitive.

I have used it for max 200gr and 230gr 45 ACP loads and it works very well. It is not a good powder in 45 for light bullets or light loads. It likes high pressure and is somewhat forgiving of modest overloads at the high end.