Best all around Powder for .45 ACP

Hah! I didn't even look at the dates. Yes, I'm sure it's long since been decided by the OP. It is, however, a topic for periodic update as new powders come out.
 
For me, it's still Unique.

For 200grn bullets, I can sub in W231 or WST and be happy, but for 230grn factory-level loads... it's Unique.
 
I would say Bullseye. It may be dirty, I don't know as I shoot cast bullets and they are so filthy it doesn't matter. I clean my guns every 200 to 250 rounds so being dirty is no great concern. I'm currently using WST and may switch to WST totally but too soon to tell.
 
And 6 years later after the original post was made what have we learned ? Everyone has a different opinion, LOL
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No, what we learned is Unique is the best handgun powder evarrrrrrrrrr... everything else pales in comparison. But, you already knew that, right?
 
I tried some Alliant BE-86 they list 45 ACP +P loads these are not +P

Fired from full size H&K USP 45 ACP 230gr lead round nose
5.7 grains average FPS 800
5.9 grains average FPS 800
6.2 grains average FPS 862

Fired from UZI 16 inch barrel
5.7 grains average FPS 989
5.9 grains average FPS 1016
6.2 grains average FPS 1079

Fired from UZI 16 inch barrel 200 grain cast wad cutter
7.3 grains average FPS 1221

I just started loading with this powder .
 
A valid question day to day.
Bullseye is popular since the 1911 pistol, the standard charge was 5 grains of it behind a 230gn round nose bullet as I recall. It is hard to say that is bad.

I am a HP-38/Win 231 guy, because there are good loads for pistol in my .380 9mm and 45 acp pistols. A good powder from .380 all the way up to .44 SP in fact.
I like not having 6 different powders. I think I do have a couple different 1 pound bottles of BE, power pistol, maybe something else I can't recall right now, but three 8 pound jugs of HP-38. Ha.
 
Bullseye, 700X, Solo 1000, AA#2, W231/HP38, AA#5, Unique, just some of my favourite .45 ACP powders.

Don
 
I love this thread.

One thing I can say for sure is that 45 ACP is something of a wild card when it comes to a propellant's burn rate. They tend to behave slower in 45 ACP than other calibers.

W231 (my favorite, to answer the original question) for instance, can be used to wind up some pretty stout 230 grain ammo. We're talking well into the 800 f/s range. Whereas other calibers, moving to a slower powder would be in order.

Someone mentioned Unique. I only use Unique in 45 ACP when I'm going for near-max velocity. It actually runs rather slow in 45 ACP.
 
W231 (my favorite, to answer the original question) for instance, can be used to wind up some pretty stout 230 grain ammo. We're talking well into the 800 f/s range. Whereas other calibers, moving to a slower powder would be in order.

Someone mentioned Unique. I only use Unique in 45 ACP when I'm going for near-max velocity. It actually runs rather slow in 45 ACP.
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I had the opposite experience... I couldn't hardly get my 230grn W231 loads over 800fps, without redlining the load, which I wasn't comfortable doing with W231. My max load of Unique (6.5grn) on the other hand does it handily. I have a lot more experience loading Unique to maximums than any other powder, I've found that it doesn't give pressure spikes like some of the faster powders at max. There is no doubt W231 (and WST) burn cleaner than Unique on the top end, however.
 
The Army marksmanship unit likes a full power load of Vitavouri n310 with a Nosler 185 JHP as their 50 yard bullseye pistol load.

My favorite after using all others you can list over 25 years of shooting and reloading .45 acp is Bullseye. 4.0 grains under a 200 LSWC for a bullseye accuracy load. 6.0 grains under a 185 JHP for self defense.

Some of the bullseye pistol high master shooters at my club swear by accurate arms solo 1000 instead of bullseye, some are using vv N310.
 
I couldn't hardly get my 230grn W231 loads over 800fps, without redlining the load.
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I get 826 f/s (full-size 1911) out of my "set" 230gn PRN using W231. And that's the "set" loading; meaning, in the work up, I "redlined" (good term - I like it ;)) it at a higher charge weight and velocity, then backed it down for the "set." I think it's a good stout round.

My max load of Unique (6.5grn) on the other hand does it handily.
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No doubt. Unique is a slower propellant than W231 - it's going to win the velocity contest every time. My max load of Unique is a little less than yours; and yields 903 f/s (using a JHP - which generally takes less propellant than the PRN used in the above W231 example - so there's some apples n oranges going on here). I've taken it to 932 f/s, but backed off the charge weight for the "set" load (as usual). I never got to 6.5 grains, btw. I "redlined" :p at 6.4.

I have a lot more experience loading Unique to maximums than any other powder, I've found that it doesn't give pressure spikes like some of the faster powders at max.
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Unique is generally well behaved that way. Of course, in general, faster propellants are going to be more temperamental. So, like the velocity contest, it's not really a fair fight. Apples n oranges; so to speak.

There is no doubt W231 burns cleaner than Unique on the top end, however.
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Yeah. W231, being a faster burner, has the advantage there. And W231 has a long-standing, well-deserved reputation of running clean to boot. Unique, not so much. That said however, Unique seems to run plenty clean to me when it's loaded where it likes to run (pumped up).

I used Unique for a while when I first started loading (1984). It fell out of favor with me at the time mostly because I was shooting big magnums and wanted everything full-throttle (youth). I didn't shoot much from the mid-90's through much of 2012. I reached a point in my life when I started to get back into shooting more often. My shooting style changed (age) and I then needed an intermediate burn rate powder - right when the big shortage hit. Out of desperation, I bought 2#'s of Unique; then two more. I was also able to get ahold of other intermediates - AA#5, HS-6 (which I also had previous experience with), and Power Pistol (which is awesome, but that's for another post) - all of which I liked more than Unique.

For about the last two years, I have been working on paring down the number of propellants I am holding in my inventory. Unique is on the cut list. I still have a little over a # and won't miss it when it's gone. It makes good ammo, in some applications; particularly driving 230's in 45 ACP. But it meters wonky as hell. And I find it flighty in 357 Magnum (light bullets), where Power Pistol just beats the tar out of it in every respect. So it's got to go; and I've been loading with it at every opportunity lately - to move it out of inventory. But I have lots of load data, should I need to use it again some day.
 
W231 is generally my first choice for the 45 Auto. Bullseye is great, but it doesn't meter nearly as smoothly through my powder measure. Accurate #5 is another one that has worked well for me.

I've used several other powders, but they haven't done anything better for me than those three listed above.

Most of my 45 Auto loads are for target/plinking.
 
"No, what we learned is Unique is the best handgun powder evarrrrrrrrrr... everything else pales in comparison. But, you already knew that, right?"

I've often said here at TFL that Unique is the single most flexible and useful powder ever offered to the American handloader.

That said, I don't like it, and I don't use it, simply because of its poor metering qualities.
 
That said, I don't like it, and I don't use it, simply because of its poor metering qualities.
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That's my primary reason for not caring for it. But someone here on TFL - and I wish I could remember who it was - suggested using a "double-tap" on the throw lever to pack down the charge more consistently. It works. It really does. It's an inconvenience; but it definitely works. It is the method I will be using until my last # is exhausted.

I've often said here at TFL that Unique is the single most flexible and useful powder ever offered to the American handloader.
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Yeah, I've heard that - a lot. And Alliant proclaims pretty much the same. I'm pretty sure I define "versatile" differently that most. I have no doubt that one could "make do" with Unique in a lot of situations. But I don't craft "make do" ammo.

Here's my experience:

Unique is only useful in 38/44 Special pushing heavies (158/240 respectively), pumped all the way up (or maybe beyond) to the top of "P+." Otherwise, it runs sooty with unspent propellant all about.

Does fairly well pushing heavies in 9mm. But the metering thing makes me a little nervy in such a small case.

Makes good 357 Mag ammo pushing 125's. But even at that, Standard Deviations tend to run high. Seems to settle down a little with mag primers. All in all, I've rather given up on the combo. Velocity lacks with 158's, so that's out.

As for 44 Mag, I suppose results would be similar to 357 Mag; but I don't load that way for 44 Mag. So I'm neutral on my opinion of using Unique with 44 Mag.

I load 10mm Auto; but have never done so with Unique. Neutral.

With 45 ACP, I get high SD's with light bullets. But with 230's - now that's where Unique really shines. I am very pleased with Unique for making both upper tier range shooters (slightly potent); as well as full-throttle bad boys. Yes, Unique does this quite well. And I bet most all of my final # of the stuff will be used for these two loadings.
 
Well, I'm glad this thread was brought back to life. For me, I use Unique, Clays and Universal in the old .45 Auto. Just bought some BE-86 to try. Thinking I'll be staying with Unique and Clays tho.
 
Flexible in that it us useful in probably a broader spectrum of handgun, rifle, and shotgun loads than any other powder.

I never said that it would do everything any other powder would, from powder puff loads to full on magnum thumpers.

It does, like any other powder, have its limitations.
 
Flexible in that it (Unique) is useful in probably a broader spectrum of handgun, rifle, and shotgun loads than any other powder.
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No doubt it fills the cases (and hulls) of many different types of ammunition. I'm pretty sure Unique is older than any living human - that speaks for itself. Crappy powders don't stay popular that long.

It may not be my cup of tea, but that doesn't make it a lousy propellant. No powder is "bad." Every one is useful in some application.

I got to thinking about it, and for me, I would consider AA#5 the most versatile powder I use. I believe #5 is just a tick faster than Unique; but if somebody took issue with that notion, I wouldn't argue the point.

I have successfully used AA#5 in every handgun caliber I load. Like Unique, its use is somewhat limited in the large volume / low pressure 38 & 44 Specials. But other than that, I have used it quite a bit in lots of chamberings. In the magnums, it's reserved for more tame loadings with light bullets - but does this niche well (better than Unique IMO). Makes great 180gn range shooters in 10mm Auto (and probably even better 165's, but I don't shoot 165's). Nice potent 45 ACP rounds - all weights (behaves much better than Unique with light bullets). And 9mm is its wheelhouse caliber. Makes exceptional 9mm ammo - range shooters as well as defense loadings. A bit limited with 147's, but other than that, AA#5 really shines in the 9-mil. I don't load 40 Cal, but I'm sure it would prove exceptional there too.

Runs much cleaner; and meters infinitely better than Unique too.
 
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