Best powder for soft shooting 230gr .45acp from a 5 inch barrel?

L

Left Coast Aenema

New member
I want to hear everyone's opinion on the best powder for my purpose. I am shooting a .45 1911 Government model. I shoot 230gr lead bullets. For practice I tend to load on the lighter side (lower velocity range, or medium). I am looking for something for practice: clean, accurate, and light recoiling.

Opinions?
 
230g BULLET WILL NEVER BE 'LIGHT-RECOILING'

Any case (prefer IMI), CCI300, 5.0-5.3g W231, OAL 1.255-1.265", finish using LEE Carbide Factory Crimp die.
 
Okay, so all things are relative. ;) To me, a 230gr bullet at 800 fps out of a 1911 is pretty soft shooting.
Of course, I am not purely interested in any exact velocity, but just a load that feels softer than a +P and does not beat up my aluminum-framed gun.

So far, two votes for W231. All I have used so far is WST, by the way, so any comparisons to that would be appreciated.

Many more opinions are welcome. I would love to see 50 replies to this post with a nice widespread group of opinions.

Thanks!
 
YOUR RESULTS WILL NOT VARY

1) W231

2) Bullseye

3) AA2

4) Nitro 100

5) HP-38

6) N320

7) AA5

8) 700X

9) PB

10) Clays

Other choices, but these (as ranked) work best in low-mid 45ACP loads, when RECOIL and ACCURACY are your desired criteria.
 
I used Winchester 231.

According to MY loading record...

4.5 gr gives 680 fps (this load is light and is not totally reliable)
4.8 gr gives 760 fps
5.1 gr gives 790 fps (most accurate load in my pistol)
5.4 gr gives 840 fps (duplicates factory ball ammo)
5.6 gr gives 860 fps (this load is a little warm)

These velocities are from my 5" Colt.

Personally I never got really good accuracy with 230 gr LRN bullets but your gun may like it. YMMV
 
Unique 4.7 to 5.0 gr. under a 230 gr LRN.


In my Kimber Custom Target:
Mild load, and at the low end I'm guessing it's only around 11K of pressure. A 4.7 gr charge gives me ultra accurate 10 to 25 foot practice ammo. Sub 1 inch off hand is common.

In my Colt Commander:
The same load patterns like a shotgun.
 
How were your loads using WST powder. I used 231 for years and it was great. I now am using WST and a 200gr. cast swc in my 1911s with great results. I would like to hear about your reults using WST and 230gr bullets.
 
VV-N340 is the cleanest shooting powder I have ever used. (It is the only VV powder I have used but it leaves FAR less residue than any other powder I have reloaded with.)

Regards,
George
In sunny Arizona
 
I use 700-X with a cast 230 LRN.

Up until recently, I shot quite a bit of trap & skeet, and loaded my shotshells with it. Bought in 12-pound kegs "at cost" through the trap club's FFL, it was the CHEAPEST powder I could find...and it works well.
 
As much as I appreciate the advice here, I found that I like Winchester Super Target (WST) better.

I bought a pound of W231 and tried it out. It is great powder! It is clean burning and pleasant to shoot.

I loaded 5.1gr W231 under a 230gr Hardcast lead bullet.

I compared it with loads of WST 4.5gr.

The W231 felt as it had more recoil and blast, even though velocities are comparable.

They were both clean burning at those charges.

The W231 printed horribly at about 3-5 inches at 25 yards and the WST printed a stellar 1-2 inches. The patterns were vastly different, with the W231 throwing wild flyers that opened up the groups. The WST on the other hand was very consistent with tight groups.

The W231 rates very high on my scale, and perhaps with other loads etc it is more accurate, but in the end it made me appreciate WST a lot more.


The mistake I made before I started this thread I with WST was loading it at 4.2gr and it was not burning as clean. Upping my charge to 4.5 gr makes me very happy with WST, as it burns very clean now and is very accurate, with relatively low blast and apparent recoil, with outstanding accuracy.


Thanks everyone!
 
Shooting 460 Rowland pressures in a 45 acp rifle with 230 gr Montana Gold, I have found that AA#5, Power Pistol, and LONGSHOT give good trajectory at 100 yards.

2400 is not as good.
 
Soft shooting .45

I tell myself, over and over, even to stay out of the discussion if not prepared to answer the question actually asked, but I can't help myself.

Ok LCA that was fair warning not to read further. If you're still with me let me say that it has been my experience with the .45 ACP that a fine, soft shooting practice load can often be developed by leaving all alse the same and merely substituting a lighter bullet.

I shoot a 235 SWC over 7.1 of VV N350. Substituting a 200 SWC gives a very pleasant practice load that shot to the same POA at pin distances and was easy to distinguish from "match" ammo. It's a good thing not to bring the light loads on match day.

Same result substituting the 200 SWC for the 225 TC in my IPSC load (about 6.5 gr of N350)

A very nice target load (and useful for plates, etc.) can be put together using 3.9 to 4.1 of N310 under a 200gr SWC. Tune for accuracy over this range. You may need a lighter recoil spring at the lower end of the range.

Cheers,

Norm
 
My recipe for light .45 ACP target loads:

230 grain Berry's TCJ-RN bullet
Winchester, Federal, Remington, CCI, or Fiocchi primer
5.5 grains of Hodgdon Universal Clays
COAL 1.260"

Clean burning, low flash.
 
V-V N340 for mid velocity loads. Like George H says plus low flash. I got good results using this powder with West Coast Bullets 230gr plated roundnose. I was goofing around looking for a "practice load" during some kind of major mental fade. Lulled into a ludicrous, braindead state by my bucolic, semi-rural surroundings, I guess. Fortunately this lasted for only 1 (ONE!) practice session. Then I came to my senses and worked up a load that more closely approximates the load I carry. Stay safe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top