Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

[RoosterShooter]

I shot some Power Pistol through my Kimber this evening, and really liked the flash and bang. However, I'm looking for a new 9mm & 45 ACP powder.

Between these listed what is the better powder and why?

Accurate #2, #5, or #7

Win231

Titegroup

Any other powder you decide.

In <span style="text-decoration: underline">9mm I shoot a lot of 125 gr. HAP</span> bullets, and in <span style="text-decoration: underline">.45 ACP I shoot a lot of 200gr. Lead & 230 gr. FMJ</span>.

Any thoughts?

Also, I'd like a powder with good case fill, because I reload on a progressive press and monitor the powder in station 4.

 

[buffybuster]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

W231 is a very good powder for both 9x19mm and 45ACP. Also meters very well and gives decent casefill.

 

[AK264]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

WSF great v, low flash, burns clean, low charge weight,everone that trys it stays with it.

 

[caseyru67]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

Hodgon clays is very soft and clean burning in the .45

 

[RoosterShooter]

Re: Your Favorite Powder for 9mm & 45 ACP?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: buffybuster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">W231 is a very good powder for both 9x19mm and 45ACP. Also meters very well and gives decent casefill. </div></div>

I've heard a lot of good things about W231 which is why I mentioned it. Among 9mm & 45 ACP reloaders it is said to be as commonly known as Unique is in the Lead Shooters arena. In other words, every seasoned reloader has tried it at least once.

I do like the idea that the min. & max charge weight vary by as much as 1 grain in some loads. That leaves a lot of room for error, especially on an auto powder press.

Should I try W231 and see how she does?

 

[Jeremy45]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

Have recently started using Winchester WST in my .45 and have been really pleased with it. Accuracy is great, fills the case just past 1/3 and is a white-ish color which makes it really easy to see when watching for powder in a progressive.

Jeremy45

 

[bobke]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

4.8 WST is my standard for 200gr swc in 45 for IDPA. Clean, accurate, good case fill and visisble when loading on progressive. 231 and Titegroup good choices for both 9/45 cast bullets. Clays is excellent in 45, but watch pressure, as it ramps up quickly with charge wt. Power Pistol good, if at higher pressures/velocity range, not as good at low/moderate velocity.

 

[memyselfi]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

for my 2 cents I use Hodgen titegroup in all, but large magnum calibers. Works well for cast and jacketed bullets, a little on the dirty side but a little goes a long way.

 

[buffybuster]

Re: Your Favorite Powder for 9mm & 45 ACP?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RoosterShooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: buffybuster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">W231 is a very good powder for both 9x19mm and 45ACP. Also meters very well and gives decent casefill. </div></div>

I've heard a lot of good things about W231 which is why I mentioned it. Among 9mm & 45 ACP reloaders it is said to be as commonly known as Unique is in the Lead Shooters arena. In other words, every seasoned reloader has tried it at least once.

I do like the idea that the min. & max charge weight vary by as much as 1 grain in some loads. That leaves a lot of room for error, especially on an auto powder press.

Should I try W231 and see how she does? </div></div>

There may be cleaner burning powders but W231 is the standby and I certainly recommend it.

 

[koz]

Re: Your Favorite Powder for 9mm & 45 ACP?

If you like Win231, Ramshot ZIP performs identically. It seems to bit a little bit cleaner than the 231.

 

[Friar]

Re: Your Favorite Powder for 9mm & 45 ACP?

For the 45 I've been loading Bullseye. I have a can of unopened 231 that I want to try. I fired a box of a friends reloads (230 gr. rn with 231)and I liked it.

 

[mnhntr]

Re: Your Favorite Powder for 9mm & 45 ACP?

I do not load for the 9mm but I like Tightgroup and A#5. A#5 is my go to for the .45acp. I use 200gr plated SWC and 8.1gr of A#5.

 

[rdinak]

Re: Your Favorite Powder for 9mm & 45 ACP?

WST does well in both.

 

[sic65stang]

Re: Your Favorite Powder for 9mm & 45 ACP?

+1 For bullseye I like it for my 45acp as well... I may move to something different because I do not really like how it meters but it performs well.

 

[sawgunner2001]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

I've been using Unique successfully in both 9mm and 45ACP. As soon as I burn up the rest of my current 4# jug, I'm gonna try some Titegroup for better metering and cleaner burning. I've thought about trying W231 also, but have heard reports that it isn't much cleaner than Unique. Considering I've still got about 2# to go, I may end up changing my mind and trying W231 before Titegroup....still undecided. How's that for a wishy-washy opinion?

 

[Deadshot2]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

What's wrong with the Power Pistol. I use it exclusively for my 9mm. Works great in .45acp too.

If you're using it, why change. Those others are good, but are they really "better"?

For me, Power Pistol meters fantastically in my Dillon Powder dispenser. Case fill is excellent. Depending on load, well over 90%. Great speeds with common bullet weights.

As for the "flash/bang" I've found that adding a little crimp can reduce some of that. Gets the powder burning before the bullet starts to move.

 

[Mordamer]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

I use Accurate No. 7 for 9mm. It burns clean, meters very nicely, and fills up a large portion of the case so that visual checking is easy.

 

[buffybuster]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

I've used a few pounds of Titegroup in 9x19mm and 45ACP. While it works well, my observations are:

1) It a very fast powder with a narrow pressure window (not much room between min-max).
2) Takes up very little volume in the case, easy to double charge, if you're not careful.
3) Seems to burn hotter than other powders. Smoky with cast lead bullets.

I still sometimes use Titegroup but only with jacketed bullets.

 

[Silverbullet2]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

I used Vit 340 for years in 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP. When I got my first Dillon 650, I didn't want to use the wrong powder. I bought a bunch of 4 pounders, and now down to just a few, will be Keeping tabs on this one.... JPG

 

[yourcfi]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

I have been using VV N-320 in the 9 & 40, sorry no 45 here. Pricey but it is clean

 

[montgomery627]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

If u don't mind paying a little more, VV N-320 is the way to go. On a poor mans budget, TiteGroup.

 

[RoosterShooter]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MNS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have been using VV N-320 in the 9 & 40, sorry no 45 here. Pricey but it is clean </div></div>

I've wondered if Vihtavouri was a viable option. I've shot it for several years in Wolf Match Target .22 lr. ammo during competitions, and it seems like a very clean burning powder.

It's my understanding that in the US our powder is made from charcoal. This makes it burn dirty, and Vihtavouri is made from cotton which is cleaner burning with less residue.

 

[fusiachi]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

For pure ballistic performance I've found PowerPistol to be head and shoulders above 231 and Unique under 124 & 147s in the 9 and 230s in the .45. It's only shortcoming is the aforementioned flash in low light conditions. It's not Blue Dot bad, but it's bad.

 

[rweaver00geo]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

How bout clays universal?

 

[buffybuster]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fusiachi</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For pure ballistic performance I've found PowerPistol to be head and shoulders above 231 and Unique under 124 & 147s in the 9 and 230s in the .45. It's only shortcoming is the aforementioned flash in low light conditions. It's not Blue Dot bad, but it's bad. </div></div>

No argument there; PowerPistol is an excellent performance powder. Depends on what you're looking for: Performance or Economics.

 

[Jäger Wilhelm]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

For .45 (178 gr, 185gr, & 200gr) I have been using 231 for more than 27 years now. For 9mm I have always used Unique, and use #7 for .38 Super. Once I pick something I use it forever and tend to forget why I chose it.

 

[softcock]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

Same as you & the 2 post above yours .
( <span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Viht-320</span></span> ) for the 9mm heavies 124 & 147 grn .
imho Stuff is the best & cleanest for the 9mm .
.

 

[tomcatfan]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

I've used Clays Universal for all of my pistol reloads(9mm, 40 S&W, 45 acp, and now 38 special) with no real problems to speak of. Once I learned that Hornady's manual is ULTRA conservative and I started my start loads on the high side that is.

It meters pretty well out of my set up and I think it burns pretty well.

 

[Skum]

Re: Your Favorite Power for 9mm & 45 ACP?

i use titegroup mainly because i got a good deal on it

and for the load i run in my .45acp is the same my buddy runs in his 9mm so i can make both our loads without changing powder or metering insert

yeah im lazy

ive noticed a black soot around the case mouth if your running the near starting loads.. after i jumped them up a bit i was good

i use it under 230gr berrys RNDS 185gr FTX and 115 berrys RNDS

berrys 230gr 4.2-4.5gr
berrys 115gr 4.2-4.5gr
hornady 185gr 5.8gr