what powder for .45 acp?

I use AA#5 with the 200g and 230g bullets, this stuff burns so clean you don't have to clean a 1911 for 600 rounds.

Powder availability for pistols are poor to none these days. So, Bullseye, 231, Clays, Blue Dot, 700X, Red Dot, and Power pistol have all given me good loads, but most are dirty and the flake powders do not go through a powder measure very well at all.

Good luck
 
I've used AA#5, Unique, and Win 231 with 185 and 230 gr. jacketed loads. I use both CCI 300 and RP 2 1/2 primers with the CCI primer being a little milder than Remington 2 1/2's. AA#5 would be my favorite but Unique performs well too but doesn't burn clean at low charge levels. All the powders already mentioned will work but I don't like Blue Dot for pistol loads. It's a slow shotshell powder and that's all I would use it for. Not a fan of Blue Dot.
 
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RG, I got away from Blue Dot myself, you have to have a very TIGHT crimp or else you might get a squib load and stick the bullet in the barrel.

I left out Unique, also. 6.0g of Unique is an unreal accurate load with a 200g SWC. Unique just bridges in my Redding BR powder measure along with all other forms of flake powders that are normally shotgun powders.

Bullseye and 231 are the old stand by favorite's but they are like shooting dirt with all the crud in your pistol when you are done with 100 rounds. Glocks, and other poly's but tight custom 1911's are another animal.
 
Unless you already have powder on hand it may be hard to come by. I like powder in the medium to faster rate for the 45 acp. I often load 200 grain bullets for target & plinking loads. Some good powders are Win-231, H Universal, Titegroup, AA-5 and so on.

If new to handgun, especially semi auto, load up smaller batches then test cycling before you load a bunch.
 
My go to is Bullseye. Top notch performace and low charge weights. A pound goes a long way. It is very versatile in various chamberings I shoot from 25 ACP on up to 45 ACP.

Greg
 
I like Bullseye for the same reasons as GI Shooter listed. Been using it in the 45 ACP since 1980 and have not found anything that I like better. However, you may be limited as to what you can find in stock. I have used 231 & AA2 with good results as well.

I have my progressive press set up and dedicated to the 45 ACP with a 200 gr lead SWC and 4.5 grains of Bullseye. No sense in trying to fix what ain't broke. I have 4 (2 Colt, 1 Para Ord., and a HK) 45's and each one shoots this load very well. Also had a S&W and a Glock that liked this load. Disclaimer: Glock does not reccomend cast bullets in their factory barrels.
 
I'm going to make a list of all these and goto the gun shop and see what they have hopefully I can try at least one or two varieties and see what works for me I think practice will be my firstbig jump in accuracy. this is the first handgun I've owned 20 some years but when I saw it I just couldn't let it pass
 
Originally Posted By: obaroNow you're teasing us. Just what handgun is so eye catching you had to wait 20 years before it jumped out at you?


I always told myself I didn't need any handguns but I saw in the classifieds here at FNX tactical .45 and just couldn't say no I don't have the red dot sights or the suppressor yet butt I'm going to try it out and have some fun
 

Unique is my go-to powder for my 38 Spec, 357, 44 Mag and 45 ACP.

As was previously mentioned, Unique is scarce these days. Just yesterday I phoned a local gun shop inquiring if they had any. They didn't as I expected. Within about 5 minutes or less the guy at the shop phoned me back stating that a guy they know has 3 pounds for sale. Talk about good timing. Today I picked it up. It's a good pre-Christmas present to myself. LOL.
 
Originally Posted By: skinney4.5 of Titegroup, subsonic using the 230 grainers, A LOT of bang for one lb of powder.


THIS, and it works well with all bullet weights.

Blue dot is another that works great. Clean too.
 
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