gunman42782

OK guys, I must admit, I don't do much in the way of buying and experimenting with new powders. Been using Unique and Bullseye and 2400 for 25 plus years, and never felt the need to change. But, I know there are lots of new powders out there that are cleaner than these. In particular, I would like to know what you guys use in .45 Colt and .45 ACP, as these seem to be the dirtiest dang cartridges I have ever shot. The only thing I ever shot any dirtier was black powder. However, it would be nice if you could use them in other calibers as well. One reason I have always stuck with Unique is you can use it in almost any pistol caliber, and I like that. Any input will be appreciated.

Bountyhunter

Sorry, I only use Unique. The hotter the load the better and cleaner it burns is what I found. Even at 5 grains for the 1911's, it isn't too bad.

deputy125

hodgdon "universal clays" has been a good powder for me in daughter's 45 colt and past experience with the 45acp. it seems to be purty clean.

Wizard

I use HP38 and W231......both the same.....work fine for me.....

tx gun runner

You can use it also in any rifle cal with cast bullets around 1400 FPS with great success and no wads or filler are not needed because it is not placement sensitive . The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook has a Unique loads for every cal rifle or pistol and is the only powder I know of that can do that . For loads over 1200 FPS IMR4227 in rifle and pistol is almost like Unique , and be loaded in a wide range of different cal , plus it has low flame to protect cast bullet base from melting .

b.roberts

Both the recommendations above work great in the .45colt and .45acp. I have had good luck with 231 and universal. Universal is nearly as versatile powder as unique. 231 is a bit faster burning and shoots cleaner in either .45colt or .45acp. I still use unique. It burns really clean in my .45acp, but that is because I only use it for heavier loads. Unique burns pretty clean in my .45 colts once I get over 9 grains w/250gr lead bullets. My cases look like I was shooting black powder when I use 7-8gr unique.

gunman42782

That must be my problem, cause I load it at 8 grains.

b.roberts

Unique burns pretty dirty when the pressures are low. 8 grains in the .45colt with a 250gr bullet is probably around 12-14 thousand psi. It is a low pressure loading and burns dirty, but it is also consistant and often accurate. Probably my most used load in the .45colt.

Bountyhunter

I use 9 grains under the 250 grain LRNFP, and it's a good shooting round. Not super clean, but I can live with it. Less than 9 grains, and the cases look like I loaded them with BP. In my Redhawks and Vaquero I can go 11 grains. That's a little thumper and burns pretty clean. I use 11 grains in my 44's too.

tx gun runner

Unique , IMR4227 , IMR3031 and blackpower I have found one of these 4 powders to load every gun I've ever owned in the last 40 plus years with great success . There is alway a better powders for particular gun and cal , but who needs 10 different powder for 10 different guns . Any new gun I buy I can reload today for it and taking 10 seconds to wipe my gun down is a small price to pay for using Unique in any rifle or pistol I've ever owned .

deputy125

yep...........it gets rather hard and confusing to have a bunch of different powders on hand.......and expensive.

especially when i am looking for acceptable performance and not splitting hairs looking for "exceptional" performance........i ain't that good of a shot to begin with.....

Came close once............back when i had my serious T/C addiction/affliction and thought i required a suitcase full of barrels/calibers. Talk about being bit by the bug-------bad. I still have occasional dreams about the 7mm TCU..........man, i need to get a life......

44s Rock

arkansas45

I used up all my old Unique, and got some new. 6gr. of the new seems to burn plenty clean, and I like it.

sheepdog

...so, after all these years, Unique actually IS?!!!

Tom W.

Bulls Eye is my go to powder for the .45 acp, and I have used it in the .45 Colt with good results, and was surprised at how clean it was...

Ornery

I totally agree, a man can end up with a lot of money in powder that way. All of the powders you have listed, are what I use as well.

jimbo1096

I used Unique but now more Herco in the 45Colt loads. Standard of 8.5gr Herco is decent without being dirty. I have used up to 9gr but the 8.5 was more accurate. Less than that I get unburned granules of powder. I prefer Winchester LP primers but ran out and now have the CCIs instead. Haven't shot them much because it's been too damn hot and the range was closed for most of the summer. About 26 grains of H110 with a 250 JHP works good too in the Blackhawks.

Ornery

Winchester primers are good but when I can get them I love Federal primers, I have used cci they are pretty hard if you have an action job.

Terry_P

I have developed a real preference for Power Pistol in a wide variety of calibers from 38 Spl to 45 ACP.

rman43

I have pretty good luck with Power Pistol also. I use it with 200 Gr SWCs in .45 auto and 180 gr JHPs in .40 S&W. It has a lot of muzzle flash though. My favorite target load for the .45 auto is 4.6 Gr of Winchester WST and 200 Gr SWCs. It shoots very clean and is really accurate in my Springfield Armory Range Officer.