Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Autocomp in the .45 ACP

I bought a pound of Autocomp when I began loading for the .45 but never started using it, because I was told it wasn't a very good powder. So I loaded Titegroup. Well, I still had the pound of Autocomp laying around and decided to use it rather than let it just sit forever. The Hodgdon range for 230gr cast lead RN bullets is 6.1 to 6.6 grains, so I loaded some test rounds at 6.3gr and tried them out. I only use cast lead for shooting pins at 25 feet, and for practicing for pins--also at 25 feet. At that range, practically any powder is "accurate enough" for me, and Autocomp did just fine. It burned much cleaner than the reports said it would. It also metered perfectly in my Dillon.

So, if anybody cares, I don't have any gripes about Autocomp. I'll probably stick with Titegroup once I use up the Autocomp, mainly because Titegroup can be had for $19.99 around here and I only use 4.5 gr per round, rather than 6.3. ( That's over 400 more rounds and $5 less per pound.)

If there are legitimate reasons to avoid Autocomp though, I'm all ears and ready to apply the wisdom of others.

AUTOCOMP was developed specifically for the calibers: .38 Super, 9MM, 45 ACP, and 40 S&W.

Chris Hodgdon for 'Winchester' - claimed this propellant to be ideally suited for delivering optimum pistol compensator performance, with the perfect burning speed to boost compensator effectiveness with a higher volume of gas.

Other characteristics (claims) of AUTOCOMP:

Competition shooters get off faster shots with better accuracy.
Clean burning for efficient shot after shot function.
Low charge weights for economic loading. 13.4% more reloads per pound than Power Pistol.
Flawless metering through progressive loading machines.


NO reasons to avoid using AUTOCOMP altogether - other than 'personal preference' ???

But, but, I don't have any autos with a comp.

A much hyped, but under-performing powder for the low-pressure 45acp. I burned enough of it to know to use something else. There's just too many great 45acp powders out there to screw around with Autocomp.

dla,

Fair enough, but what are your specific objections?

Next time you buy powder try AA5.

It's on my list Scott. Although, I have to say, I've not found any reasons to switch from Titegroup.

I'm just trying to figure out why some folk don't like Autocomp. I've only shot about 200 rounds with it, but I can't seem to find anything to really hate about it.

Right after I found AA5 at Dick's they came and tore up my reloading room to re insulate the whole basement. Our cabin is filled with stuff from the basement, that is why we are in Oregon now, no room in our place for people. I hope to be able to stuff some cast stuff with AA5 by the end of the month.

I, for one, see no reason to use a powder in the .45 ACP that requires any more than a light charge to get the job done. As long as it burns clean enough for you, and meters well, like you say, cheaper in the long run. Lighter powder charges also produce less recoil.
I like using the slower powders for hotter, faster loads and the faster burning ones for light target loads. E