Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Handloading 45acp?

My question is what powder to run in the 45acp with 230gr hardball? I'm looking for something that meters good and runs clean/little smoke. My friend loads with blue dot and he gets a lot of smoke I know I dont want to shoot that stuff.... Im thinking about getting 1pound of VV N340. Was told it burns clean but I dont know... Thanks..

I shoot about 6 grains of Unique behind 230gr projectiles. Some folks say it's burns dirty but I've no complaints.

Same here.

6.0 grains of Unique under a 230 grain lead bullet.

If I was shooting jacketed, I might go less. Whatever gets me to 825-850 fps.

Skip the Vihtavouri, latest word I have, is that the plant is closing down in Finland and you won't be able to get any more.

There's a thread on saubier.com about it, with the documentation to go along.

unique, as said.

I don't tend to see it being dirty shooting 100-200rds at a time but I'm the kinda that cleans between range sessions.

I use about the same...6.0 of Unique but have also used a ton of Winchester 231...

Bob

Unique is my first choice, but i can't get it right now so i've used up my Red Dot (worked fine) and just scored 3# of Green Dot, which also works just fine.

I am using 5.7 of Unique. Works great for my needs.

I have used a lot of Unique, but currently am using 5.2/HP-38. I got an 8# box for cheap, so I will use it up. It does a really good job. The load is one of Venturino's pet loads.

I shoot 8 grains of HS-6

Either 6gr unique with powderbond plated bullets (glock) or 5.5gr 231/hp38 with hard cast

I use 4.5 gr of Bullseye with a 230 gr lead RN or FMJ. It burns clean with the jacketed bullets. Lead bullets make a mess whatever powder you use.

No experience with the VV stuff; Unique is a good, but an old & dirty powder with a lot of smoke & today, there are much better choices.

Alliant PowerPistol is a good versatile choice that doesn't have too much smoke & is quite clean; good with all bullet weights.

Accurate's SOLO 10000 approximates Bullseye in burn rate but is cleaner & very low flash & smoke. Because of the low flash, I use it in SD loads.

MM

I use 6.5 grs Unigue under 230 gr FMJ flat points for fine utility loads in my 45 ACP's, very accurate and have never found it to be an overly dirty powder.

Gunner

It's not dirty only relative to 2400..........but then again, beauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder. Just sayin'.

MM

Thanks for the help! Will give Unique a go....

I use which ever is cheapest at the time purchase powder, Bullseye or 231.
What's the issue with the smoke?

Jim

I'm mostly using Unique also. Accurate, but not as clean as my 9mm's run with Power Pistol. I'm going to try some Universal Clays.

The smoke gets the muzzle of the gun very dirty and that crap gets in the holster plus when you shoot rapid fire you can lose sight of your target....