Powder questions for 45acp & 40S&W, 357mag

ART338WM · 07-18-2008, 07:48 PM

I need suggestions on a few powders that will work well for reloading both 45 ACP and 40 S&W and a powder(s) that works well for reloading 38/357. I most interested in accurate clean buring, easy metering powders. I will be loading strictly for target parctice/plinking fun as I use commercial ammo for CC/defence.

Bullet weights I will be loading for in 45ACP are 185/230grn, 155/165grn in 40S&W, and 158grn in 38/357.

Thanks, Arthur.

Mike Franklin · 07-18-2008, 07:57 PM

Unique for the Autos.
Trail Boss for the revolvers.

ART338WM · 07-18-2008, 07:59 PM

Need help with choosing powder best suited for loading 45acp and 40s&w and a powder or two for loading 38/357. Bullet weights for 45acp are 180 & 230grn, 40s&w are 150 & 165grn, 38/357 is 158grn.

My requierments for powders are, accuracy, clean buring, good metering, and availability.

Thanks to all who help me out with their knowledge.
Arthur.

jimkim · 07-19-2008, 03:53 AM

Unique is great except the metering problems. The Russian Unique meters better. You can get an idea of the most popular powders by looking here. I suggest AAC #5.
Reloading Pages of M.D. Smith

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...ad.php?t=68844

Big Dog · 07-19-2008, 06:40 AM

For .38 Special and .45ACP, my favorite is Red Dot, though I just bought a jug of Unique to try - it gets raves from a lot of guys.

For the .357 Magnum - my hands-down favorite is Hodgdon's Lil Gun! It is a fine grain powder that meters very well, and it burns very clean - doesn't leave the odd granular residue that 4227 does. It has lower pressure for the same velocity as other powders, and less felt recoil than the factory Remington ammo I sometimes buy. It has clocked 1500 FPS in my four inch Ruger Security Six, and 2000FPS in my buddy's EMF lever carbine 18" barrel! Very tight shooting too!
It works well for all Magnum handgun calibers - but I haven't found any data for the non-magnums.

I don't do the .40SW.

jimkim · 07-19-2008, 02:37 PM

Crap I thought he just wanted one powder. Win 231, AAC #5, IMR Hi-Skor 700X, IMR PB, HP-38, Red Dot(Promo if your buying 8 lbs), Titegroup and Unique. You may not like how IMR 700X and Unique meter.

wunhunglo · 07-19-2008, 02:58 PM

Unique, Red Dot & Vihtavouri 320 are among my favourites for .45acp & .38/357, also fairly good in the 9mmP.

Blackrock · 07-19-2008, 05:01 PM

I am using Hodgdons Titegroup in my .45 acp and Alliant Red Dot in my .357 Mag pistol. I haven't found a good crossover powder that fits both revolver and semi auto pistols.

muskrat · 07-19-2008, 05:09 PM

I load those calibers and use Unique, 231 & 2400 (heavy loads in the 357). I have never had an issue with metering Unique but does burn a little dirty - I have shot up to 500 rounds or 45ACP in my Glock without cleaning with no problems. I do like 231 with 155 grain bullets in my 40 S&W (MP 40). In the 357 I use Unique in mid range loads and 2400 in the heavy (hotter) loads.

James41 · 07-20-2008, 10:03 AM

Winchester 231 or Hodgen Titegroup seems to work quite well for me for a 9mm, a 40SW, and 45ACP. A friend uses Bullseye and likes it quite well.

07-18-2008, 07:48 PM	#1
ART338WM Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 28 Trader Rating: (0)	Powder questions for 45acp & 40S&W, 357mag I need suggestions on a few powders that will work well for reloading both 45 ACP and 40 S&W and a powder(s) that works well for reloading 38/357. I most interested in accurate clean buring, easy metering powders. I will be loading strictly for target parctice/plinking fun as I use commercial ammo for CC/defence. Bullet weights I will be loading for in 45ACP are 185/230grn, 155/165grn in 40S&W, and 158grn in 38/357. Thanks, Arthur.

07-18-2008, 07:57 PM	#2
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,277 Trader Rating: (0)	Unique for the Autos. Trail Boss for the revolvers. __________________ Aim real good we're nearly out of ammo.

07-18-2008, 07:59 PM	#3
ART338WM Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 28 Trader Rating: (0)	Powder questions for 45acp & 40S&W, 357mag Need help with choosing powder best suited for loading 45acp and 40s&w and a powder or two for loading 38/357. Bullet weights for 45acp are 180 & 230grn, 40s&w are 150 & 165grn, 38/357 is 158grn. My requierments for powders are, accuracy, clean buring, good metering, and availability. Thanks to all who help me out with their knowledge. Arthur.

07-19-2008, 03:53 AM	#4
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: eastman GA Posts: 1,760 Trader Rating: (0)	Unique is great except the metering problems. The Russian Unique meters better. You can get an idea of the most popular powders by looking here. I suggest AAC #5. Reloading Pages of M.D. Smith http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...ad.php?t=68844 __________________ Jan. 4, 2007...Gasoline $2.10/gallon HMMM? Jim

07-19-2008, 02:37 PM	#6
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: eastman GA Posts: 1,760 Trader Rating: (0)	Crap I thought he just wanted one powder. Win 231, AAC #5, IMR Hi-Skor 700X, IMR PB, HP-38, Red Dot(Promo if your buying 8 lbs), Titegroup and Unique. You may not like how IMR 700X and Unique meter. __________________ Jan. 4, 2007...Gasoline $2.10/gallon HMMM? Jim

07-19-2008, 06:40 AM	#5
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,063 Trader Rating: (0)	For .38 Special and .45ACP, my favorite is Red Dot, though I just bought a jug of Unique to try - it gets raves from a lot of guys. For the .357 Magnum - my hands-down favorite is Hodgdon's Lil Gun! It is a fine grain powder that meters very well, and it burns very clean - doesn't leave the odd granular residue that 4227 does. It has lower pressure for the same velocity as other powders, and less felt recoil than the factory Remington ammo I sometimes buy. It has clocked 1500 FPS in my four inch Ruger Security Six, and 2000FPS in my buddy's EMF lever carbine 18" barrel! Very tight shooting too! It works well for all Magnum handgun calibers - but I haven't found any data for the non-magnums. I don't do the .40SW. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

07-19-2008, 02:58 PM	#7
wunhunglo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa" Posts: 1,347 Trader Rating: (0)	Unique, Red Dot & Vihtavouri 320 are among my favourites for .45acp & .38/357, also fairly good in the 9mmP.

07-19-2008, 05:01 PM	#8
Blackrock Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SE Arizona's Gila Valley Posts: 213 Trader Rating: (0)	I am using Hodgdons Titegroup in my .45 acp and Alliant Red Dot in my .357 Mag pistol. I haven't found a good crossover powder that fits both revolver and semi auto pistols. __________________ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails" Forbidden fruits create many jams

07-19-2008, 05:09 PM	#9
muskrat Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 45 Trader Rating: (0)	I load those calibers and use Unique, 231 & 2400 (heavy loads in the 357). I have never had an issue with metering Unique but does burn a little dirty - I have shot up to 500 rounds or 45ACP in my Glock without cleaning with no problems. I do like 231 with 155 grain bullets in my 40 S&W (MP 40). In the 357 I use Unique in mid range loads and 2400 in the heavy (hotter) loads.

07-20-2008, 10:03 AM	#10
James41 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 36 Trader Rating: (0)	Winchester 231 or Hodgen Titegroup seems to work quite well for me for a 9mm, a 40SW, and 45ACP. A friend uses Bullseye and likes it quite well.