Clean .45 acp powder suggestion

[BadOscar]

I used to use W231 because it's what everyone seems to suggest but it's really not all that clean in my experience. A friend that shoots bullseye turned me on to IMR 700x, it's really close to the burn rate of W231 but I find it's a lot cleaner. It's a flake powder rather than ball like W231 so some powder measures may not like it as much but it works ok in my Dillon. Loads are generally very close but the same weight of 700x seems to fill more volume of a case. It seems to work the compensator better on my 38 Super. My theory is that the extra volume produces more gas but I could be dreamin.

[CalWhit33]

Dumb question alert!

If HP 38 is same thing as w321 is all load data interchangeable between the two? And who makes this HP 38?

I am currently using bullseye and like that I can load 45&38, with w321 or the hp38 can I load 45, 38 & 9mm?

[Dave Waits]

Cal, HP-38 is made by Hodgdon powder,who also bought out the rights and now makes all of Winchesters' powders. While HP-38 is almost a flake like Unique, it is exactly the same make-up and formulation as WW231. Both the Burn-rate and the pressure-curve is identical. HP-38 will work in any cartridge you use 231 in with the exact same results.

Difference? Since it doesn't carry the Winchester Moniker, it sells for around $5.00 a lb. cheaper than WW231.

[ChefJ]

That does it, I'm going shopping!

[DaFadda]

Hodgdon Universal Clays. 5.6 - 5.7 grains under a 230gr Montana Gold JHP. Sweet.
All powders require that we clean our guns. Some a little more... some a little less... its just part of the sport.

Try Universal Clays, you'll like it.
Dafadda

[svandamme]

VihtaVuori N340 is pretty clean, but must admit, haven't had much other , just AA#7 which i didn't like much

[Dave Waits]

AA-7 is a little slow for the 45ACP, you'll have much better luck with AA-5.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by Dave Waits

AA-7 is a little slow for the 45ACP, you'll have much better luck with AA-5.

well i didn't like it for the most part because of the tiny grains, makes a mess on my Dillon as the shell holder moves.
Always chucks a few grains out right after the powder charge.. no matter how tight i set the shell plate..

[ChefJ]

Originally Posted by Dave Waits

AA-7 is a little slow for the 45ACP, you'll have much better luck with AA-5.

I tried an 11 grain charge of Accurate No.7 under a 200 gr Rainier FP and it seemed pretty hot, should have been well within book range though. Just loaded up some with 5 grains of HP-38 under the same and some under Barry's 200 grain SWC, we will see how those turn out.

[Dave Waits]

Chef, what I meant was the Burn-rate of the powder, not velocity.AA-7 is close to 2400 on the chart, would you run 2400 in a 45?

I think you're gonna like the HP-38, although according to Hodgdon's load data, your load is .2 grains under minimum load or starting load
.

Here's a link to the load data. http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp