Which powder for my first loads?

[Werdna]

Hey again

When I finally get my press and all, I wanna know what would be a good powder. I will be loading 45acp, 9mm and 308win. I will probably start off loading primarily 45acp with these bullets for target loads.

http://www.freakshowbullets.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_44&products_id=67

I have seen WSF suggested but dont remember for what caliber. Any input would be appreciated. I am open to all suggestions. I dont plan pushing the limits of this caliber, just some lighter target loads to start off with.

Thanks again for the help so far!

[AdamN]

This is just acratching the surface really; 9mm and 45 are pretty flexable. Alliant data http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeDetail.aspx?title=Pistols%20and%20Revolvers&gtypeid=1&weight=230&shellid=1029&bulletid=99

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeDetail.aspx?title=Pistols%20and%20Revolvers&gtypeid=1&weight=125&shellid=1014&bulletid=21

[D. Manley]

Hey again

When I finally get my press and all, I wanna know what would be a good powder. I will be loading 45acp, 9mm and 308win. I will probably start off loading primarily 45acp with these bullets for target loads.

http://www.freakshowbullets.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_44&products_id=67

I have seen WSF suggested but dont remember for what caliber. Any input would be appreciated. I am open to all suggestions. I dont plan pushing the limits of this caliber, just some lighter target loads to start off with.

Thanks again for the help so far!

Do something nice for yourself and try a jug of Solo-1000. Published data is 4.6 to 5.1 grains for 230 Lead...I use 5.0 under 230 Rainiers and I suspect 4.8 or so will be sweet with Freak's bullets. Soft, no smoke, no flash and shoots right on the sights.

I have'nt loaded any in the LCT so I don't know how accurate the disk designated drops will be. I note that they go from 4.6 to 5.0 but in actual use, they may be higher or lower but in any case, one of the 2 choices should put you close...

[Hatman1793]

:sifone: I like Alliant's bulk powder called PROMO. Its just like RedDot. It only comes in 8 pound kegs but that suits me; its only C$95.00 for 8 pounds.
It works very well in 45acp, 9mm, 44spl, 40S&W etc.

[Werdna]

:sifone: I like Alliant's bulk powder called PROMO. Its just like RedDot. It only comes in 8 pound kegs but that suits me; its only C$95.00 for 8 pounds.
It works very well in 45acp, 9mm, 44spl, 40S&W etc.

So you would use the reload data for redDot or is there PROMO data?

[918v]

Use Bullseye to start. Bullseye deserves that respect.

[Crazy4nitro]

I really like WSF but Alliant Unique would be another good choice.

I am suggestion powders with a Medium Burn rate as they are pretty forgiving for novice reloaders. Fast powders are usually Low bulk meaning that double charges are sometime hard to notice. Although Bullseye for .45 (fast powder) is usually a popular choice.

This is just my personal view.

'Nitro

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Bullseye has been sending 230gr projos down range for what, 100yrs? Purists unite!

[creophus]

About 4 grains of Bullseye under a 200grain LSWC is THE practice load. I think 4.2 or so grains was ideal accuracy for my 1911.

[MullahElRon]

Bullseye has been sending 230gr projos down range for what, 100yrs? Purists unite!
CRBs untie!:iagree:

[fredj338]

THis is just my take but I do NOT like uberfast powders likeBE, TG, Clays, etc. for a new handloader. Yes, they are cheaper, but the pressure curve is so steep, you have little room for newb errors. A bullet loaded too deep or setback or you didn't check your volumn measure w/ a scale, etc. Of course a double charge would be catastrophic. I would suggest a med. burner like Unqiue, Universal or WSF. Loaded to std. pressures, they all burn clean enough, take up at least 1/2 the case volumn & the pressure curve isn't straight up so a error in OAL isn't likely to get you into severe trouble. JM nickles worth.

[Gashira]

I'd recommend AA#5 for the 45 ACP. It's what I started with and I've had no problems at all. There's a fairly large margin between the minimum and maximum loads too.

[BigSlick]

I'd recommend AA#5 for the 45 ACP. It's what I started with and I've had no problems at all. There's a fairly large margin between the minimum and maximum loads too.

+1

Works in 9mm too

But, WSF, Unique, Power Pistol, Universal, will all work in a similar fashion.

As far as the Solo goes, I keep seein stuff about dat powder bein real nice, but I haven't tried it yet.

Same story wit some of da Ramshot powders

[MakeMineaP99]

Slick,

I started playing with Ramshot powders, especially Silhouette, I like it even better than WSF. You owe it to yourself to try some Ramshot.

Solo is great, not quite as soft as Clays, but not spikey either. It's improved Clays.

[D. Manley]

+1

Works in 9mm too

But, WSF, Unique, Power Pistol, Universal, will all work in a similar fashion.

As far as the Solo goes, I keep seein stuff about dat powder bein real nice, but I haven't tried it yet.

Same story wit some of da Ramshot powders

Try you a jug Slick, might like it and don't cost much to find out...

I'd heard nothing about it until a local retailer who also shoots competetively mentioned I went through a lot of Clays and asked if I'd tried Solo. I saw the price and trust this guy's opinions so I tried the 1st bottle on his recommendation.

Its a single-base powder and although burn rate is right in between Bullseye & Red Dot, its very linear. Load density is very good and I don't think you'll find anything that burns cleaner or smokes less. I love Clays and shoot a lot of it in .45 but find I'm going more & more to Solo...I love the way it tracks in recoil. Oh, and did I mention...its cheap...

[D. Manley]

Slick,

I started playing with Ramshot powders, especially Silhouette, I like it even better than WSF. You owe it to yourself to try some Ramshot.

+1.

Solo is great, not quite as soft as Clays, but not spikey either. It's improved Clays.

You're right about it not being "spikey" as I've seen no evidence of this but, I guess recoil is a subjective thing. To me, S-1000 shoots every bit as soft as Clays, maybe moreso. The one thing I could never get Clays (I gave up) to do was shoot lighter 9MM bullets worth a whit...oddly, my wife loves 4.0 grains of Solo under a 115 Rainier and it actually groups well.

[MakeMineaP99]

+1.



You're right about it not being "spikey" as I've seen no evidence of this but, I guess recoil is a subjective thing. To me, S-1000 shoots every bit as soft as Clays, maybe moreso. The one thing I could never get Clays (I gave up) to do was shoot lighter 9MM bullets worth a whit...oddly, my wife loves 4.0 grains of Solo under a 115 Rainier and it actually groups well.

In all fairness, I believe my Solo loads are going faster than my Clays loads, I should chrono both and see what I get.

I've never tried Clays in 9mm. My plinkers are in the 4.5-5.0 gr range of Silhouette. I've used Silhouette for everything from plinkerss to major, it does well across the board.

[BigSlick]

Do that and post em when ya get a chance.

I a be real interested.

If it runs like Clays, got a little better spread and not so spikey, sounds likt it's worth a look.

Would like to see some real world numbers

[D. Manley]

I was shooting with a LE friend a couple of weeks ago and he ran a couple of mags of my 230 Rainiers over 5.0 grains Solo...I think I can quote his response as, "Daaaammmitttt"...THIS is what I wanna' shoot next time I have to qualify".

[D. Manley]

Do that and post em when ya get a chance.

I a be real interested.

If it runs like Clays, got a little better spread and not so spikey, sounds likt it's worth a look.

Would like to see some real world numbers

There's a ton of load data and chrono results over at BENOS forums for both Clays and Solo. A sampling shows the popular 3.9 grains Clays loads is pretty well duplicated by 4.7 grains S1000 (chronoed one fps apart from the same gun). SD was slightly better with the S1000.

Another example seeming to bear this out using a Commander M&P and 230 RNL::

3.9 Clays 732/21/12 748/47/17
4.0 Solo 1000 646/18/6 661/53/21
4.4 Solo 1000 705/28/11 713/16/7

[Werdna]

I think I'm gonna start off with some unique. Thanks for all the input guys.