Powder for .40 & 45acp

[jvpark]

Is there one powder you wour recommend for 40 and 45 acp?

[ExtremeX]

I have not loaded any pistol rounds yet... but I plan on using W231

[CalTeacher]

231, unique, universal clays, titegroup, etc. you can use pretty much any pistol powder besides 2400 and h110 in both of those cartridges. Visit hodgdon.com to see a list of load data for a lot of common pistol powders.

[rsrocket1]

You didn't have any other criteria such as max velocity, what purpose, what bullets so here are a few choices:
For best performance with very low recoiling loads that build up enough pressure to expand the brass and seal off the gases, Red Dot or Clays. Clays burns faster and more completely. 2.5 to 4 grains is all you need and all you can use before you get to max pressures. 500-800 fps is all you will be able to achieve before reaching those max pressures.

For mid range loads, Universal, Unique, Bullseye. If you try to down load them for lighter recoiling loads, they'll work, but will leave unburned powder, blowback of gases in your face and sooty cases. At full pressure loads, they burn completely although Bullseye is still pretty sooty (Unique and Universal less so), it cleans up easily and quickly. Unique has bigger flakes and some people complain about it not metering well, but I've never had a problem with it. Unique is also one of the more forgiving powders in that it builds up pressure gradually as you increase loads. It would probably be the best powder for a beginner to start with.

I personally use Clays for the light loads and Bullseye or Unique for the full speed loads. This is for 45ACP, 40 S&W and 38/357.

[secret.asian.man]

231 or wsf, they are both pretty much identical

[kurac]

I burn W231, and I see no reason to change

[Bill Steele]

231 or wsf, they are both pretty much identical

In what way?

[mjmagee67]

Power Pistol works well in both. A little snappy but gives good velocity. I use 6.6gr in both with a 230gr pill in 45 and a 180gr pill in 40. For a reduced load in 40 6.0gr works very well. Power Pistol is a clean burning powder too.

[MIAMIbaseballer]

231

[BajaJames83]

Ive used Titegroup, reddot, green dot, bullseye for both with good results. the red and green dot werent ideal ran a little dirty, but i found data for the powder/ bullet combo so i made a few loads. red and green dot are pretty cheap and easy to come by.

[fal_762x51]

The only pistol powder I use now is HP-38. To me it is the cheapest and most universal pistol powder.

[chrometip78]

I like unique for full power 45 and bullseye for plinking 45.

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[sjg1966]

231 or Unique. I have both and use 231 most. Going to try AA #5 next.

Steve

[CGT80]

231/hp-38 sucks for almost all pistol rounds. Especially: 9mm, 38spl, 44spl, 44mag, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, 45LC. If you buy any, just send it to me and I will put it away with the other 35 pounds of it that I am hording.

[deac777]

I would go with 231