45 ACP and lead... which powder???

[DocIndy]

I’m trying to decide which powder to use in 45 ACP loads with lead projectiles. I have titegroup on hand, but everything I have read says it’s going to produce smokey loads. Any suggestions? I plan on loading a 230 gr. RN from Indiana Bullet Company to get my 550 dialed in. Jacket/plated will come later.

 

[Backpacker]

I use AA#5 with a Magnus 215 grain hard cast lead bullet. It is cleaner than Unique I was using. I believe some of the smoke I get comes from the lube on the bullet.

 

[mssmith44]

Try 4.0 grains of Clays. Pretty clean load. 231 can do a range of power factors.

 

[crewchief888]

universal clays. but, i'm pushing 155gr SWC (USPSA major) out of a compensated single stack.

 

[partyboy6686]

I used Titegroup, WST, and W231 for 45acp reloads. Any powder with raw lead bullets with lube on them are a little smokey.

 

[Leadeye]

Red dot and Unique.

 

[tsilveus]

I have recently used cfe pistol. It does a nice job and is versatile enough for other calibers.

 

[Dean C.]

4.9gr of TiteGroup should do it, the lead bullets are just smokey as hell , to me at least the added cost of plated bullets is worth it

 

[Sagamore - One]

I have fired over 57,000 rounds of 45 acp using a 200gr H&G 68 cast lead bullet over 231 powder and I don't recall any smoke.
Maybe I need to do some more testing.

 

[Sniper 79]

I ran a few thousand with 231. They were extremely accurate although smoky as hell. Picked up plated and have never looked back.

Also loaded some for revolvers with Unique and universal. Melted lead smoky as hell mess!

 

[billybob44]

I have fired over 57,000 rounds of 45 acp using a 200gr H&G 68 cast lead bullet over 231 powder and I don't recall any smoke.
Maybe I need to do some more testing.

If you have loaded Cast/Lubed bullets with ANY Powder, then, YES you have had smoke..
NO way around it..Bill.

 

[cmann250]

I have tried 230 grain lead bullets with TiteGroup, and yes, it is smokey. To me, it’s only marginally worse than TiteGroup with plated/jacketed bullets. Yes, I like cleaning my pistols. LOL

If I recall correctly, the price difference between plated and lead is something like $20/1000.


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[Sagamore - One]

I don't believe it is the lead that generates the smoke. I think the lube has more to do with it, then propellant selection to a lesser degree. I cast my own lead boolits using Lyman #2 alloy and lube them with Zambini Red .
RCBS lead pot, Hensley & Gibbs moulds, Star sizer.

 

[NKBJ]

Guns make smoke? Well who'd a thunk.
My go to lube is lanolin, olive oil and beeswax. LOOB.
And sometimes might add to the mix any number of off the shelf, the wall or whatever might be laying around ingredients.
Pomade, crayola, moly grease, soap, cooked formulations or just melted and mixed.
Just depends on what I'm expecting it to do.
In a .45 ACP you could probably get by with peanut butter.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Guns make smoke? Well who'd a thunk.
My go to lube is lanolin, olive oil and beeswax. LOOB.
And sometimes might add to the mix any number of off the shelf, the wall or whatever might be laying around ingredients.
Pomade, crayola, moly grease, soap, cooked formulations or just melted and mixed.
Just depends on what I'm expecting it to do.
In a .45 ACP you could probably get by with peanut butter.

Yes they do... they even made a TV series about it.

[video=youtube;M2Edvyn5Xrs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2Edvyn5Xrs[/video]

 

[bgcatty]

What the hay? Nobody mentions the old standby: 4.6 - 4.8 grains of Bullseye under a 230 grain lead bullet in .45 acp. Lots of smoke from the lube but lots of fun.

 

[JohnArgent]

An old load but still works well 5.3 grains of green dot under a lead 230

 

[NKBJ]

Don't recommember what the powder was...

 

[cmann250]

An old load but still works well 5.3 grains of green dot under a lead 230

I just tried 2 magazines of this and I’m very pleased.


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[sloughfoot]

I have fired over 57,000 rounds of 45 acp using a 200gr H&G 68 cast lead bullet over 231 powder and I don't recall any smoke.
Maybe I need to do some more testing.[/QUOTE

Me too. 5.7 grains for 3 decades or so. I have never seen a reason to switch.