230 LRN Powder Selection

[Nathan]

Help, I'm planning to load some 45 ACP tomorrow.

For 230 LRN CCW practice (range ammo), what powder should I use?

[ripdog28]

Load a few of each with different grains of each and find out what one you like the most.

[moptop]

I use 3.5grns of Bullseye under my cast 230grn Lee LRN-TL's. It's is light on the recoil but still cycles my Kimber perfectly and is a very accurate load. It is my #1 practice load.

Hope this helps.

[Buckethead1980]

I use bullseye with my self casted lead 230 gr . I use 4.3 grains of Bullseye . Smooth running no issues . been using that for several years now . Only issue i know with bullseye is ive heard its a little smokier than some powders . I shoot competition both inddor and out and have never noticed . It seems to be a very accurate and consistent powder .

[TMartinLVNV]

Win 231, 4.8 grains, a 1 pound bottle will last you around 1000 rounds.

[DirtyRod]

Originally Posted by TMartinLVNV

Win 231, 4.8 grains, a 1 pound bottle will last you around 1000 rounds.

Should get more than that. 7000/4.8 = 1,458

[340six]

Why no option for bulk shot gun powders? I can still get 8 pounds for under 90 bucks

[Nick A]

... here's my feedback on the 4 choices you asked about.

• Longshot - Should be called LOUDshot. Almost a magnum powder, but not quite. Useful for full-house loads but not nice little practice loads.
• Titegroup - Excellent choice. Fast powder, if you like fast powders. Meters really well. Some complain that it tends to stain brass, big deal. Some complain that it makes lead bullet lube smoke, this is true for soft loads but heftier loads don't have as much smoke problem.
• AA 5 - Medium speed, often overlooked, meters very well, a very good choice. Just a bit slower than 231/HP38. Almost like Unique but meters way better. Don't dismiss any of the AA powders, but use each for its appropriate task according to burn rate.
• Enforcer - This is a true magnum powder, like AA9 and 4100. This is a magnum powder, dude. Magnum.

I'd try AA5. Maybe TG. Dismiss the other two from your mind.

[crackshotsdad]

Originally Posted by DirtyRod

Should get more than that. 7000/4.8 = 1,458

1,458.33333333333 DirtyRod beat me to it

[Nathan]

Thanks. I have all of these on hand. I was thinking Longshot or AA #5. I think I will use the AA #5 this time as it seems like it will give me good velocity and hopefully be clean.

My last loads left a thick sooty coating and some unburnt powder everywhere! Enforcer did this too me too. I that happens when the pressure is too low.

[FLSlim]

I don't use it, but of those you list, I would go with #5. I've used it in the past for several other calibers and have been happy with it. Midrange burn rate (which is where I would go for CCW practice), meters very well, and fairly clean burning.

[Rifter]

First, your poll doesn't have two or three of the best powders around for 230 gr. loads: Unique, Bullseye, and 231.

Second, if these loads are for CCW practice (or carry for that matter), you should practice with loads that are the equivalent of your carry stuff. In other words, full power loads.

For that, 6 gr. of Unique would be very hard to beat (6.5 for a bit more fps).

Bottom line, I wouldn't pick any of the four you listed.

[Horoscope Fish]

Of those listed I'd say AA #5. Another superb choice would be Power Pistol.

[moxie]

Ditto on the Bullseye or Unique.

[Tom Freeman]

AA powders are pretty dirty.

Longshot is not good for plinking ammo.

That leaves TG which is a good choice.

I use straight Clays and Vhit N310.

[Nathan]

Maybe I should clarify. . .I'm sure the other powdders you reccomend are better. I have the powders listed.

I'm going to try AA #5 because it is a good velocity match and the oldest. You know FIFO.

If left to my own resources, I think I bought Longshot for this at one time. . . .or was that for the plated HP's??

[TheGerk]

Originally Posted by Nick A

... here's my feedback on the 4 choices you asked about.

• Longshot - Should be called LOUDshot. Almost a magnum powder, but not quite. Useful for full-house loads but not nice little practice loads.
• Titegroup - Excellent choice. Fast powder, if you like fast powders. Meters really well. Some complain that it tends to stain brass, big deal. Some complain that it makes lead bullet lube smoke, this is true for soft loads but heftier loads don't have as much smoke problem.
• AA 5 - Medium speed, often overlooked, meters very well, a very good choice. Just a bit slower than 231/HP38. Almost like Unique but meters way better. Don't dismiss any of the AA powders, but use each for its appropriate task according to burn rate.
• Enforcer - This is a true magnum powder, like AA9 and 4100. This is a magnum powder, dude. Magnum.

I'd try AA5. Maybe TG. Dismiss the other two from your mind.

Nathan….er…ah…What this ^ Nick fella says….Good Stuff.


A note on the Titegroup
Some complain about smoke with this powder, this is fine and can be true.
But blaming the powder for something the bullet (lead) and lube does seems a bit short thinking IMO

Many who use this powder for what you are attempting to do (Target and range shooting for accuracy) change their opinion of this powder greatly when using it with a jacketed bullet.
Some are just too cheap…er…I mean economical in their loading to ever discover this attribute with this powder.

So, since you have it, if you can, try some of the Titegroup with your LRN 230 grainers (you may not find the powder excessively smoky?) and also try it with a decent 200 or 230gr. jacketed bullet.
If your gun likes this powder it could be the cat’s meow.
(Every one of my 45 guns likes this powder, and I am not alone in this finding)

Good Luck


Nick…dude? (Ya killin me Nick )

[velvetant]

I've been using Titgroup since it came out. A little really goes along way.
Use it in my 40 and 45 loads with lead bullets

[medalguy]

My go-to powder for .45 ACP is Unique, has been for more than 40 years. Since you don't have it listed, AA #5 would be my choice out of those listed. Meters very well and works great in .45 ACP.

[Butthead]

Not included on your list, but I have been having good accuracy with IMR 700-X and 230 gr. LRN's.

[Nathan]

I appreciate the suggestions. What is the reason for the Unique and Bullseye reccomendation?

I used AA#5. It seems a bit dirty and it is working out for now.

[Rifter]

Originally Posted by Nathan

I appreciate the suggestions. What is the reason for the Unique and Bullseye reccomendation?

I used AA#5. It seems a bit dirty and it is working out for now.

Can't speak for anybody else, but Bullseye has been used for target loads for over 75 years. Unique for longer than that for full power loads. I like Unique for its versatility across the whole range of bullet weights and velocity, plus the fact that it fills the case more than a lot of the faster powders. That helps when you're loading on a progressive because its much easier to see that the case is charged, and makes double charges real obvious.

I don't load target ammo, and have only used +P for a long time, but before I settled on my current load, I used 6.5 Unique, and never had anything but good luck with it. A little soot never bothered either, and I haven't seen a powder yet that doesn't leave at least a little.

[TaxPhd]

Originally Posted by Tom Freeman

AA powders are pretty dirty.

Longshot is not good for plinking ammo.

That leaves TG which is a good choice.

I use straight Clays and Vhit N310.

I'm with Tom on this.

I have used nothing but Clays for loading .45 acp since 1997.

[kostner]

Have been using Winchester 231 for 25 years in my 45ACP with cast and FMJ. Never even thought about BE or Unique that for all my wife's 9mm & 38's.

[bullet45acp]

I use Winchester super field, Bullseye, and Titegroup for .45acp.
I use WSF the most and like it the best...

JAG