I loaded up some Universal loads in 44Mag and 45Colt a long time ago and decided yesterday to shoot them up and "freshen" up the ammo supply. In doing so I was amazed at how dirty it was.

In your experience what have you found to be the cleanest burning of the faster powders for large caliber autos and revolvers???

The targeted velocity range for the above mentioned revolvers is 750-850fps.

Unique was by far the dirtiest I ever used in my 45 ACP but AA 2200 and 2400 were not nearly as bad.

I have had good luck with ww760 in my 45 ACP. I should have said 231 guys, sorry my error.

The "new Unique" is supposed to be cleaner.
If i live long enough to burn up my stockpile of the "old" I will try it.
Good Luck!

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
I have had good luck with WW 760 in my 45 ACP.

You're kidding, right?

Personally I use 4.5 grains of Bullseye behind a 200 grain cast bullet. It's my experiance that when I get a dirty burn I treat it as a too low pressure load. I either up the powder charge, increase to diameter of the bullet, tighten the crimp, anything to increase the pressure.
Usually works.
Jim

I've long seen many complaints about the Hercules/Alliant propellants.

there were a diehard group of people in shotshell loading who always insisted that Dupont 700X was cleaner than RedDot, yes the 700x produced less "dirt" But the fouling tha treddot produced was generally easier to clean off.

More fouling but softer fouling.

Dammit, you gotta clean the firearm anyway!

AD

quote:

Originally posted by arkypete:
It's my experiance that when I get a dirty burn I treat it as a too low pressure load. I either up the powder charge, increase to diameter of the bullet, tighten the crimp, anything to increase the pressure.
Usually works.
Jim

Interesting comment that sure sounds reasonable. Pressure seems to be the ticket for performance in many reloading situations.

I was hoping to find a load for the 44Mag and the 45Colt that would burn clean and not require the higher pressure and attendant velocity for some clean burning low velocity loads in that 750-850fps range.

I have some friends that like to try different calibers but introducing them to these calibers with full house loads might be a little too much too soon. I have some daughter in laws that are really outdoor gals and the higher end loads might be a little rich for them from the get go.

Any recommendations, and I should have clarified this better from the start, that are higher pressured to promote better burning and clean performance in some of the lower velocities???

quote:

was hoping to find a load for the 44Mag and the 45Colt that would burn clean and not require the higher pressure and attendant velocity for some clean burning low velocity loads in that 750-850fps range.

Don't have a 45 Colt but in 44 Mag. Unique has always been my go-to mid-range load powder. With 240 gr. cast lead bullets it's accurate, a nice dull shove; not a wrist-turner and well, can't call it squeaky clean, IMO sorta greasy but not too messy.

In revolvers I give everything I load including wadcutters a really tight crimp.

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
I have had good luck with WW 760 in my 45 ACP.

You're kidding, right?

Is that measured or weighed?

Watch out Rusty it's going to blow.

Sorry guys I gave the wrong powder I will amend my post.

WW 231

Yes, the new Unique is pretty clean; I have 8 pounds of 30 year old Unique that I used for cowboy loads as it smokes like black powder and leaves only slightly less fouling. It seems to be a bottomless can; I have been trying to burn it up for years so I can shoot some of the new stuff, which I have too. but ww231 is cleaner yet.

I've used clays in my 38's and its quite clean. A freind who has used bullsey, unique, and clays, says Clays is the cleanest of them. Pressure/velocity wise, it is pretty close to Bullseye.

I have found Universal doesn't run well below midrange levels. This is true w/ most medium brun rate powders. For a 800fps load, you'll get better reults w/ something like RedDot or TG, but I hate TGs low powder volumn & high heat rate. I've shot #s of RD in 45colt CAS loads under 200-250gr bulets running 750-800fps Try 6gr & work it slightyl up or down.

I am a big fan of Titegroup for my lighter loads including those for my 475 and 500 Linebaugh's. My go to powder in a lot of cases.