W231

[Nickle]

I've got about three pounds of it from years ago. Ive never found  a cartridge  that wouldn't  shoot  better with something other than w231.

Do any of you like or use w231 and if so in what are you using in?

Also I was given a old can of Hercules Herco.  Any of you find Herco to be useful? 

[Marauder SASS #13056]

W231 is a very good powder for most pistols, if not the "greatest."

 

Herco shines with 9mm.

 

Both are older powders, so we may see a little more soot than the newest powders.  But when I started reloaded, 231 was considered much cleaner than the "original" smokeless powders (Bullseye & Unique). 

 

A few years ago, the makers have even "cleaned up" Bullseye and Unique to be better/less smoky.

Edited December 26, 2024 by Marauder SASS #13056
Expanded

[Blackwater 53393]

I use W231 in pistol caliber cartridges and in certain shotgun loads.  Stable, predictable results every time!! 
 

AND IT’S AVAILABLE!!!  I just picked up some more a week ago!!

[J.C. Smoke, SASS #22300]

I shoot cowboy for that its BP for everything else its 231 , I started shooting Bullseye some the guys i was shooting with were using Bullseye I tried it iam switching to W231 Bullseye doesn't burn as clean as 231

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

 I load semi-auto pistol rounds with W231.  It meters very well and there is lots of loading data.  I loaded my last batch of 38 Specials with 231 instead of American  Select as I am saving my remaining supply of that powder for loading shotgun shells.  I don't load with Herco but would use any I had for sporting clays.  

[Griff]

It has a nice, wide range of load density from mild cowboy loads to exceeding SASS velocity limit in 45 Colt.  While it may not be the most accurate in any particular bullet weight, its versatility is a huge asset to have in inventory.

[Eyesa Horg]

31 minutes ago, J.C. Smoke, SASS #22300 said:

I shoot cowboy for that its BP for everything else its 231 , I started shooting Bullseye some the guys i was shooting with were using Bullseye I tried it iam switching to W231 Bullseye doesn't burn as clean as 231

I used it in Bullseye matches as well. 2.8gr in a 38spl under a 158 swc back in the 90s. Accurate and clean compared to Bullseye powder out of a GP100!

[Dr. Zook]

W231 in .45 ACP and .40 - going to use it in .38 spcl and would like to see what people's thoughts or recipes  are for .38 spcl, C45S and 45 Colt.

[Dubious Don #56333]

I don't currently use it but back in the before-time (before CAS, LOL) I used it for everythang I could As good or better than Bullseye. I've had a pause in my shooting for a bit, life reasons, so I'm still set on the powder/etc at the moment. Just getting back into the swing of things. I'd just recently started, prior to covid and the Present Emergency, switching from Trailboss to Universal. Not a one-to-one switch, and I will miss being able to load gallery loads for my older milsurps but those are mostly gone now anyway and I'll just have to suck it up without TB because that was a mainstay for me.

 

Yes. By all means, go to 231. Because when I run out of what I have now, 231 is it!

[Nickle]

So I'm looking for accuracy with cast bullets.  Most published data the minimum loads are normally hotter than I want.  

But even some published loads for w231 I get lots of fouling( Unburnt powder)  and I just don't I just don't get accuracy as with other powders.

What do you expect for accuracy with your cowboy action guns? Say pistols 5 shot groups at 25 yards and rifles 5 shot groups at a hundred. 

Of modern  powders  that I can get,titegroup has worked the best.

[Eyesa Horg]

I typically shoot my cowboy pistols at 5 to 10 yards and rifle at 10 to 15 and minute of 16" plate is good enough for me as middle of the road shooter!

[El Sobrante Kid]

1 hour ago, Dr. Zook said:

W231 in .45 ACP and .40 - going to use it in .38 spcl and would like to see what people's thoughts or recipes  are for .38 spcl, C45S and 45 Colt.

 

I had great results with HP-38 (same powder as W231) in .357.  I use 3.4gr behind a 148gr coated RN bullet (with crimp groove), in a .357 case. I had very poor results using the HP-38 in my 44-40 cases. LOTS of unburned powder in all the loads.

[Leroy Luck]

48 minutes ago, Nickle said:

What do you expect for accuracy with your cowboy action guns?

I’ve never worried about it. I use enough powder to get the bullet down the barrel and to have enough power for knock down targets. 
 

Although if I did worry about accuracy maybe I’d place a bit better. 🤣🤣

[Chief Rick]

50 minutes ago, Nickle said:

 

What do you expect for accuracy with your cowboy action guns?

The ability to consistently hit a 16" x 16" steel plate at 15 yards.

 

We're not shooting bowling pins or bulls-eyes.

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

1 hour ago, Nickle said:

So I'm looking for accuracy with cast bullets.  Most published data the minimum loads are normally hotter than I want.  

But even some published loads for w231 I get lots of fouling( Unburnt powder)  and I just don't I just don't get accuracy as with other powders.

What do you expect for accuracy with your cowboy action guns? Say pistols 5 shot groups at 25 yards and rifles 5 shot groups at a hundred. 

Of modern  powders  that I can get,titegroup has worked the best.

 See the "Ducks in a Row" target below by MGM manufacturing.  I want sufficient accuracy from my firearms that I can consistently knock down the final, smallest plate.  Bullseye accuracy is not needed for this shot.  Every powder I load with, smokeless, real black powder and BP subs gives sufficient accuracy.

 

 

For long range side matches I need more accuracy.

[Choctaw Jack]

I've shot W231 in my .45  Colt rifles and  revolvers since I started in this sport. It's still my favorite powder for rifle, but since going to C45S in my revolvers,I  use a different powder for these shorter rounds.

The W231 works extremely well in medium to max pressure loads. But Ive found it burns dirtier, and with more unburned powder, in the lower pressure loadings. It also becomes more temperature sensitive at colder ambient temps when used in reduced loads.

Having put that forward, it's still my favorite propellant for .45 Colt and .45 ACP.

Of course, YMMV

Choctaw

[Blackwater 53393]

I used Solo 1000 for years! It often left a little residue around the chamber and on the action in my rifles, but nothing that a quick puff of breath wouldn’t get rid of.

 

W231 measures and shoots very similar in my rifles and does about the same.

 

As everyone says, it’s extremely versatile and if you’re looking for accuracy, just bump the charge up a little, (within spec of course) until you get the performance you’re looking for. When I’m really on my game, I can reliably hit a 16” X 16” target at 150yds and more.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

WW23 was developed for the .45acp cartridge. 

HP38 and WW231 are the same powder. 

Meters well and not temperature sensitive. 

Almost as versatile as Unique. 

[WymoreWrangler SASS 46187L]

I load three different calibers with 231 and have no problems with it...  38, 45 LC, and 45acp

[Nickle]

9 hours ago, Choctaw Jack said:

I've shot W231 in my .45  Colt rifles and  revolvers since I started in this sport. It's still my favorite powder for rifle, but since going to C45S in my revolvers,I  use a different powder for these shorter rounds.

The W231 works extremely well in medium to max pressure loads. But Ive found it burns dirtier, and with more unburned powder, in the lower pressure loadings. It also becomes more temperature sensitive at colder ambient temps when used in reduced loads.

Having put that forward, it's still my favorite propellant for .45 Colt and .45 ACP.

Of course, YMMV

Choctaw

I'm wondering about 45 cowboy special and light smokeless loads  in a pistol compared say a large case 45 colt.

With the small case it would be harder to keep pressure down to black powder levels, plus more bullet jump to rifling.

On other hand with 45 colt you have all that big empty powder space with the large case.

I'm curious which cartridge is the most accurate with light smokeless loads.

Have you played around much with different crimps example light taper and heavy roll crimps with different dies for your light smokeless cowboy special loads?

[Sagebrush Burns, SASS # 14226]

I've shot a lot of W-231 in 45 Colt (250 cast, 7.0 grains) and been entirely satisfied.

[Go West]

I've used quite a variety over the years due to price and availability. I'm currently using 231 again after not using it for years due to.......wait for it........ price and availability. Think of it as an opportunity to record your loads for the next time you come across it. You can include notes about it such as noting whether a load or powder is cold sensitive or not. 

I see very large groups on SASS targets for the most part, not quarter size groups. 

[Dapper Dynamite Dick]

My IPSC, 3 gun Action pistol and Wild Bunch load since 1991 in .45acp has been W231.