231/TiteGroup

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I've been asking around at my local range with the fellas that
reload (pistol) using TiteGroup and 231. One guy will say he likes
TG because of reason X and the other guy says he likes 231
because of reason Y.
Oddly enough I thought I'd find at least someone who loads
and shoots both, but of the few people I've ask'd, it seems to
be one or the other. I know there is someone (at least) here that
would fall into both catagories.
So my question is; what is your opinion of the two when conpared to each other ? If one is prefered, why. Is it cleaner than the other, or maybe more
consistant with a certain load ?
I'm all ears here guys/gals. I will be loading for; 9mm, .40 and 45auto.
Thx. in advance.
 
I like both powders.. for me it is about availability. Most of my experience is in 40 S&W. All are loaded to 1.175" and shot in a Para P16-40. The titegroup is a tad cleaner, the 231 is sometimes more available to me. The 231 loads are going by the Winchester loading guide, except for overall length, I tuned that to my particular gun. If you need to load to the 1.135" length, I'd work up loads starting at the minor load, and then if pressure permits, increase by .1 or .2 gr increments till you reach the major loads or until pressure signs appear. I think the general consensus of local shooters with 231 and the 45 is, they prefer it over Titegroup. No one I know uses either titegroup or 231 for 9mm. I'd probably use Universal clays (and have) for 9mm since it gives you a better safety margin pressure wise in the smaller case.

Titegroup minor for IPSC
3.8 gr
180 gr Moly coated lead bullet
Mixed brass
Winchester primers
~750 fps

Titegroup Major for IPSC
4.7 gr
180 Moly coated lead bullet
mixed brass
Winchester primers
~975 fps

231 Minor for IPSC
4.0 gr
180 Moly coated lead
Mixed brass
Winchester primers
~750 fps

231 Major for IPSC
5.0 gr
180 Moly coated lead
Mixed brass
Winchester primers
~950 fps
 
Since both powders are very similar, it unlikely you would find someone loading both. It's just easier to choose one and then load it for multiple calibers.

Are you looking for plinking loads or competition loads?
 
I've used both, they both go bang. I think TG is a little cheaper, but this may depend on where you buy it. I've heard that TG burns hotter because of the nitroglycerine content, but this could just be a rumour.

I recently loaded up some 9mm 147s with TG and some 124s with 231. I'm satisfied with the performance of both. TG will push the 147s faster than 231, that's the only reason I chose it. I don't have a chrony, so that consideration is mostly esoteric, I might as well have made the decision based on which smells better.
 
reddot said:
Since both powders are very similar, it unlikely you would find someone loading both. It's just easier to choose one and then load it for multiple calibers.

Are you looking for plinking loads or competition loads?
Click to expand...

There are two reasons I started to reload for pistol.
1) cost savings,
2) I can shoot the type, and grain of bullet I want.

With my loads I only want to replicate the velocities of factory
ammo of the same bullet weight. Just standard loads, you could say.
So, with a lower pressure round like the .45, is it more desirable to
use a slower burning powder or faster ?
And then for higher pressure rounds like 9mm/.40, do you want a
slow or faster burning powder?
I would like to have a better understanding of pressure vs. burn rate
and how they effect each other. Maybe there's an article about I
could find.
 
FWIW I prefer fast powder with heavy bullets. Except my IPSC major .40 rounds, I usually load my .45 and 9mm as light target loads.
 
I am all TG compare to 231.
I have never used 231 in major IPSC matches and TG so far has not disappointed me in attaining major PF.

TG burns way cleaner than 231.

TG loaded in a 40 SW gives me a snapier recoil compared to 231 using my semi-auto pistol. One of the reasons I like TG against 231. Personally, I like the snappy recoil of theTG, it seems (at least in my opinion) like my front sight recovery is faster using TG than a sluggish recoil using 231. However, I like using 231 in my revolver in 45 ACP. It gives me a soft kick when it goes bang, but I am talking 2-different guns.

TG gives me a better flexibility in attaining major PF with less powder. I cant say anything about consistency tho.

I still prefer using TG, but I can live with 231 if the availability of TG is scarce.

This is my personal experience and opinion. Other people's opinion may differ from my preference tho. :) Just my 2-cents.

Reload safely
 
I used to use 231 in both .45 and 9mm but switched over to titegroup for the cost and the fact that it burns cleaner. If I couldn't get T.G. I would use 231.
 
Just about what everyone else said, I shot a pile of 231 this year because I couldn't get Titegroup.

I haven't noticed a significant difference in between them (clean etc...) and haven't had problems making major in .40. I've also loaded a lot of 9mm with 231 and it seemed to work just fine.
 
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