Titegroup in .45 ACP and .38 Spl.

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Sharps '63

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With the scarcity of powders of late, I was lucky to score 4 lbs of Titegroup. I want to use it in 130 gr CAS .38 pl. loads for my wife and lead IPSC 200 gr SWC and FMJ loads for both of us.

The scuttlebutt on the net is that it's a touchy powder and to stay within recommended loads and OAL. Some also claim it is smoky and liable to melt bullet bases. Others claim it's their favourite powder.

Who's right?
 
I've loaded 9mm, .40, .38, and .45 with TG.
Its a versatile powder but yes, you should work up to max loads carefully and be vigilant in your QC as the low charge weights can conceivably be doubled and go un-noticed.
Many who complain about the smoke also use plain lead bullets, where most of the smoke is from the lube. I use plated bullets and find it no worse than any other.
 
Thanks, Wolfe!

Last summer I shot in a revolver only match and my +P Red Dot load was making so much smoke I was asked if I was shooting BP! I was shooting 158 SWC Bullet Barn bullets.
I think the lube was producing the smoke.
 
Lube makes the smoke, not the powder.

I use Titegroup for almost all my handgun loads because I happened to wind up with a pair of 8 pound jugs of it....

For the 200gr SWC 45ACP, try 4.3gr for accuracy. And up to 5.0 for power. Most of my 45s prefer 4.3

For the 38, I suggest 4.0gr.
 
Thanks, Ganderite! Good score on the powder.

The Titegroup container recommends:

- .38 Spl. 3.8 grs/158 SWC max

- .45 5.5/185 JSWC max

I'm going to start with 3.5 in .38 Spl. as 3.8 sounds on the warm side. In .45 I'll start with the 4.3 you recommend, topping out at 4.5 max.
 
I've seen more pistol barrels blown up by titegroup than any other powder.
That's not the powder's fault - it's the reloaders.
Titegroup is very easy to double charge and not see.

Watch your cases very closely when you reload or better still use a powder check station and watch.
 
Freedom Ventures said:
I've seen more pistol barrels blown up by titegroup than any other powder.
That's not the powder's fault - it's the reloaders.
Titegroup is very easy to double charge and not see.

Watch your cases very closely when you reload or better still use a powder check station and watch.
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I take it you don't use Bulls Eye for the same reason? Over the years I've shot lots of powders that didn't fill much of the case volume with nil effects. If they were approaching magnum power, I block checked. Otherwise I just ground them through my Dillons.

I knew a guy who was putting 6 grs of BE and heavy bullets through his Gen 1 Colt SAA. He was warned he might be stressing the old steel but he kept it up. I often wonder about the fate of that old revolver .....
 
The wife of one of my cowboy shooting buddies likes her recoil light. He's been loading 3.1 to 3.2gns of Tightgroup behind the 130gn LRNFP bullets for some time now. It works fine and always sounds consistent. So it's not a fussy powder at all. In fact it's much like Bullseye in that regard.

He's also loaded Bullseye for her at 2.7gns. Again it worked out fine and she likes those loads.
 
Sharps '63 said:
I take it you don't use Bulls Eye for the same reason?
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I don't use bullseye because it's filthy. I used to use titegroup until I found Vhit N320. I'd still use titegroup if I couldn't find Vhit N320

I think you missed my point; Titegroup is a good powder at all the recommended loads and probably a bit beyond.
It's just very difficult to see that you've thrown a double charge into a case with it and it is completely unforgiving if you do.
It's a powder that requires an extra effort of caution on the part of the reloader.
 
I've used Titegroup extensively for the same application you plan on. My experience with it is that it is the cleanest pistol powder I've used. With T/G I can shoot numerous matches without any gun problems from not cleaning for an extended period of time.

My load for 158 or 130 gr cast is 2.9 gr of T/G. I agree with BC, I've noticed no inconsistencies with this load (well over 20,000 used) in either bullet where as with other powders I've tried, I had to adjust charges when changing bullet/case space (I use '38 sp. cases) to get consistent results.
 
Thank you, gentlemen.

I asked the same question on CasCity and got nothing but smart azz, condescending replies from a couple of hot shot CAS know-it-alls.
 
another one here who has witnessed two pistols blow from titegroup double charge..not mine. It takes up so little space you could likely triple charge a load. for me its been excellent in 38 9mm and 45.
 
I just finished a run of 200 .38 Spl. loads with 3.4 grs Red Dot on my original 450 Dillon. I'm wondering how I could double or triple a charge a case as I've disciplined myself to stop immediately if the sequence is interrupted for any reason, clear the shell plate of the partially completed rounds and start from scratch.

I've always had the attitude that I'm after quality, not quantity. I take a break after every 100 rds in order not to lose concentration and focus. One dud or overloaded round is too many. I rarely load .357 or .44 magnum rounds, but when I do, I place the charged cases into a loading block and check under a strong light.
 
HI. YES tightgroup is a lively powder. Use as recommended only in a real loading book. I use it with 140 grain lead cowboy loads at the start load level. In 45 acp start load are good.
Tightgroup can give sharp recoil and sound barky but it is very consistent shot to shot. If under loaded it will not burn well, GEE aren't all powders like that! If you want to hot rod a load look at other powders. Tightgroup will work perfectly if you respect it and watch what you are doing.
 
Sharps '63 said:
I just finished a run of 200 .38 Spl. loads with 3.4 grs Red Dot on my original 450 Dillon. I'm wondering how I could double or triple a charge a case as I've disciplined myself to stop immediately if the sequence is interrupted for any reason, clear the shell plate of the partially completed rounds and start from scratch.

I've always had the attitude that I'm after quality, not quantity. I take a break after every 100 rds in order not to lose concentration and focus. One dud or overloaded round is too many. I rarely load .357 or .44 magnum rounds, but when I do, I place the charged cases into a loading block and check under a strong light.
Click to expand...

My wife sometimes comes into the loading room to say something. After she does, I cycle the Dillon to clear the plate and start over again. An interruption is about the only way my automatic cycle of loading could get screwed up.

When teaching newbies how to load, I always suggest IMR7625 as a powder. It is bulky and a double charge would over flow most cases. They stopped making it this year. Another good medium speed powder that meters well is Clays Universal. They also stopped making that one, too.

TiteGroup, Bullseye and 231 can all double charge a case. I did it twice. Once broke a 357. The other was a mild load in a 44Mag that my Blackhawk digested OK.

Get you head and eyes back into the game after an interruption.
 
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