[357mag357]

I have searched the web and have not found any load data using Power Pistol for 38 Special. I would like to load 110,125 & 158grain FMJ bullets using Power Pistol. Does anyone have any info? Thanks

[Ol` Joe]

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeDetail.aspx?title=Pistols%20and%20Revolvers&gtypeid=1&weight=110&shellid=1018&bulletid=45

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeDetail.aspx?title=Pistols%20and%20Revolvers&gtypeid=1&weight=125&shellid=1018&bulletid=46

Speer lists it - Power Pistol - in their #13 manual 38 Spc data but it is in the +P stuff, as are the two loads above.
I don`t think it is a good choice in the 38, it seems to only be useful when pressures are higher then normal and this isn`t a good way to treat most 38s especially the smaller framed ones.
Low pressures with powders developed for high pressure loads can be very inconsistant. You might find velocities are poor, have large SDs, or the powder just plain burns dirty/smokey. Anyway good luck, sorry I can offer any data with the 158gr.

[The Bushmaster]

Lyman's 48th edition lists it in all the bullet weights you wanted. How it performs? Don't know, but have ordered some to find out. Ol' Joe may be correct (and he usually is). I wonder if it would do better in .38 Specials rated for +P? Ol' Joe...What do you think?:scrutiny:

[Ol` Joe]

Bushmaster, if the loads are at top std pressure and work fine in the pistol I wouldn`t have any problem with useing them in any pistol chambered for the 38. If however I had to go over listed std loads and approach +P or use +P data to get consistant, clean, accurate loads I would want a +P rated gun. (There may be at times a small overlap in some cartridges between std & +P listed data)
We never really know what pressures are in our pistols. We just get a good estimate or guess from the psi shown as the labs measured result, and hope ours follows theirs somewhat closely. A max std book load may well be slightly over SAAMI in our gun and not show any signs of being anything but normal especially in a very low pressure round like the 38 or 45LC or acp. Without the proper equipment we just don`t know. To use data that the lab found to be over in a pistol not rated for it even if safe in a +P rated gun isn`t very prudent IMO. Of course useing 38 +P in any 357 isn`t in question.

[The Bushmaster]

I own three Mod 10 S&Ws and have been loading +P loads for them for years with no problems. Of course I've been using W-231 under 125 grain and 140 grain SJHPs. When I finally recieve that pound of Power Pistol I plan to experiment with 9mmX19, .38 Special, .45 ACP and .357 magnum. I am a careful reloader in that cases are scrupulously cleaned and inspected. Trimed and primer pockets cleaned. Every powder charge is weighed before being dropped in the case. I have played with Unique, Bullseye and 700X and did not like the performance of any of them. Where as I have enjoyed good performance with W-231 in all of the above guns. Though W-231 is a poor performer in my longer barreled .357 magnums where I use either 2400 or W-296. I would like to diversify a bit so I have more then one powder to go to then just W-231.

Understand what you are saying, but I must see it for myself...:) Besides we are supposed to be helping 357mag357, not me...Do appreciate it though...

[357mag357]

I have used Power Pistol with 9mm with great success. It burned very clean in my Ruger PC9. Accuracy was dead on using 115 & 147g bullets. I have so much I figured I try it using 38 specials. I will give the 38+p a shot. I know 231 and titegroup work great I just wanted to try something new. Also, I am using a Ruger GP100.

[Walkalong]

I've been loaded +P with Universal. Does pretty good. I like it a bit better than Blue Dot which I was using. AA# 5 also does well, but with more powder, same as Blue Dot.

Power Pistol should do well.:)

[agd1953]

Power pistol works great for .45 acp and 9mm. I shoot the .45 in my P90 and the 9mm in my 16" barreled UZI:)

[strat81]

To revive this thread... has anyone had any luck using Power Pistol in standard pressure .38 loads? I like it in 9mm (high pressure) and 45ACP (low pressure) but even mild 45s are generally higher pressure than standard 38s.

[Z-Michigan]

I have been using Power Pistol in 38's loaded to the edge of +P pressure levels, per load data in the Lee book. It works adequately, but seems to be a bit dirty and erratic. I also load it in .357 mag and it seems to work better at the higher pressure level. I'm pretty young in my reloading career though, FWIW.

[ArchAngelCD]

Power Pistol is too hot a powder for standard pressure .38 Special rounds IMO. It will work well for .38 Special +P rounds though. I also don't like the excessive flash produced by Power Pistol

If you are looking for something a little different for your .38 Special give HS-6 a try. It's hotter than W231 because it's a slower powder but it will work well. It's a clean powder and it's also a low flash powder. I have produced very accurate lead rounds using HS-6 but it will work just as well with jacketed bullets too.

[Kosh75287]

I thought they'd decided to discontinue HS-6 and HS-7. Not so?

[ricciardelli]

You haven't "searched the web" very effectivley!

http://stevespages.com/357p_7.html

[ArchAngelCD]

Kosh75287,
Hodgdon did discontinue HS-7 a while ago but has no plans that I know of to discontinue HS-6. You can still fine a can of HS-7 laying around in small stores here and there but it's rare now. Hodgdon also discontinued HS-5 a few years ago, I guess they thought HS-5, HS-6 and HS-7 were all to close in burn rate to keep all of them in their catalog. It's too bad because all are (or were) good powders.