Using fast rifle powders in pistol calibers?

jmorris said:

Some rifle rounds like 458 socom not only use pistol powders but pistol primers too. Subsonic rifle loads often use pistol powders like Trailboss.

I guess I can say I use rifle powders in pistols like my 7mm BR XP-100 and contenders but that is not what the op was asking about.

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These loads you speak of were developed professionally in controlled ballistic labs and not in ones home or garage.

I guess what I am stressing above all is following safe practice and recommendations is not only prudent but life securing.

Because one has a rifle powder and no pistol powder is no reason to play alchemist, and I mean this with no harm or disregard for a fellow site member.

I learned early to follow rules and recs and to err on the safe side and to teach others the same. It makes sense, doesn't it?




BTW mwsenoj, what desert do you live in. Maybe you are my way sometime and I can make good on getting you a half pound of powder to generate a couple of hundred rounds or so.

Although it is not uncommon for some to use pistol powders in rifle cartridges, the reverse is not recommended. I don't know of anyone who has done so successfully.

To the OP's question-no. Just.....no.

I damshore don't want to be a witness when you touch one of those rounds off.

55 mph seems like the speed you need to meet to me, and just go get the correct powder for the application.

Seems a clear answer has been had. Just searched the next question, but found nothing, what's the slowest powder I can use in my 40?

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Probably something like 800X. AA#7 will be a lot easier to live with, unless you just *want* to weight every charge.

Trail
Boss?

These loads you speak of were developed professionally in controlled ballistic labs and not in ones home or garage.

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Almost all of the 458 socom loads I have worked up were done in my home or out in the shop out back. I don't have a single load manual with 458 socom load data.

jmorris said:

Almost all of the 458 socom loads I have worked up were done in my home or out in the shop out back. I don't have a single load manual with 458 socom load data.

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I found 25 loads for the 458 socom on LoadData.com.

Most are Barnes so maybe you have an avenue to check your work-ups with their published data.

SR4759 was developed for reduced rifle loads. It is also advertised as a magnum pistol powder. Its slightly slower than 2400. Of course that makes it wayyy faster than H335 and W748 and the like. It can be used in 357 and 45 colt.

If u were hell bent on using a conventional rifle powder in handgun calibers u might consider cartridges with lots of case capacity. And you might be interested in something called duplex charging. Most modern reloaders will cry foul, but once upon a time (when powder selection wasn't as large, nor as easily attainable..., kinda like right now?), this was a relatively common practice.

mtrmn said:

To the OP's question-no. Just.....no.

I damshore don't want to be a witness when you touch one of those rounds off.

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I really wish people would try not posting when they don't know what they are talking about.

kingmt said:

I really wish people would try not posting when they don't know what they are talking about.

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I am in agreement with mtrmn.

Nobody should play the way the OP is intending unless a qualified Ballistics Expert.

To do so goes against everything that is taught about safe and responsible reloading.

Reloading is one thing but many of us are handloaders.

I don't care if you use 50 BMG powder. It isn't going to blow up. The slower the powder the less pressure it is going to give. You guys keep crying danger & don't know what your talking about. 2400 is used in rifle & how many people use it in handgun? The OP is just trying to learn something. It makes it heard to learn when people give disinformation.

The powders the OP asked about are a bit slow to work very well with the handgun cartridges. However if he had 4198 it would work fine, that's about the "fastest" rifle powder that will work in handgun rounds and not blow half the kernels out the end of the barrel.
If a person can find an older copy of Cartridges of the World, back in the back powders/reloading section, they published the data sheets from IMR, and in those you will find data for most of the powders IMR produced at the time in handgun and rifle cartridges.
2400 and unique today are considered handgun cartridges, however I still have cans for them that call them rifle powders, and 2400 got its name because it was the first powder that actually got a 22 hornet to do 2400 fps..

kingmt said:

Reloading is one thing but many of us are handloaders.

I don't care if you use 50 BMG powder. It isn't going to blow up. The slower the powder the less pressure it is going to give. You guys keep crying danger & don't know what your talking about. 2400 is used in rifle & how many people use it in handgun? The OP is just trying to learn something. It makes it heard to learn when people give disinformation.

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I take the disinformation comment as contempt for the practice of safe and prudent reloading practice.

And I do know what I am talking about. That I do not "experiment" with mixing apples and oranges is ingrained in me from believing what I have learned over the years. There is no need for you to look down your nose at prudent practice.

If I was in a position to employ test barrels and pressure measuring equipment, I can tell you that my technical background would suit me perfectly in generating meaningful data.

I think it would be wise for you to lighten up on those of us that are responding with the intent of insuring safety in process.

Remember, the whole thing started because the OP didn't have pistol powder and wanted to shove what he had on hand into service for loading pistol rounds with a specific rifle powder. The mere question of doing so needs to be frowned upon for the sake of us "reloaders" everywhere.

In an earlier post, I indicated that in the realm of the "Wildcatters" and those with advanced knowledge, such practice can be explored.
How many of those people do we have here? I doubt if it is a large percentage of THR reloaders.


With all respect, it sounds like you are one of those few, and if you are, please list a few of the accomplishments germane to this discussion.