45 acp with Power Pistol

[howelljeffrey]

I am loading 45 acp using Power Pistol and MBC IDP#3 185g SWC. Can someone tell me what charge they have used if working with this combo? I am seeing too much variance in suggested loads (anywhere from 7.0 to 9.5 grains) Alliant website, Lyman, etc. Thank You.

 

[grubbylabs]

I only use a 230 grn ball of HP and I either use 7 grns (ball) or 6.3 (HP) It seems to work fine for me.

 

[frankge]

I just bought PP for my 9 and some 40 loads. I thought that a faster poweder like Bullseye would be better IMHO.

 

[Steve C]

Power pistol is the canister grade version of the powder developed for the US military 9mm and as such works great in the high pressure small case capacity of the 9 producing excellent velocities and accuracy. It is a rather flashy powder in the 9mm and if you check Alliant data you will see data is conspicuously absent for lead bullets, my guess is it burns a bit hot for bare base lead.

I have tried it in the .45 acp and the .38 spl with jacketed bullets and abandoned its use for these cartridges. With even fairly stout loads in these rather low pressure cartridges it leaves carbon burning on the outside of the case. Velocity is good but the burning indicates incomplete sealing of the case to the chamber. Standard deviations was in the 18 to 30 fps range vrs 13 to 14 in the 9mm.

IMO Power Pistol is just not a good application for what you are loading. I'd suggest switching to Unique if you're looking for a velocity power factor with those MBC bullets or a faster powder like Bullseye, Red Dot, Green Dot, W231, AA#2, etc for target level loads.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

SteveC nailed it I've loaded cast .45acp with PP and got same results.
RDot did noticeably better with tighter groups under cast slugs. didn't foul near as badly either in .357, 9mm, .380 and .45 target loads. cleaner than BEye actually.

 

[cvo]

I just loaded some .45 230 gr FMJ with PP and 231, headed to the range in the AM.

 

[howelljeffrey]

Thanks guys. Everyone seems to be out of stock on those and I have #4 PP.

 

[ljnowell]

This is a different bullet but I have loaded 185gr GDHP in 45 with it.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=456627

Its a good powder for full power loads, but I think its more for jacketed bullets.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Power Pistol is an excellent powder for the 45acp....when you're using 230 grain jacketed bullets.

Lead bullets...I know a pin shooter that uses Power Pistol with 255 grain LSWC's in the 45acp. So it can be used with lead bullets...but still its too slow burning for light bullets such as the OP's 185's.

Somebody mentioned PP being dirty (fouling)...the hotter you load it the cleaner it burns. In my loads (7 grains under a 230 XTP) it burns just as clean as anything else and cleaner than most. In my 45 Super loads (8 grains under a 230 XTP) it appears to be self cleaning...

 

[JDGray]

^^^^^I agree with RR^^^^^ I load 7.0gr PP with 230gr XTPs, 816fps out of a 3" barrel, clean, heavy recoil!! I don't shoot lead, but Clays does very well with Plated 230gr pills.

 

[paralaska]

I've not been pleased with Power Pistol . . . Just can't seem to find a consistant load with it . . .

I prefer to use: Unique, Bullseye, W 231, and True Blue. I've been able to work excellent loads using various types of bullets with these powders. Just can't find a combination that works for me with the Power Pistol . . . .

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I haven't found a load using PP that isn't accurate...with the lower power loads it does have some ES, but its still very accurate at pistol ranges (less than 50 yards)

 

[JDGray]

I haven't found a load using PP that isn't accurate...

This is my experiance, too I use it for 9mm, 45ACP, and when I loaded for it, 40S&W.