I am not familiar at all with “Promo” powder. Who makes it?
Promo is made by Alliant -
https://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/promo.aspx
It has same burn rate as Red Dot but Alliant recommends we use Red Dot load data by weight:
"Promo has the same burn speed as Red Dot, but is more dense, thus requiring a smaller bushing to obtain the same charge weight."
I was initially introduced to Promo during the "Great Shortage" of 2012-2013 and those in my group buy wanted me to be the guinea pig to try it. Unfortunately it only comes in 8 lb container but was very cheap at around $80. Since I liked Red Dot for 45ACP and 9mm, I figured since I couldn't find more popular powders, like Red Dot, why not and gave it a try.
Like Red Dot, Promo turned out to be a great powder for lighter recoil target loads as expressed by these groups shot from railed Sig 1911 XO loaded with MBC 12 BHN 200 gr SWC (Bullseye #1) loaded to 1.240"-1.245" -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...omo-reloading-range-test.578444/#post-9415802
Well, I am on my 5th 8 lb container of Promo (I did PIF and shared quite a bit with others) and like it quite a bit for 45ACP and 9mm (In a snap, I could use it for 40S&W but at low charge loads to tame the snappy recoil) and is my "general purpose" range blasting powder, especially designated for PCC loads along with W231/HP-38 which is my reference pistol powder for lighter target loads (BE-86/WSF are designated for 40S&W and for higher velocity defensive loads).
Initially, Promo looked like crinkly Red Dot without the red colored flakes and large round flakes added and metered similar to Red Dot with 0.2+ gr variance. Since I liked the low velocity variance (Low SD numbers), I kept asking Paul from
@Alliant Reloading to make Promo meter better and we got our wish when Promo was reblended with mostly flat round flakes which metered better now with around .12 gr variance similar to W231/HP-38 -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...blended-promo-for-more-accurate-loads.841097/
BTW, here's chrono numbers showing low velocity variance (13 fps/16 fps) which is key at 50-100 yards due to bullet drop and also express reverse temperature sensitivity of Promo (Higher velocities at lower temps) -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...n-9mm-40s-w-45acp.799231/page-4#post-10338994
- 100 gr RMR HM RN 4.5-4.7 gr Promo @ 1.050": 1478-1475-1480-1471-1467 fps (58 F - JR carbine)
- 100 gr RMR HM RN 4.5-4.7 gr Promo @ 1.050": 1458-1450-1445-1442-1448 fps (71 F - JR carbine)
If you reference current USPSA PCC division powders used by match shooters, they are all fast burning powders (Similar to Promo/Red Dot) and my guess is they all arrived at the same conclusion I did regarding blowback PCC application of faster burning powders producing smaller groups likely from sealing high pressure gas better with case mouth/neck expansion to chamber walls for more consistent chamber pressures before bolt/buffer moves back (Hence cleaner/less sooty cases) -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/9mm-target-load.927857/page-5#post-12846195
