Alliant PROMO Powder

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44 Mag

44 Mag

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On a scale from 1 to 10, how good is Alliant PROMO Powder? Will it work if I use it to reload 115 grain target practice ammo for my 9mm glock 17/gen 4 and my new 9mm JRCarbine? I inherited 8 pounds of this powder, never used it before. :confused: Thanks!
 
Promo can be used with the same data as red dot as long as you are measuring by weight and NOT volume.

I have found it to work quite well in some calibers but, IMO, 9mm is not one of them. It will work but it seems to shine in lower pressure cartridges. I did a fair amount of testing with promo and 9mm and got some OK loads so, if you are really desperate, it will do in a pinch.
 
Disclaimer: Following post lists loads not currently published by Alliant. Use them at your own risk.


Welcome to THR.

Promo is larger than Unique flake powder and meters like it (picture below of Red Dot and Promo looks like Alliant took Red Dot and added larger flakes to it). I "aim" for 4.0 gr and get variations from 3.9-4.2 gr. Because it is very buiky, higher than 4.2 gr charge with 124 gr RN bullet will compress the powder charge. Still, it produces good enough accuracy for practice loads. I did my load test with Promo and 9mm 124/125 gr and 40S&W 155 FMJ and 180 gr plated/lead bullets in this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=518185


Red Dot vs Promo comparison

W231RDPromo_zps201ee81e.jpg

As indicated by Alliant, you can use Red Dot load data by weight and 2004 Alliant load data has 115/124 gr lead/FMJ loads you can reference if you are using lead/plated/jacketed bullets - http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=182147&d=1364769070


2004 Alliant Red Dot load data lists 4.5 gr as max charge for 115 gr FMJ at 1.120" OAL. You can start with 4.0 and test 4.2 and 4.4 gr if using longer OAL like 1.125" for lead RN and 1.135" for plated RN.


In a recent range test, 124 gr Z-Cast lead RN with 4.0 gr Promo produced 1.5" shot group at 10 yards from Glock 22 with KKM/Lone Wolf conversion barrels - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=745656

If you are interested, I tested Promo with 147 gr lead bullet in this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=748940

FYI, RMR has new "mixed" 115/124 gr plated RN for $65/1000 with free shipping and additional 5% THR discount now that you are a THR member - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=759774

If you load 45ACP, it does better for the lower pressure cartridge. These groups were shot with 200 gr SWC and 4.0 gr of Promo out of railed Sig 1911. The load is accurate and produces mild recoil. I say 2" group at 25 yards is not bad for the cheapest pistol powder you can load with but if you have any doubts, I am sure there are many reloaders who would gladly take that 8 lbs of Promo off your hands :D - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9415802#post9415802

attachment.php
 
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Thanks for that wealth of info, bds!

I bought an 8 lb. jug of Promo a while back to reproduce my Red Dot loads, so this is great.
 
In part due to BDS's excellent write ups, I've picked up 16 lbs and have been loading it in 9mm, 380, 38 Spcl and will soon in 45 ACP. It's been pretty good for me in the 9. I've been loading 3.4 gr under a 125gr MBC small ball and they work just fine out of my G17, Beretta 92 and a couple of others. It's metered fine with my Hornady LNL powder measure, giving me a variation of .1gr or less.
I haven't compared the accuracy as BDS has, but I'm satisfied with it.
 
8 pounds Promo will last a *long* time if you're using it for handgun and/or rifle loads. I'm still working on a jug I bought about 10 years ago, and I use the stuff frequently.
 
I am using about 4.0 gr for 9mm 124/125 gr, 40S&W 180 gr and 45ACP 200 gr loads so with 7000 grains in 1 lb, that's:

7000 x 8 / 4 = 14,000 rounds

In comparison, 5.0 gr W231/HP-38 loads produce 11,200 rounds

And 6.0 gr loads with slower burn rate powders produce 9,333 rounds

During times of powder shortage, being able to load extra 3000 - 4500 rounds per 8 lb container will not only slow down powder usage but also allow preserving more popular powders on hand.
 
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BDS, I have one of the JR carbines in 40. I've thought of buying the 9mm conversion for it, but other projects have taken the front burners. It shoots pretty well, but it leaves weird marks and scratches on the brass. I'll have to shoot, pick up and photograph some cases the next time I shoot it to show you.
Pros -- pistol caliber carbine using Glock mags. Fun factor. AR-Like. Conversions available.
Cons -- those weird marks worry me for reloading (particularly 40). Take down for cleaning is not straight forward. Check out their instructions before you buy.
 
Like said above, Promo is very similar to Red Dot and both are fast shotgun/pistol powders. I have never used it in the 9mm because IMO it's too fast a powder for a high pressure small case round like the 9mm. (or the 40 S&W) I just don't like using such a fast powder in cartridges where a slight increase in powder charge can spike the pressures and with a powder so difficult to meter like Promo it can happen.

I think it's just fine for the .38 Special, 38 S&W, 45 Auto and even the 45 Colt, all of which can be loaded with Red Dot to a high success rate.
 
ArchAngel and Mule, some of us are blessed with having more usable powders on hand than Promo.

If other powders were available along with Promo for purchase, I would gladly recommend better metering and cleaner burning powders. But if Promo was the only available powder to load 9mm/40S&W along with .38Spl/45ACP/45Colt, I would not hesitate to use it.

Remember, not many reloaders are sitting on 16 lbs of W231/HP-38 under their bench. ;)
 
mstreddy, thanks for the heads up on JR carbine scratching and marking the 40S&W brass.

Any issues with 9mm brass getting marks/scratches?
 
bds said:
ArchAngel and Mule, some of us are blessed with having more usable powders on hand than Promo.

If other powders were available along with Promo for purchase, I would gladly recommend better metering and cleaner burning powders. But if Promo was the only available powder to load 9mm/40S&W along with .38Spl/45ACP/45Colt, I would not hesitate to use it.

Remember, not many reloaders are sitting on 16 lbs of W231/HP-38 under their bench. ;)
Click to expand...
I was talking about the powder, not the hard times we are all going through. I was only trying to relay how I felt about the powder in case he had another choice for the 9mm and use Promo in the .38 Spl, 45 Auto and 45 Colt.

You're right, not too many are still sitting on 16 lbs of W231. I'm down to a little over 12 lbs right now. :p (sorry I had to)
 
You are a tease! I can almost hear some reloaders say "What! ... 12 pounds of HP-38? ... Dang ... Can you share some?" :eek:

< hugging two containers of Promo ... "Thanks for saving my 16 pounds of HP-38!" > :D

Yes, I have shared A LOT of my powders, including W231/HP-38, with other reloaders in need the past few years (around 25 lbs ... all PIF).
 
bds said:
You are a tease! I can almost hear some reloaders say "What! ... 12 pounds of HP-38? ... Dang ... Can you share some?" :eek:

< hugging two containers of Promo ... "Thanks for saving my 16 pounds of HP-38!" > :D

Yes, I have shared A LOT of my powders, including W231/HP-38, with other reloaders in need the past few years (around 25 lbs ... all PIF).
Click to expand...
I have lent out a bunch of powder too but not quite 25 lbs. In reality I have only 2X 4lb jugs of W231 and 2.5 lbs of HP-38 in single lb bottles so it's only a little over 10 lbs left. (I did a lot of shooting over this summer) I did at one point have 16 lbs but did use a bunch and I lent out 2 lbs too.
 
Mule, Promo IS a shotgun powder, but it works just fine as pistol powder too. As do many shotgun powders.
And, at the prices for Promo, I have no qualms in loading my pistol rounds with it. Since I don't load for shotgun, that's easy to do for me.
Arch - You are right, there are much better choices, but, it's working for me. And I truly do appreciate BDS's taking the time to document his work ups with it.
And of course, there is the availability issue we are all going through.

I too am sitting on some Win231, ~10 lbs. But, will run the Promo for a while.
 
BDS -- you truly are evil.
Actually, the 10% is already reflected in the $251 price. But, it's still a good deal. The only problem is their cc/payment system is down right now.
So, will have to try later.
But, yes, I'm getting it now --or whenever their system is back up for processing payments.
 
When you order the 9mm conversion kit, perhaps you can talk to JR carbine customer service about 40S&W marking/scratching your brass?

Maybe it's something that can be readily addressed like polishing a protrusion or chamber, etc.

Everything seems modular on the JR carbines. Perhaps they can send you a replacement chamber module, if that's what's causing the marks/scratches. ;)
 
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