An Overlooked powder for .45 ACP.

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CZ57

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I use Ramshot SILHOUETTE for jacketed bullets in .45 ACP. With 200 gr. SWCs I use WST. I load the 185 gr. Golden Saber and get good accuracy with Silhouette and I can get +P velocity without +P pressure. My new quest is with the ZERO 230 gr. JHP and Silhouette. THis combination will get to 1000 FPS in a standard load. The ZERO bullet is a beautiful thing. Looks like a Remington but the price is much better. A rounded Ogive rather than truncated. Sierra says that 7.5 is max charge of SILHOUETTE with a 230 gr. bullet. Ramshot says that 7.3 gr. is a start charge. Both agree that 7.5 grs. is good for 900 fps from a 5" barrel. My XDm has a barrel length of 4.58" so I'm estimating 875 FPS from my pistol, or a factory duplication load. Silhouette is also treated for flash, so these loads should be quiet in the dark. I will shoot rested and unrested groups at 50' and I expect better than combat accuracy. ;)
 
I just bought some Silhouette to play with one of these days, and I have some 230 Gr Zeros, so I may try it for that app. Since I know you like Ramshot powders, you might try some Competition in place of WST. It will take .1 or .2 less Grs powder.
 
I am going to try it in 9MM, and compare it against HS-6, AA #5, N340, True Blue, SR 4756, etc. Then I may branch out to .45 ACP, .38 Super etc.
 
The one thing I found with Silhouette in 45 is that it needs to be near max or I get a lot of unburnt granules.It shoots great,just leaves specks all over the inside of my 1911 and XDM.
 
I just picked up my first can of silhouette last week, specifically for some 185gr XTPs, that showed up on my doorstep. ;-) I have used a lot of Tac, X-terminator and Zip, and I find they all meter very well. I picked up the silhouette and a pound of Big Game as well to try out. I have had very good results with the Ramshot powder, and plan to use it for a while. (Plus, I live in MT, and like to keep things local)
 
I'm expecting a can of Silhouette in my shipment from Powder Valley tomorrow. Just a beginner here but wanted to try a few different powders as I go. Will be interested in your 9mm experiences with it, Walkalong.

floydster, I am about to load up a bunch of 38 special with Trail Boss (and MBC 125 LRNFP) for a revolver match this weekend. I've found this load to be noticeably light on recoil and perfect for an event like this. I got the small bottle of Trail Boss to try out on my first shipment, but will be getting it in more quantity when I next order powder.
 
brickeyee, that is correct. Silhouette is the same exact powder as the discontinued WAP. Winchester dropped it and Western Powder Co. picked it up and it is sold as Silhouette. Western Powder Co. (Ramshot) confirmed this. Now Winchester has Auto-Comp and I wonder how similar it is to Silhouette. ;)
 
Been using Silhouette in my 45's and 10mm for quite some time with excellent results, fast and accurate. Love the stuff, only problem is nobody around here carries Ramshot so I have to order it on-line. I also use a ton of Hunter and BigGame.

Silhouette is the same exact powder as the discontinued WAP

Correct, but I am told that there are a few new additives to Silhouette that greatly reduce the amount of flash.
 
I've used Silhouette in both 9mm and .45ACP. It has excellent feeding through a Uniflo, burns cleanly. I've found minimal to no flash in a 5" .45ACP barrel, it does have a good flash in a 3.5" 9mm barrel. No pressure signs in either. For me it's a toss up between Silhouette or HS-6.
 
I've also had good luck with True Blue in .45 ACP as well as 9mm and .40 S&W. Next one that I will try is ZIP as it is near the ideal powder for all bullets in .45 ACP both Jacketed and cast. ;)
 
I've used a lot of Zip and True Blue. Been quite happy with both, so next time I purchase I'll be quite open to giving Silhouette a try.
 
I'm shooting Unique with a 3" barrel and I want to switch to something else that meters better. Silhouette is just a little slower, do you think it would be a decent choice for a short gun?
 
Correct, but I am told that there are a few new additives to Silhouette that greatly reduce the amount of flash.

The it is not really exactly the same.
 
I'm shooting a Kimber Ultra in 45ACP

One of my 1911's is a Kimber Ultra 3 inch. Silhouette works great in this little 45, but upper to max loads really get your attention, if you know what I mean.
 
Glock 30 SF

Any one found a good load for the Glock 30 SF, I load 200 gr. Rainier Bullets, have been using 5.0 to 5.2 Titegroup, appears to be a little hot, brass in burnt pretty good, is this something that needs to be considered, just getting into handl loading have a lot to learn.
 
Any one found a good load for the Glock 30 SF, I load 200 gr. Rainier Bullets, have been using 5.0 to 5.2 Titegroup, appears to be a little hot, brass in burnt pretty good, is this something that needs to be considered, just getting into handl loading have a lot to learn.

TG burns hot in most cartridges, burned necks is very common. Some bullet manufactures recommend against TG for this reason.
 
Well, much to my pleasure I loaded up some 230 gr. Zero JHPs over 7.5 grs. of Silhouette in mostly Winchester cases. My best rested groups came in at 1.5" at 50'. Recoil was mild and shot well offhand as well. ;)
 
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