Anyone use Alliant Promo for pistols?

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Seafarer12

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What are your thoughts and opinions on it? I know you use the same data as red dot for reloading pistol rounds but other than that I dont know much.
 
Works fine for me. Just remember it uses reddot data by weight not volume. It is best in light-medium loads. I use a good bit of it behind 200 Swc in 45 ACP and behind 141gr WC in 38s.
 
I use a bunch of it. It works good in 9mm, and great in .38 Special and .45 Colt. Soon I'm gonna try it in light .30-06 loads (15 grains w/ 150 grain .30-30 bullet)
 
I use Alliant Promo in all my 12 ga shotshell loads and am pleased with it. I had tried some in 45 ACP loads with 200 gr LSWC bullets. I found it to be very similar to my Unique loads but a little bit more dirtier. However if the SHTF situation ever occurs, I usually buy Promo in 8 lb containers, 2 to a case for the discount, so I will be in excellent shape to reload pistol and revolver ammo. LOL :)
 
I usually use unique for my nonmagnum pistols but was just curious because of the 2 dollar a pound cheaper price. How much dirtier than unique is it?
 
If it is anything like Red Dot as far as being a "dirty" powder, no thank you. I shot hundreds of pounds of Red Dot in Trap Matches and it seemed like it took at least a day afterwards to clean the shotguns. I remember one Match when I shot a total of 500 "birds". When I got home and looked in the mirror it looked like I had been mining coal.
 
Two questions have come up regarding my post and I will try to answer both. I buy my Promo powder in a case of 2 8lb containers and get a 5% discount from my dealer when I buy the case. Also Promo powder is little different from Red Dot ballistically and burn at the same rate. Yes Red Dot is considered a dirty powder compared to some of the newer powders such as those ball powders supplied by Winchester. However Promo/Red meters very consistently for me and is very economical to use in shotshells. I have found Promo powder to be a bit dirty in medium pistol loads, much dirtier than say WW231, but since I clean my guns after each range session it is not a problem. Where I dislike Promo/Redot was when my youger son started out shooting a Remington 1187 Trap Gun and after several hundere rounds, I had to remove the complete trigger housing, wash it in hot soapy water, blow dry it dry, and relube it. All because of powder residue etc...almost as if I was shooting a BP gun. A royal PIA! :(
 
Two questions have come up regarding my post and I will try to answer both. I buy my Promo powder in a case of 2 8lb conataners and get a 5% dicount from my dealer when I buy the case. Also Promo powder is little different from Red Dot ballistically and burn at the same rate. Yes Red Dot is considered a dirty powder compared to some of the newer powders such as those ball powders supplied by Winchester. However Promo/Red meters very consistently for me and is very economical to use in shotshells. I have found Promo powder to be a bit dirty in medium pistol loads, much dirtier than say WW231, but since I clean my guns after each range session it is not a problem. Where I dislike Promo/Redot was when my youger son started out shooting a Remington 1187 Trap Gun and after several hundere roungds, I had to remove the complete trigger housing, wash it in hot soapy water, blow dry it dry, and relube it. All because of powder residue etc...almost as if I was shooting a BP gun. A royal PIA! :(
 
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Well I think I might give it a try when I can get a group buy together. I am mainly looking for some 38 powder that is cheap.
 
Seafarer12,
If you're looking for a cheap .38 Special powder give W231 or Clays a try.

Powder Valley has low prices for both powders.
1lb W231 = $15.60
4lb W231 = $57.60 ($14.40 per lb)
8lb W231 = $108.00 ($13.50 per lb)

14 oz Clays = $13.20
4lb Clays = $56.50 ($14.12 per lb / $12.35 per 14 oz.)
8lb Clays = $102.00 ($12.50 per lb / $11.15 per 14 oz.)

I know you have to add the $20 Hazmat fee to the prices but if you buy 2X 8lb jugs that will add only $1.25 per lb. Also, Powder Valley doesn't double up on the Hazmat fee if you order both primers and powder in the same order so you can save additional money if you order your primers from them too. Their primer prices are good and if you buy Wolf primers they will cost you only $90/5000. Winchester SPP are only $107.50/5K.
 
Me. I shoot a lot of 12ga. and promo is the least expensive powder by far. Functions well for 9 mm and .45 acp. Apply the Red Dot formula. I buy dual purpose powders (shotgun/pistol) like Unique and Longshot so my powder selection is simple and I order 48# at a time. Spreads the Hazmat rip out and allows for deep discounts from a friend I have.
 
ArchAngel, Promo is 77.50 for a 8lb keg and uses small charges like red dot to boot. I usually use Unique which I can buy locally for 107 a keg. I am getting an order together for Powder Valley. I am getting 15k wolf sp, 8lbs of 2400 and 8lbs of Promo. I am thinking hard about getting an extra 5k of wolf primers because that powder will be good for about 20k rounds.
 
I think you'll like Promo when you use it. One caveat that I got from Alliant about it is that you should shake the jug before taking powder out of it, so that the larger grains don't separate from the smaller ones. I shake it before I use it, then shake it again after I put the unused powder back in it. If I miss it one time, I've done it the next time.
I've been using it mainly in .45 ACP and .45 Colt, but I haven't found many calibers that don't work well with it. I agree with whomever mentioned it that Promo/RedDot tends to burn more cleanly when pushed hard, but I get that from most powders. I haven't found it to be a terribly dirty powder in any circmustance. At its worst, it seems no less clean burning than Unique. Both burn cleaner as pressures rise.
 
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