How well does IMR PB powder meter?

[John C]

The title pretty much says it all: how well does PB powder meter? I'm using mostly Dillon powder measures. I'd be using it mostly for pistol, since it's the only fast pistol/shotgun powder I can find, ANYWHERE.

Thanks,

-John

 

[Otto]

For an extruded powder it meters well but not quit as good as spherical powders.
It's a single based powder so it contains no nitroglycerin....it does burn clean.
I used it mostly for 9mm when DuPont made it.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Keep in mind that PB was one of the powders recently announced to be discontinued in 2014. I would not put a lot of effort into developing loads for it.

Otto summarized it quite well though.

 

[John C]

Otto;

Thanks. That's what I was looking for.

Peter;

Yes, I saw your thread. I agree, but it's the only fast pistol powder I can find with lots of data. I can also find Titewad, but there's only a little data. Unless I want to run out of powder for the calibers I shoot most often, I'll probably need to bite the bullet. Desperate times...

Thanks,

-John

 

[sexybeast]

I was given a pound of it, I liked it. Measured great! Kinda reminded me of AA5. Wish it was around here more. Nothing IMR seems to be easy to get.
Somewhat fast but it worked well with 9mm.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Even though it's being discontinued at the end of 2014 you can always buy 3X 8lb jugs which should hold you over for a while!

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The problem with that is powder storage. There are limits to how much you can have in your house and so unless you have some good friends to help you out, there are limits. Living in Texas I can't store things in the garage as it gets too hot and humid so a non-residential storage where the limits are higher is out of the question for me.

If I saw 8 lbs of PB, I would probably grab it, but given the choice of 4756 and PB, it is 4756 all the way for me.

PS I did write Chris Hodgdon a nice email asking him to reconsider killing off 4756. I asked him for suggestions on replacements also. Maybe an email campaign might save the day?

 

[John C]

Peter;

All excellent points. For me, I load/shoot about 2000 .38 SPL loads per year, mostly for plinking. I need to save my dwindling supply of Bullseye for my .45 and .32 S&W long target loads I shoot in Bullseye competition.

So I really only need a pound or two before my regular powders (hopefully!) become available. I also live in a dry, cool climate. All of my powder lives in garage.

-John