Is Power Pistol and 158 LSWC in 357 mag a good choice?

[right winger]

I have some Power Pistol that I am use in my 10mm & 40 SW currently. I was wondering if it would be a good choice in 357 mag with a 158 LSWC Missouri Bullets (18 hardness) at magnum velocities. Is anyone else using this combo or should I stick w/ 2400 and Blue Dot? Thanks for all your responses and wisdom in advance.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I personally don't care for Power Pistol with lead bullets. I don't like Longshot either. I have found HS-6 works very well for lead bullets in the .357 Magnum and like you mentioned, 2400.

Welcome to the forum....

 

[loadedround]

I agree with Archangel regarding Power Pistol in lead 357 mag loads. That powder would be best served with jacketed bullets at much higher velocities than what you would get with lead bullets. Why not stick with Unique or lighter charges of 2400 unless you tend to enjoy scrubbing lead out of your revolver's barrels. JMHO!

 

[Morgo]

I've been using 2400 for awhile now, works great for me, I'd stick with it.

 

[Walkalong]

Single based or low nitro content powders seem to perform better, in general, with lead vs high nitro content powders.

I concur with ArchAngelCD.....& welcome to THR

 

[Galil5.56]

Might give Alliant an email and ask for guidance... I bet Ben can get you what you seek. Power Pistol and 158 LSWC's in .38 Special have been very good to me when loaded to +P specs, and PP has also has done very well for me in .45 Auto and 9mm with cast bullets too.

As far as Nitro content and lead bullets; I read all the time the two don't mix, but it does for me. In my experience, some of my tightest groups with cast/swaged bullets have been with high nitro content Bullseye and Unique. Bullseye has a 40% Nitroglycerin content, which is one of the highest around, and Unique ain't far behind as I recall. To my knowledge, Power Pistol is basically Bullseye that has been treated with certain chemicals to change the burn rate/pressure curve, and it still retains a high nitro content.

Proof is in the pudding, and a lot of variables exist that need to be tested to determine what works best for your situation... Another great reason to handload, and see what shakes out.

 

[Steve C]

After its introduction Alliant never listed Power Pistol with lead bullets in their on line manuals and there must have been a reason. Recently with the marriage to Speer you see some loads with PP and lead bullets.

For 158gr LSWC's with .357 mag I mostly use Unique that I typically load at 6.5 grs for around 1,050 to 1,100 fps but have used 2400 and AA#9 for 1,200 fps + loads both of wich work quite well too.

 

[Galil5.56]

Alliant did have on-line published data for lead in 9mm Mak, 40 S&W, 10mm:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/19414423/alliant-reloading-manual

Also know for a fact (he wrote me) that Alliants ballistic tech Ben Amonette uses Power Pistol and lead bullets in .45 Auto (6 grains/200 LSWC), and supplied me with other 200 and 225 grain lead data for .45 Auto, and 125 grain lead data for 9mm using PP. As I said, I think a quick request to Alliant will bear a lot of fruit, and result in the OP getting exactly/pretty close to what he asked.

 

[right winger]

I'd like to thank everyone for their replies. I am using the power pistol for my 40sw and 10mm and it is working great in those calibers.

 

[Clark]

I am not getting leading with garden variety 158 gr LSWC with lube band, and the hottest H110 or LIL'GUN loads in 357 magnum.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My favorite powder for a 158gr LSWC in a .357 Magnum is HS-6.