cordercorral
Member
Looking for comments on using Power Pistol. I load 9,40,45. I use a Dillon 650. Thanks
CORDERCORRAL "GO VOLS"
CORDERCORRAL "GO VOLS"
Power Pistol
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ColtPythonElite
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I use a lot of Power Pistol. It meters good and burns very clean.
I use it in 9 and 45. Gone through one pound of it, so my experience is limited
9mm: I've used it with 147 anf 115 grain xtreme plated bullets. Worked well across the entire charge range. Favorite in my CM9 is 115 grain bullet with 6.3 grains of Power Pistol (that's probably pushing the velocity for plated, but I haven't had problems).
It's a full tilt powder in 45acp. I've used it with hornady 200 grain xtp. Hornday manual claims that 8.2 grains of powerpistol will push a 200grain xtp 1000 fps out of a 5" barrel. I didn't chrono it, but based on recoil and the authority with which it knocks down steel, I believe it and then some. I settled on 7.8 grains, which is still a very stout load. Was just "ok" at the lower end of the charge spectrum with this bullet.
It meters well. I think its only real downside IMO is the significant muzzle flash.
9mm: I've used it with 147 anf 115 grain xtreme plated bullets. Worked well across the entire charge range. Favorite in my CM9 is 115 grain bullet with 6.3 grains of Power Pistol (that's probably pushing the velocity for plated, but I haven't had problems).
It's a full tilt powder in 45acp. I've used it with hornady 200 grain xtp. Hornday manual claims that 8.2 grains of powerpistol will push a 200grain xtp 1000 fps out of a 5" barrel. I didn't chrono it, but based on recoil and the authority with which it knocks down steel, I believe it and then some. I settled on 7.8 grains, which is still a very stout load. Was just "ok" at the lower end of the charge spectrum with this bullet.
It meters well. I think its only real downside IMO is the significant muzzle flash.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Power Pistol is a very good choice for the 9mm and 40 S&W but IMO is a bit too slow for the 45 ACP which is a low pressure cartridge. It can be used but the results won't be as good as with the 9mm and 40 S&W.
JamieC
Member
I've loaded quite a few 9mm with it, 124gr LRN, 124gr JHP, 115gr LRN, 147gr XTP. No complaints, meters well, there is info readily available.
CZ9shooter
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I use it in 9mm and 380. And 38 special a little bit. It really excels in 9mm. It makes excellent accurate full power ammo. I like it in light 380 loads because it seems to produce a milder recoil than many other powders and meters well at low charges. I have played witj in 38 special plus P loads to just see the ball of fire it generates out of a Jframe. Theses were well behaving loads otherwise as well. I just havent shot very many of them yet.
Seeing as how 40SW is very similar to 9mm I think it would be great for that too. I have helped a buddy load some to mid level and he reported good things. 45? I dont know much about that.
Seeing as how 40SW is very similar to 9mm I think it would be great for that too. I have helped a buddy load some to mid level and he reported good things. 45? I dont know much about that.
ljnowell
Member
I would have to disagree. With lead bullets it's not a great choice but with near max performance jacketed loads it is quite good in 45 acp. My 230gr JHP loads are very accurate. I also load 185jhp with it.
It will work very well with jacketed loads in 38 special also.
Average Joe
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I use it for 9mm it works well .
Potatohead
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From what Ive read it's gets really high velocities in 9mm.
I believe it's the most recent Hornady manual that tooted PP's horn quite a bit for 9mm also.
I believe it's the most recent Hornady manual that tooted PP's horn quite a bit for 9mm also.
CZ9shooter
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I agree. I tried a few cast 9mm combos and wasnt impressed with it. However, there are few, if any, powders better suited for mid to high end jacketed loads
Toprudder
Member
I've used it in 380, 9, 40 and 45.
In all but the 45, it works very well at the lower charges for reduced recoil. It is clean burning and meters well. It has been my powder of choice for 380, 9 and 40.
My experience in 45 is that it does not burn clean at all at the lower charges. I have not tried going up to the max charge listed in the data, as I was interested in low recoil target loads. I've heard several people say it works well in 45 at the max loads.
Based on my experience and from what I have heard/read, I believe it is one of the powders that does not perform well below certain pressures. 45 being a low pressure round, it does not work well at reduced loads.
It has a bright muzzle flash, but I've never noticed it much as I shoot mainly outdoors.
In all but the 45, it works very well at the lower charges for reduced recoil. It is clean burning and meters well. It has been my powder of choice for 380, 9 and 40.
My experience in 45 is that it does not burn clean at all at the lower charges. I have not tried going up to the max charge listed in the data, as I was interested in low recoil target loads. I've heard several people say it works well in 45 at the max loads.
Based on my experience and from what I have heard/read, I believe it is one of the powders that does not perform well below certain pressures. 45 being a low pressure round, it does not work well at reduced loads.
It has a bright muzzle flash, but I've never noticed it much as I shoot mainly outdoors.
ljnowell
Member
My experience in 45 acp tells me that if you go more than 10% off max it's real dirty. If you stay at or near max it's very clean and accurate. It does have quite a blast though.
Power Pistol is the canister grade of the powder developed for the US military 9mm when it was adopted so it works very well in the 9mm.
I agree with ArchAngelCD. I've tried it in the .45 acp and the .38 spl and found carbon deposits on the outside of the cases in both though the loads where at what the data recommended at the time. I've also found it to be a pretty "flashy" powder.
I keep power pistol on hand for the 9mm and if I had a .40 it should work well in it being the cartridges have similar operating pressure levels. In the .38 spl and .45 acp using Unique with a grain less of powder I can get better velocities than using Power Pistol so that's my go to powder for max velocities in those calibers.
I agree with ArchAngelCD. I've tried it in the .45 acp and the .38 spl and found carbon deposits on the outside of the cases in both though the loads where at what the data recommended at the time. I've also found it to be a pretty "flashy" powder.
I keep power pistol on hand for the 9mm and if I had a .40 it should work well in it being the cartridges have similar operating pressure levels. In the .38 spl and .45 acp using Unique with a grain less of powder I can get better velocities than using Power Pistol so that's my go to powder for max velocities in those calibers.
ljnowell
Member
I would be curious to see which load data you are using, as power pistol burns pretty darn clean in jacketed 45 acp loads near max in all of my guns.
ColtPythonElite
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I have used Power Pistol with plated bullets in .45 and found it to burn very cleanly.
ljnowell
Member
That's my experience too. I think a lot of it depends on the load data and I have found some real varying data when it comes to power pistol.
Power Pistol is a slower/lower pressure powder compared to the typical pistol powders like Red Dot, Unique, HP38. It like to burn near the higher end of the recommended loads for a clean burn, but it also produces a good deal of muzzle flash. I like it for that express purpose when loading full power loads. It produces a nice blast when shooting 125g .357 Magnum loads.
BE-86 is essentially very close to PP, but with flash inhibitors so if you want to reduce the flash, try that powder (but you won't be turning as many heads at the range)
BE-86 is essentially very close to PP, but with flash inhibitors so if you want to reduce the flash, try that powder (but you won't be turning as many heads at the range)
Wreck-n-Crew
Member
My experience too. WSF is another one. If you want max loads it is a great powder but drop the charge and dirty as all get out. Seen it happen with other powders too and depending on the cartridge type, length, pressure.
If you don't mind dirty use it in the 45's but work the charge up closer to max if you can!
Toprudder
Member
True. The first load data I had for 45acp was from the Lyman manual, which listed a max charge 1gn lower than Alliant, Speer and Hornady. And I started lower than that. I have not gone back yet to try the higher charges.
I can tell you that it was dirty nasty at the lower charges.
ljnowell
Member
When I was trying it out Alliant was the only source of data for it. Max listed for the 200gr JHP XTP's I was loading was 7.4grs (Alliant Data). I chrono'd 6.8grs and 7.2 grs but didn't go any higher due to all the carbon scouring.
The data:
That may be part of it then. There is such a huge variance in data from source to source. I load 230 grain JHP at that exact same charge as your 200 grain XTP.
I worked up over a chronograph the 230JHP and 185JHP loads that I use and got nearly identical velocity numbers as the published data I was using.
They are loud and flashy but I got good numbers.
Toprudder
Member
Alliant now lists the max charge for 200gn JHP as 8.3gn.
It has been a while since I tried my test loads, but I could swear the Alliant data I was working with was 1gn less than that, which matches the existing Lyman data. As I was interested in reduced recoil loads at the time, I did not bother going higher than the max data that I had (at that time).
I have since acquired the Speer and Hornady manuals, both of those list ~8.3gn as max. I will have to revist Power Pistol in 45acp.
I think part of my problems were the bullet profiles that I was using. I only had Xtreme bullets, which the RN profile can't be seated shorter than about 1.235. I have since acquired some RMR 230gn TP bullets that can be (and must be) seated shorter than 1.200. I believe the deeper seating will help improve pressure levels to a range where the Power Pistol will burn cleaner.
Anyway, this is the data that I collected. I was just getting started with a chrono at the time:
Xtreme, 200 RN, 1.255 OAL, Power Pistol, 7.0gn, Win WSP, 703fps
It has been a while since I tried my test loads, but I could swear the Alliant data I was working with was 1gn less than that, which matches the existing Lyman data. As I was interested in reduced recoil loads at the time, I did not bother going higher than the max data that I had (at that time).
I have since acquired the Speer and Hornady manuals, both of those list ~8.3gn as max. I will have to revist Power Pistol in 45acp.
I think part of my problems were the bullet profiles that I was using. I only had Xtreme bullets, which the RN profile can't be seated shorter than about 1.235. I have since acquired some RMR 230gn TP bullets that can be (and must be) seated shorter than 1.200. I believe the deeper seating will help improve pressure levels to a range where the Power Pistol will burn cleaner.
Anyway, this is the data that I collected. I was just getting started with a chrono at the time:
Xtreme, 200 RN, 1.255 OAL, Power Pistol, 7.0gn, Win WSP, 703fps
ljnowell
Member
7mmb
Member
I've used it in 9mm with very good results. I don't have a 40 S&W but Power Pistol should work great for that cartridge too. I haven't tried it in 45 Auto, I use better suited faster powders for that. I use 296 for 357 Magnum so Power Pistol doesn't seem very flashy to me.
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