Revisiting some Power Pistol loads

[vaalpens]

I have lately stumbled on some decent loads using Power Pistol, so I decided to revisit some older PP loads and also try something new.

The first loads I tried were for 38 special, trying to get to a nice 950+ fps load that lends itself to maybe loading some lead HP's in the future. The loads I tested were from 5.5gn to 6.0gn. There were some flattening of the primers closer to 6.0gn, but no sticky cases.

Testing was done with a 3" Ruger SP101 @ 10 yards

3" Ruger SP101
38spl
COL: 1.475"
MBC, 158gn, B18HTSWC, PowerPistol, 5.5gn, WSP
Average: 874
ES: 39
SD: 15.6
Force: 268
PF: 138
Velocities: 892, 886, 853, 873, 866
Grouping: .85"

3" Ruger SP101
38spl
COL: 1.475"
MBC, 158gn, B18HTSWC, PowerPistol, 5.6gn, WSP
Average: 884
ES: 80
SD: 28.7
Force: 274
PF: 139
Velocities: 878, 849, 881, 887, 929
Grouping: 1.43"

3" Ruger SP101
38spl
COL: 1.475"
MBC, 158gn, B18HTSWC, PowerPistol, 5.7gn, WSP
Average: 909
ES: 36
SD: 13.4
Force: 290
PF: 143
Velocities: 889, 905, 916, 925, 910
Grouping: 1.19" (.44") 4 shot cluster of .44" and one flyer

3" Ruger SP101
38spl
COL: 1.475"
MBC, 158gn, B18HTSWC, PowerPistol, 5.8gn, WSP
Average: 929
ES: 12
SD: 5.7
Force: 303
PF: 146
Velocities: 935, 923, 927, 935, 925
Grouping: 1.65"

3" Ruger SP101
38spl
COL: 1.475"
MBC, 158gn, B18HTSWC, PowerPistol, 5.9gn, WSP
Average: 950
ES: 46
SD: 18.8
Force: 317
PF: 150
Velocities: 927, 953, 936, 973, 962
Grouping: 1.29"

3" Ruger SP101
38spl
COL: 1.475"
MBC, 158gn, B18HTSWC, PowerPistol, 6gn, WSP
Average: 960
ES: 21
SD: 9.2
Force: 323
PF: 151
Velocities: 946, 967, 966, 955, 966
Grouping: 1.58"

The next loads were for 40S&W. For these loads I decided to lower my COL from previous loads since I have decided to move away from above MAX COL's. Previous testing in 40S&W was ok, but nothing special. This was a complete workup again, except I did not go to the max charge since I lowered the COL from 1.142" to 1.125".

Testing was done with a SIG P229, 3.9" barrel @ 15 yards

SIG P229, 3.9" barrel
40SW
COL: 1.125"
Xtreme, 165gn, RNFPHPCB, PowerPistol, 6.3gn, WSP
Average: 980
ES: 33
SD: 12.8
Force: 352
PF: 161
Velocities: 979, 969, 981, 1002, 973
Grouping: 2.18"

SIG P229, 3.9" barrel
40SW
COL: 1.125"
Xtreme, 165gn, RNFPHPCB, PowerPistol, 6.4gn, WSP
Average: 965
ES: 69
SD: 27.7
Force: 341
PF: 159
Velocities: 958, 962, 925, 994, 989
Grouping: 1.81"

SIG P229, 3.9" barrel
40SW
COL: 1.125"
Xtreme, 165gn, RNFPHPCB, PowerPistol, 6.5gn, WSP
Average: 1004
ES: 27
SD: 10.9
Force: 369
PF: 165
Velocities: 1005, 1012, 986, 1013, 1006
Grouping: 1.14"

SIG P229, 3.9" barrel
40SW
COL: 1.125"
Xtreme, 165gn, RNFPHPCB, PowerPistol, 6.6gn, WSP
Average: 1011
ES: 17
SD: 7
Force: 374
PF: 166
Velocities: 1014, 1018, 1009, 1001, 1017
Grouping: 1.33"

SIG P229, 3.9" barrel
40SW
COL: 1.125"
Xtreme, 165gn, RNFPHPCB, PowerPistol, 6.7gn, WSP
Average: 1013
ES: 36
SD: 13.2
Force: 376
PF: 167
Velocities: 1017, 1013, 992, 1028, 1017
Grouping: 2.12"

 

[RedHawk357Mag]

Sir thanks for the time, effort, and materials you expended in your data. Couple questions and my apologies if you might have explained this before, your black circle with the two measurements, what is this? And what method are you arriving at charge weights, for example powder measure or hand weighing each charge. Thanks again and appreciate your efforts in sharing your findings.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[vaalpens]

Sir thanks for the time, effort, and materials you expended in your data. Couple questions and my apologies if you might have explained this before, your black circle with the two measurements, what is this? And what method are you arriving at charge weights, for example powder measure or hand weighing each charge. Thanks again and appreciate your efforts in sharing your findings.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

RedHawk357Mag, thanks for the comments.

The measurement boxes inside the black circles are there to provide scale since all my targets are not the same size. Some applications that calculates the grouping needs some scale to know how to measure the grouping. Another reason is to save on toner. I don't aim on the black dot so it does not impact my aim.

I am farsighted so I use reading glasses to focus on my front sight. The target is out of focus, but I can see enough of the black dot to align my front sight underneath the black dot. My handguns have combat sights, so I align the sights over the pink rectangle, just below the black circle. The pink and black gives me good enough contrast to line up my sights reasonable consistently for load evaluation.

Yes, I hand weigh. All my loads are done with a Lee dipper, RCBS trickler and RCBS 505 beam scale. It is not the fastest, but good enough for the shooting I do.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I use it when loading .380's for my wife, 3.6gr of Power Pistol, 100 gr CPFP bullet, .95 OAL.

 

[vaalpens]

I use it when loading .380's for my wife, 3.6gr of Power Pistol, 100 gr CPFP bullet, .95 OAL.

gonoles_1980, thanks for sharing your load data. I don't load .380, but this reminds me that I need to revisit some of my 9mm loads also. PP is one of the good powders for 9mm.

 

[RedHawk357Mag]

Much appreciated. I tried the reading glasses thing a while back. It did a great job on the front sight. It made the target, for me, a multiple choice test. It probably had to do with the 15 and 25 yards. Of course it's a bit of a guessing game with the orange Birchwood Casey dots and paper plate or some heavy bond paper. Finding a great contrast target seems to be never ending search. As for your charging methods, I believe it works as groups and statical data points to something working well. Thanks for the additional information. Have a great night Sir.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk