shot my first reloads...a couple of questions

[Speedster00]

I reloaded my first loads ever..about 20 rounds of 45 ACP with 6.5 gr of Power pistol with a 200gr lead bullet.

According to lymans, the charge should be 6.2-7 gr max. So Im right in the middle. But my rounds seemed snappy if that makes since. I dont have a chrono to see how fast they were but it felt fast. No issues with the rounds themselves and cycling but I wanted to ask if the powder type can make the round feel different?

Or does anyone use PP to load 45 ACP and have a better recipe?

 

[Pilot]

I have never used Power Pistol, so I don't know if it is a slow, medium or fast burning powder. What are you using to measure (weigh) and meter out the powder?

 

[Speedster00]

im using a Lee pro auto disk. Measuring with 2 scales...a lee balance scale and a frankford digital scale. I use the digital the most and just confirm every so often with the balance scale.

The rounds worked fine but seemed snappy. maybe thats the feel of that powder type? Im not near the max according to the book..

even checking handloads.com people are using 7.2-7.4 of PP with 200 gr lead. Almost seems like Im low..

 

[Davidfl]

Power Pistol has this quirk. I have noticed it in every reload I have used.
Try W-231 or Bullseye assuming you have any or can find some. Those are good powders for the .45 ACP. Oh yeah, And Unique.

 

[YunGun]

Power Pistol in .45

Power Pistol is listed as a medium-fast powder on all of the burn rate charts I've seen, just a couple notches slower than Unique.
Hodgdon Burn Rate Chart

Alliant's website lists a max charge of 8.3gr PP with a jacketed 200gr Gold Dot HP @ 952fps, however for a 200gr cast lead bullet they list Bullseye, Red Dot or Unique

I recently loaded a few rounds for my dad using 6.4gr and am planning on stepping it up a bit more as that didn't seem to yield much expansion.

I primarily use it in a 40S&W under a cast 175gr SWC with that same 6.4gr charge of PP with good results. I suppose it does have a little 'snap' to it, I just always assumed that was characteristic of the cartridge.

 

[Hondo 60]

but I wanted to ask if the powder type can make the round feel different?

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!

Faster burning powders will usually give a lesser recoil.
Slower powders will give higher velocity, but also the slower the powder, the higher the recoil.

If you want less recoil, try a faster burning powder.
For 45 ACP, Tite Group or Accurate #5 are my favorites.

http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

 

[jim243]

Or does anyone use PP to load 45 ACP and have a better recipe?

Yes, use Win 231 or H-38 powder for better recoil.

Jim

 

[Jim Watson]

Then there is the psychological effect.

Power Pistol is about 5% "slower" than Unique; just enough to tell outside of lot to lot variations. It probably contains more Nitroglycerine than Uniqe, its factory designation before they started selling it retail was Bullseye 84. Does that make it a slow burning version of Bullseye chemistry? Maybe so.

Any road, it gives a loud report and bright flash that I think tend to amplify the FELT recoil.
It may not be any faster, but it will FEEL "snappy."
I went through one can of it, mostly in 9mm, and my neighbors on the range would ask: "What have you got in that thing?"

 

[James2]

Congrats on your first reloads. Yes, different powders act differently. I have not used Power Pistol at all so no hands on experience with it. Sounds like your loads are doing fine. Load up some more and enjoy. When you near the end of that can of powder, you might want to try something else. That is the joy of re-loading.

I have used Titegroup, W231, and Unique in 45 ACP. They all work. The faster powders like Titegroup take less per round so if you are after economy that is a good one. I think of the powders I have used in 45 ACP I like W231 the best.

PS: Do keep records of your loads and notes of your results.

 

[wackemanstackem]

My son and i shoot pretty much that same load he shoots it in his kimber 1911 and I shoot it in my colt 1911 and you would think he is shooting a much different bullet his kimber jumps big time my colt stays down fine again its the same exact load .But then again a 45 should be snappy (lol)

 

[jeepmor]

Power pistol and Bullseye are double based powders, so they use less volume for the same oomph. Great on economy of loading, but be careful, typically a double charge or greater will fit in the cases it is recommended for.

Unique, even though it burns faster and may alter the recoil feel, if you accidentally double charge it, you make a mess and spill some powder. You don't make a dangerous round that might slip by and could potentially cause you or your firearm harm due to having two powder charges in the case.

 

[PVD]

I've only been reloading a couple years now for my 1911 Colt. As the others have said, I too like W231 but for a nice mild practice load I really like IMR Trail Boss with 200gr. cast SWC bullet as per the reloading site of M.D. Smith.

 

[soloban]

I use PP in my 45 loads and yes it's snappy but very accurate for me at near max for 230 FMJs. Is it just me or does burnt PP have a peppery smell

 

[buck460XVR]

You never stated your OAL relative to the recipe. Most of us use an OAL that feeds and fits our barrel when loading .45ACP as opposed to published OALs. If you use a bullet other than the exact one in the recipe, even loading to that OAL may increase or decrease pressure. Sometimes does not take much of a difference in OAL to make a difference in pressure, especially from mid-range and up. Then there's always the possibility of setback. Did you test your ammo for setback?


Odds are you ammo is fine. How did the cases eject as compared to factory? Did they eject about as far and in the same direction as factory? This generally tells me more about how my loads compare than felt recoil.

 

[Cranky CJ]

Buck460 brought up how the cases were getting ejected. This would be one thing I'd look at as well. How far? and how consistent in placement. My 45 throws them into about a 2 foot circle with the recipe I use with unique and a 200g lrn. I'm thinking that ejection distance could tell you how strong that load is in your gun.