Just getting started reloading, went to Space Coast Bullets to get supplies, I was looking for Titegroup, loading .38 special and 9mm. They were out of it, the next couple of powders on the list, Accurate #5, Bullseye, Win 231 they were also out of, (just got back from displaying at a show), they had Power Pistol which was another option on my list. Got home, started REALLY looking up load data, seems Power Pistol is not the top rated powder for .38 special, not even mentioned in the Lee Modern Reloading book, not standard pressure, more than a few mentions for +P. I check burn rate, while not a fast powder, (which I'd like for 38 special), not as slow as Blue Dot which is listed quite a bit in the Lee book. So why is it not a highly recommended power for 38 special? I understand the fast/slow powder idea, I think I understand why for a snubbie as faster powder is desireable, why would a even slower powder, Blue Dot in this case seem like a better choice, what am I missing?

Hornady has this powder listed in their manual for standard pressure. I've been loading 158 gr. LSWC with 4.6 gr. of PP for about a year now. I've had good results with it. Hornady has 5.2 gr. as the maximum at 850 fps.

You can use PP but as the name implies it was developed for pistols. I use it for 9, 40 and 10. Space coast is sold out of the popular powders pretty often, the unpopular stuff is whats left. You might look for HP-38 as it is the same as 231. Blue dot is rather slow for 38spl. I've found accurate powders tend to leak some in lee autodisk so I avoid it.

It is a "newer" powder and probably did not make it to the Lee printing which is just compiled from other sources.

I like it in the 9mm and 40 SW. For 38 spl, I stick with HP 38 or Bullseye.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Winchester 231 is a very clean powder and a good loading powder for 25acp up to 45acp

I've used a lot of Power Pistol over the last five years. It does much better for 158-gr .38 Spl +P loadings than 2400 or Blue Dot. It's like a slightly slower, cleaner, better metering Unique. Flashy, though.

I've found that Blue Dot and 2400 give rotten performance (dirty, smokey, enormous spreads) with 158s at .38 Special pressures - even in the +P range. I have a great 2400 load for the 195-gr RNL hardcast, but it pre-dates the 1973 SAAMI dumbing-down of pressures.

When I got started handloading in the mid-'80s, a couple of old counterleaners recommended that I go with Unique for versatility in the .38/.357/9mm and .45 ACP. I certainly thank them for that advice, as it's done me well. When my little brother got into handloading last year with the same rounds in mind, I told him about my experience and the many cans of Unique I've burned - and that I'd recommend he buy Power Pistol for his first pound of powder.

I use Power Pistol a lot for 10mm and for .38 special as well. I am very happy with it in those uses.

Plenty of PP data for .38 special is available. As Erich mentioned it is THE top performer for .38 +P at current standards. It works just fine in standard pressure loads also.

I loaded up 100 rounds, 125gr LFP, 6.1 grains of Power Pistol which was the amount in the Alliant book, I'm thinking it's a bit HOT, ****...I guess I'm gonna learn how to use a bullet puller, first I have to get one. I did pick up some Bullseye, seems like it might be better suited for the 38 special stuff, I get to compare.

When you say "top rated" are you talking consistency (i.e. accuracy) or are you talking performance and top velocity/power?

Alliant lists loads for it on their online manual and it is in my Lyman manaul.

In terms of consistency Lyman recommends bulseye and 231.

However in terms of velocity it is the top perofromer in Lyman's for every .38 bullet there is a PP load for except a 110 gr JHP (where tightgroup is faster). It is also he fastest .38 in alliant's manual.

Lymans shows 6.4 PP for hornady 125Gr HP +P load or 6.0 for a regular max load.

auburn2, what does it say for a 125gr lead flat point? Looks like I need to get another reloading book!

Learning curve. If you can use one where you shoot you might wan to get a chronograph so you can see the velocity. Kinda blind without one.

5.0g would have been a better load for that bullet. Yes Bullseye is a better powder, but like PP, it is dense so be very careful not to double or triple charge it in that deep case.

I absolutely LOVE Power Pistol in the 40 and 45ACP, but haven't gotten around to trying it in the 38 yet. I glommed onto WST for my +P loads years ago, and still think it's one of the best powders around for the 38 & 45. But I've also found that Power Pistol is great for certain reduced rifle loads like the 30-30, and I just bought a couple more kegs of it. Could be I'm missing a bet by not using it in the 38 Special, but I still have about ten pounds of WST to burn up first. At four grains per round, that might take awhile..............17,500 rounds, by my calculations!

I'm not a fan of Power Pistol because of it's excessive flash and it's excessive boom...

I think PP is too slow a powder for use in standard .38 Special ammo. My favorite powder for the .38 Special is W231/HP-38.

Other good powders for standard .38 Special ammo since you said you like faster powders in that caliber are Clays, AA#2, Red Dot, Bullseye, Zip and a few others in the same range.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I use Power Pistol in both 38 spl and mild 357 loads. It is a bit better than Unique in performance but meters much better and burns cleaner.

I like Power Pistol for both 38 spl and midrange 357 loads. It burns cleaner than Unique. Kinda loud and flashy though.

The Lyman manual does not list a load for 125gr lead bullets in .38.

Recently I tried putting a more robust crimp on my 38/357 handloads and it seems to tame a lot of the flash.

Power Pistol can be very useful in .38 Spcl.
I like to look at it as a 'clean burning UNIQUE'. As was already pointed out, it does have a rather sharp report and some flash. It was primarily designed for the auto's.

Ck out targets 15, and 16.



This was with a 145gr cast bullet. Each bullet you try will have it's own personality about what powders it likes or dislikes..