Power Pistol, loading and performance

[Doug.38PR]

I just switched my powder dump from Unique to Power Pistol. Loaded 5.4 gains of powder in .38 Spl.+P 158 gr LRN
I was wondering what kind of velocity some of you are getting out of your revolvers with this brand of powder. Loading manuel lists it as one of the hottest powders for handguns


ALSO, I noticed Power Pistol seems to load out of the dump device more consistantly than Unique. I loaded an entire tray of 50 without having to adjust the volume once. Whereas Unique seems to have to be adjusted ever 5 or 10 rounds to stay PERFECTLY where you want it and consistant in your loads.

 

[Rule3]

Anything meters better than Unique.

I have been playing with PP (bought 4 lbs) in 9mm, 40 SW and 327 Federal Mag. I like it a lot.

I have not tried it yet in revolver loads but will eventually.

It meters great, clean burning, excellent numbers and SD on the Chronograph with the above calibers I tested.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like said above, anything meters better than Unique... Power Pistol is a good medium speed powder and works well in amny calibers BUT, I just can't get past the excessive flash produced by Power Pistol.

I would rather use HS-6 in that burn rate. AA#5 isn't a bad choice either.

 

[Steve C]

I like PP for 9mm loads and keep it around for such but have been underwhelmed in .38 spl and .45 acp loads. Never did close to the velocities promised using PP in the .45 acp with 200gr JHP Hornady's.

6.3grs of PP behind a 125gr JHP in .38 spl (6.8gr is max Speer #13) produced carbon burning on the outside of the cases indicating not enough pressure to seal the case in the chamber. The maximum load of PP (6.8) and the maximum load of Unique (6.0) produce statistically identical velocities with 125gr bullets in the .38 spl so why use an extra .8 grains.

In the 9mm a 115gr Rem JHP on top of 6.3gr of PP did 1,220 fps average from my Glock 19 with .4 grains to grow to a max load. Using the same bullet 6.0grs of Unique makes 1,256 fps with the same .4 grains to grow to a max load.

PP also has an annoying habit of sticking to everything and is a pain to clean out of the powder measure.

In general I prefer Unique to PP for most applications.

 

[TSQUARED]

Personally I reserve Power Pistol for max loads in 40 S&W. Power Pistol meters very well but so do a lot of other powders. I tend to use Bullseye or WSF in 9mm, WST or American Select in 40 S&W and 45 ACP and Trail Boss with lead or plated bullets in 38 Special or 357 Magnum brass.

 

[RGPM1A]

In my 4" 627 and 686 I get 800 fps with 5.7 grains of PP behind a 158 grain Berries plated round nose bullet.

 

[Titegroups]

Works great for pistols, haven't tried in revolvers. Clean.

 

[Rule3]

Like said above, anything meters better than Unique... Power Pistol is a good medium speed powder and works well in amny calibers BUT, I just can't get past the excessive flash produced by Power Pistol.

I would rather use HS-6 in that burn rate. AA#5 isn't a bad choice either.

HS- 6?? You use that??

Another thing on the PP besides flash, is it's "loud" I know that sounds weird as all bangs are loud but PP makes more of a report if you will.

 

[Hammerdown77]

I like and use PP almost exclusively in my mid-range big bore revolver loads, and in .45 ACP and 9mm. In the .44s and .45s, I don't notice much flash. Report, yes. Now in 9mm, yeah, there's a LOT of flash, especially at the level I load to.

I have found exceptional accuracy and consistency in .44 Special and Magnum using Power Pistol. Also in .45 ACP.

I find PP meters like Bullseye. The two powders are very similar, if not in burn rate.

 

[longaction]

.38 Special, 125 grain Remington HP, Winchester brass
6.3 grains of Power Pistol powder velocities in S&W revolvers:
2" barrel = 805 fps
4" barrel = 920 fps
6" barrel = 980 fps

I double checked the above velocities and used different revolvers with the same barrel lengths. There was always a big jump between 2" and 4".

There is no reason not to use PP in .38 Spc., but it works better in higher pressure cartridges like 9mm, 40 and 10mm.

 

[Doug.38PR]

OKAY! earlier tonight I shot 6 rounds of .38 Spl. 158 gr LRN loaded with 4.0 grains of Unique (Win magnum primer) out of my 1966 Colt Detective Special. So far that's all I've shot since I first started reloading. A few minutes ago, I took 6 spent shells, prepared them and loaded them with 5.4 grains of Power Pistol (Win standard primers) and fired them out back at an old Halloween pumpkin.

Results: I could DEFINATELY see and feel the difference. The muzzel flash was, as said bright. The recoil was a bit sharper too.....and I blew the top of the pumpkin off 8) Definately fun.

I'm finding it's fun to keep 6 spare shells around apart from your regular reloading activities just to have something to prepare quickly and experiment with to see what you like. I'll probably take these same shells (some Federal nickle standard .38 Spl. cartridges) and use them again soon.

 

[Rule3]

PPPP

(Power Pistol Pumpkin Pulverizers)

 

[Doug.38PR]

PPPP

(Power Pistol Pumpkin Pulverizers)

ROTFLMTEO!!!!!! 8) HAHA! That's awesome!

 

[fredj338]

OKAY! earlier tonight I shot 6 rounds of .38 Spl. 158 gr LRN loaded with 4.0 grains of Unique (Win magnum primer) out of my 1966 Colt Detective Special. So far that's all I've shot since I first started reloading. A few minutes ago, I took 6 spent shells, prepared them and loaded them with 5.4 grains of Power Pistol (Win standard primers) and fired them out back at an old Halloween pumpkin.

Results: I could DEFINATELY see and feel the difference. The muzzel flash was, as said bright. The recoil was a bit sharper too.....and I blew the top of the pumpkin off 8) Definately fun.

I'm finding it's fun to keep 6 spare shells around apart from your regular reloading activities just to have something to prepare quickly and experiment with to see what you like. I'll probably take these same shells (some Federal nickle standard .38 Spl. cartridges) and use them again soon.

A 5gr charge of Unique would give sim results to the 5.4gr of PP w/ a 158gr lead bullet..

 

[Doug.38PR]

I just upgraded and loaded a box of 50 of 5.8 grains of Power Pistol. I loaded two additional rounds and fired them. Pretty hot stuff. I fired one round in my M-15 4 inch and the other one in my Detective Special. The target grips, longer barrel and heavier frame absorbed a lot of the recoil on the M-15. The 1966 Detective Special with it's standard walnut grips is another story.

REALLY wish I had a chronograph

 

[Doug.38PR]

PP also has an annoying habit of sticking to everything and is a pain to clean out of the powder measure.

.

LOL!....yeah...I quickly noticed this earlier this afternoon when I was pouring Power Pistol out of the meaure, cleaning it out switching back over to Unique. Kept blowing in it, sticking tools down in there to knock hte powder loose, banging it in my hand. I almost thought of running water through it to wash it out, but thought better of it. Didn't seem wise (rusting internally, dampness, etc.)

 

[Doug.38PR]

Okay, about a week ago, I set up my chronograph and clocked 6 reloads loaded with 5.8 grains of Power Pistol shooting a 158 gr LRN and 6 factory rounds of Remington .38 Spl+P LHP

.38 Special +P 158 gr. LRN. 4 inch 1961 Colt Official Police
5.8 grains Power Pistol: 917.7, 921.9, 943.5, 875.5, 951.2, 925.3 Feet Per Second
Remington brand LHP: 932.1, 953.4, 948.5, 976.4, 946.9, 917.1 Feet Per Second


I was pretty impressed. I was expecting 890 ft per second at best out of both.
Has anyone ever taken Power Pistol up to 6.0 MAX in .38 Spl+P and clocked it?

 

[parabarbarian]

My normal load for 38 spl +P is 5.8 gr of PP under 158 gr plated FP or SWC. From a Mod 67 w/4" bbl that load clocks about 920 fps which is consistent with Doug.38PR's results above. I also load 357 cases with 8.0 gr of PP under the same bullet for -- IIRC -- about 1100 fps from a 686 w/3"bbl. FWIW, the 357 load generates 1400 fps from my Marlin 1894C.

I also use PP under a 148 gr DEWC but I haven't had a chance to chronograph them yet. However, judging from the recoil in both the K and L frames I don't expect them to be much more than 800 fps or so.

One thing I've noticed is PP seems to like a firmer crip than most people use on plated bullets. When I switched to Xtreme bullets I could put a real crimp on things and a lot of the flash and blackening the front of the case went away.

And it meters very well from my Dillon 550.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

6 grains of PP with a 158 gives right at 1000 fps out of a 5" gun. It would likely not be very much of a +p load in my opinion.

 

[Buckey08]

My number 1 powder for 9mm, 40 S&W and 45acp,Lotsa bang, Lotsa flash,reminds me of my youth..........................( now, more like a dud )