Any insight on using power pistol in the 38spl with 158 swc?
looking for a mid range load, any recommendations?
(3" model 64) Alliant lists 5.4 on there web site thought of starting at 4.9
to start at 10% below listed

Thanks
Carl

I'm all ears. If Erich says its good stuff then I'd be remiss not to try it.

Power pistol is great stuff for 9 mm but never tried it in 38 spl. always used Win 231 for that.

I have 231, Unique and Trail Boss available along with Power Pistol
been using the unique and Trail boss for 32 H&R and S&W Long, My go to powder years ago was 231. I am seeking to branching out Due to availability and shipping and Haz-mat Fees Thanks
Carl

Power Pistol is GREAT in the 10MM and 45Super. I have been using it for more than a decade.

However there are lots of better choices for 38 Special.

Unless you have to use Power Pistol, I would stay away from it in 38 Special and never reduce the loads.

Buy a pound of 231, Unique, 700X, HP38 or something else if you can.

I use 3.3 grains of H-38/W231 under a 158 grain SWC in my 38 special. Good target load and cheap to load.

Targetslayer

5.4gr of Power Pistol under a 158 is a standard pressure load (and a good one) I see no reason to reduce it since there are cheaper (lower charge weight) powders for plinking/target loads. 6 grains of PP under a 158 is a safe/pressure tested +P load that gets about 980fps out of a 4inch revolver for me. The ONLY downside of PP in the .38 special is that it is flashy.

That's what I use: 6.0 grains under a 158-grain TVB LSWC, the max load Alliant lists. (It's flashy, tho.) I've shot a lot of them over the last few years.

Can't help you on a mid-range load: I'd use Unique for that.

I put a few loads together tonight with unique and will see how they do
Thanks for the info I may just stay with unique and and 231
Carl

While I'm somewhat of a Power Pistol fan I'm not keen on it for use in the .38 Special for standard pressure loads, especially with lead bullets. IMO Power Pistol like a lot of the newer powders burns hotter than the powders of long ago when lead was loaded for everything.

My favorite 158gr LSWC load for the .38 Special is 4.0gr W231/HP-38. It's all I shoot now other than 3.4gr W231 under a 148gr DEWC bullet.

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I use 5.6 grains Power Pistol under a 150 grain SWC-HP cast of wheel weights. Produces 922 fps out of m-60-10 3".

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KSCowboy

I too run 6gr for a +P in my carry guns.

I use 6 gr of Power Pistol behind 158 gr Rainer or Berrys FP. It's a +P load and I guess "flashy" is one way to describe it.