Power Pistol - 38 Spl +P

38SPL HV

38SPL HV

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Amazing powder for 38 Spl +P and 158 gr lead. You can exceed Rem/Fed/Win 38 Spl +P 158 gr LHP velocities with data currently available from Speer and Alliant.

My research indicates that 6.0 grs Power Pistol and 158 gr lead exceeds velocities of early 1970s 38-44 loadings (but still behind earlier 38-44 loadings).

My all around load for my Ruger Blackhawk 4 5/8 inch is 5.6 grs Power Pistol and any of the Speer 158 gr lead bullets (SWC, RNL and LSWCHP). I follow Speer data to the "T" including seating depth and components. I retired my old reloading manuals and their high end 2400 and Unique 38 Spl loadings; preferring, Power Pistol and the 158 gr bullets in accordance with Speer's manual.

I need to replace my chronograph which I ditched before my move, and test my loads in my Ruger. One thing I can tell you, 5.6 grs Power Pistol and 158 gr SWC has markedly more bark and recoil than Winchester 38 Spl +P 158 LHP. I've also seen 158 gr 38 Spl +P data in Handloader with Power Pistol which exceeds Rem/Fed/Win +P 158 gr LHP loadings with as little as 5.3 grs.
 
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In yrs past when duplicating those 38-44 loads , I used either HS-6 or 2400 , but not current load data . I used Ken Waters load for 2400 , the HS-6 load I had to work up myself . I found SPM primers worked best for both powders at these lower pressure levels . I will have to also add that Blue Dot really showed some promise . But I didn't have a chono to verifly what it seemed . With the Blue Dot loads I used the std SP primer .
These days I use my 357 magnum if I want more than a standard 38spl delivers . I remind myself that it's a " 38 spl ' , not a " 38 magnum " . I build for accuracy , not just velocity . I prefer faster powders in 38spl loads , Bullseye , WST , Titegroup , IMR 700X , Red Dot or my std. load for yrs has been 5.0 grs of Unique under a 158 cast bullet . When I could get Unique .
 
Last edited:
Try BE-86 with 158gr cast bullets in 38 special and 357 Magnum.

I'm impressed.
 
+1;

another vote for BE86 if you can't find Unique..... for 38/357 loads.
It is even equal to Unique in the 9mm test that I did from 115-147gr out of a 5" barrel.

No PP powder as yet.....
 
I'm no fan of Power Pistol although there are many who are.

For loading the .38 Special+P I prefer HS-6 followed but AA#5. I produce very accurate ammo with HS-6.
 
Nevada Ed said:
+1;

another vote for BE86 if you can't find Unique..... for 38/357 loads.
It is even equal to Unique in the 9mm test that I did from 115-147gr out of a 5" barrel.

No PP powder as yet.....
Click to expand...

I found be-86 to be equal to unique in most of the pistol calibers I load for.
9mm/45acp/38spl/357/44sp/44mag

That 5.6gr/158gr lead bullet load of pp is on the light side. In 2012 Brian pearce did an article for handloader magazine (#276). In it he did reloads using:
lyman 358429/5.9gr of pp
rimrock 158gr lead swc hp gc bullet/6.3gr of pp

Something to keep in mind when chasing velocities is:
for every 1/1000th's of cylinder gap you have you loose 10frp to 15fps in velocity.
When shooting 38spl's in cylinders designed for 357's you loose 15fps+ in velocity.
 
I find Power Pistol not all that accurate and extremely noisy in my guns. I bought a 4 lb. bottle quite some time ago and just never seem to turn to it anymore for anything. I'm also not looking for the last n'th bit of poop out of my handloads.

Stu
 
Not a fan of PP in revolvers, too much bark for the velocity. Burns hot too, like Titegroup. HP-38 is more accurate and noticeably easier on the ears.

Why are you pushing .38 spl when you have a magnum revolver?
 
38+p, with power pistol

I load my 158gr, rnfp, with 6.1grs of power pistol, that chrony to 1024fps. This is truly one of the most accurate loads that I have in any 38. All of my test runs are through a Ruger Blackhawk, 357, with a 6 1/2" barrel. Why do I fire these 38's through a 357? Mainly it's because of the huge amount of 38 brass that I've gathered over the years. It's nice to achieve a potant round with some of this brass, and maintain accuracy.
 
I shoot only my own cast bullets in handgun cartridges and have used Power Pistol and HS-6 as well as most of the other commonly used powders in the .38 Special and other handgun cartridges. I've found Power Pistol and HS-6 to be "niche" powders rather than versatile ones.

I've developed accurate cast bullet loads with both powders and they were not necessarily top loads as some suggest are necessary with these powders. While velocity may suffer somewhat, I've found the faster powders like Bullseye and 231 produce good accuracy with less load development than is required with Power Pistol and HS-6. To a lesser extent, I've also used Titegroup with good results and never had a barrel melt from the excessive heat allegedly generated by this powder.

Overall, Unique is probably a better and more versatile choice than either Power Pistol or HS-6, but I seldom use Unique because it doesn't flow well through my Redding pistol measure.

Again, nothing wrong with Power Pistol or HS-6. Spend the time and effort with these and proper fitting cast bullets and your work will likely pay off, particularly if muzzle velocity is a major concern.
 
Power Pistol has been excellent accurate wise in all my loadings. Even when I tried it in 357mag.
 
I bought a 4# Power Pistol to find out if I could use it as a medium vel .44 Mag(215gr at around 1200fps).Accuracy was ok but leading was not(I later found out that the small thin 2 lube grooves of the bullet,a Lee mould spitting RF cowboy bullet is rather to blame than the powder;not enough lube to contain those hot gasses pushing it down the barrel).So I went back on good old reliable Unique for it(10.0gr of it does the job albeit at a slightly slower vel).
But reading these posts,I might just have found a good use for my aprox 3# left of PP.And,as my experience has showed,if it works in the .38Spl hull,it should also do in the .45 Colt hull.Can't wait to experiment with these!
Qc
 
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