A friend, who is moving to California, gave me 4# of Alliant Power Pistol powder.
Does anyone out there have any experience with this in 38 or 45 loads?
Thank you.

I use it in 38 special, sort of a warm load, and I use it in 45 auto, and 9mm. It is my auto pistol powder. Shoots clean, but is flashy, and loud

Loudest pistol powder I've ever used.

Stu

Thanks. Any suggestions for a 200 grain cast SWC in the .45? Starting loads seem to be like 6.5 grains?

From Lyman 49th 200gr SWC starts at 6.3gr for 816fps working at 13300CUP.Max at 7.0gr good for 919fps at 16800CUP.For my 45s,I found out that the starting loads were normally the most accurate,exept in my Combat Commander.Must be the exception that confirms the rule!
Qc

It excels in 9mm, 40 S&W and 45. My 40's like warm loads.

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Front sight and squeeze

I have used it a lot. It BARKS, real loud. It does however load easily and performs well.

If someone thinks a particular powder is too loud maybe they should shoot pellet guns. Ear muffs work wonders.

....Acc #7 and Vihtavori (?) gets the fastest velocities in .38 and 9mm for them plus P loads you are looking for.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Brian Pierce wrote glowing reports in Handloader magazine using PP in 44 spl . I have never used it . But I have used a lot of it's 2 closest cousins , on either side , Unique and the new one BE-86 . Both with complete satisfaction . It should work fine for what you are asking .

Power pistol really shines in the older/low pressure calibers like the 38spl/44spl/45acp.

I use pp for my p+ loads in those calibers. I swage jacketed 225gr hp's for the 45acp. The pp/225gr bullet combo is pretty impressive in a 5" bbl'd 1911.

bluetopper, I don't think it's loud, I know it's loud. Everyone else on the firing line stops and looks at whatever I'm shooting when loaded with Power Pistol.
Personally I wear custom molded ear plugs (thanks VA) and 33dB muffs over those, and guess what, it's still loud. Since I only shoot indoors, I don't use PP anymore. Anyone in Denver need a few pounds??

Stu

Power Pistol is my favorite powder in 38 Spl +P with 158 gr swaged or cast bullet - I use Speer 14 38 Spl +P data. 5.6 grs "PP" had duplicated for me Rem's 38 Spl +P 158 gr LHP velocity. 6.0 grs, max Speer loading, is a very accurate loading with more velocity (some chronographing obtained 1,075 fps+ in 6 inch tube using Hornady 158 gr lswchp - ref Handloader Magazine).

I also use it for a strong mid range 357 Magnum load - 7.2 grs behind 158 gr cast. Very accurate loading at this powder level.

I don't use Power Pistol in standard 158 gr lead 38 Spl loads - here I use Bullseye (3.5 grs) and HP38 (4.0 grs). Both very accurate.

I was very happy with it for .38 Special and 9 MM. For .40 S&W and .45 ACP the muzzle flash was extreme. At the indoor range it looked like a camera flash.

Makes my .9mm 929 sound like a .45 acp

Like others, it's my favorite for 44 Special+ and 38 Special+ loads.

Stu,

I am in the Denver area and will happily take it. PM Sent.

All yours Alex. PM replied to.

Stu

You know, I was at Bass Pro shop today looking at powders. They didn't have the powder I was looking for but they did have Power Pistol. I noticed it was cheaper than most of the other powders. I have always wanted to try it in my 44 Special but I still have plenty so much HS6 on hand that I couldn't justify buying a similar powder. I don't care if Power Pistol is loud or flashes since I usually shoot at out door ranges.

Friend of mine loves to load with it for exactly that reason!

Good powder for multi use, good results just follow the
load info. I have 8 lbs in stock so I should be good for a long time. last one I bought cost 72.00 at a gun show in PA

I've used it for 115 gr. jacketed 9X19. I also loaded up some Gold Dot 135 gr. bullets for .38 SPL and .357 Mag. Here are some of my results:
S&W 642 .38 SPL reloads GD 135 gr. 807fps, 798, 785
6.4 gr. Power Pistol

.357 Mag. Reloads, 9.6 gr. Power Pistol, GD 135 gr. 1222fps, 1226

S&W model 60, 3” bbl. with .38 SPL reload 894fps
6.4 gr. Power Pistol

Beretta 92FS Kidd Custom
Reload, 6.2 gr. Power Pistol, Starline, Rem. Primer 1263fps, 1246fps

Use it in a factory duplication, practice load in 357, in a 640Pro. 140 Hdy XTP, 9.0 power pistol and a standard primer. Chronos: 1067fps from 640. In a Ruger 3" SP it chronos at 1104fps.

Shoots to point of aim in both guns and is very accurate. It's loud and it's bright, but it is a magnum. Makes my 44 Special super accurate with a 250 grain Keith and 8 grs of PP. for 1,000fps . Pressure on both loads in low pressure for caliber spectrum.

Loud? Bright?

Sounds like Power Pistol should be on my list of What To Try Next. I was already kicking it over after reading about its performance in 9mm.

My favorite powder in 44 spl and mid power 44 mags. Just seems to group great with many loads

I have been loading 9.5 grains PP under a 125 grain jacketed bullet (XTP) in .357 Magnum, shooting it in the 586 L Comp and the 686 Plus 3".

It has manageable recoil, a lot of noise, and a bloom about the size of a basketball. It causes folks on the indoor range to stop and look around when I shoot it.

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S&W Rover

I have had exceptional results using Power Pistol in 38 Special +P and 44 Special.

Hunter silhouette load:
LRN 160 Power Pistol GR 6.3 LO 941 HI 969 AVG 955 ES 28 SD 9.07

Bowling pin load:
LSWC 240 Power Pistol GR 7.5 LO 899 HI 921 AVG 908 ES 22 SD 6.60

Also running well in 357 Sig, though I haven't chronoed it yet.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I use PP and Zero 115 JHPs in my 38 Super. Very accurate load.

I load Power Pistol for my .38 Special Bianchi loads. The load is 6.5 gr. PP with a 125 gr. Zero JHP. seated to the crimp groove. Primer is small pistol standard Federal. This load chronos at 1050 fps. in a 6" 686 revolver with a 7 port comp on the end. PP generates a lot of gas, making it the perfect comp. gun powder. There is very little recoil or muzzle flip. My gun shoots 3/8" groups at 25 yards in a Ransom Rest with this load, about 1-1/4" at 50 yards.

I originally tried Auto Comp powder, but it burns hotter, and doing reloads with a revolver was not pleasant due to the very hot cylinder. PP burns cooler and reloads are not a problem.

Added 40 S&W 180 grain loads to my PP list.
4.6 grains runs exactly 800FPS in my 4053 and drills the 25 yard gong with exceptional accuracy.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

You're losing a good friend.

I hadn’t thought about Power Pistol at all for 45 Colt. However, it looks like you can get good velocities with a 250 grain jacketed hollow point.

I use power pistol for 45, 44sp, 38sp, 9mm and I am very happy with it

My goto for 9mm.

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Uvidíme se později, aligátore.

Wow, I didn't immediately catch on that this is a 6 year old thread! A walking dead thread!

Not too dead. I'm still shooting the same Power Pistol load for Action Pistol matches. Still works great!

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protocalldesign.com

I tried Power Pistol in .44 Special as Brian Pierce likes it for that use but I switched to CFE Pistol for way less drama.

I've used up at least 4#s of Power Pistol since this thread was started 6 years ago

What isn't Power Pistol good in?

I even use it in reduced 460MAG & 500MAG loads.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

I use Power Pistol is my 45 ACP loads often, and no issues .