PB Powder

[LazyKB]

I want to load some reduced rounds for my wife and I to use at the range in our snubbie .38s. I intend to us a LSWC flat nose of 125 grains. A friend has suggested PB powder. Do any of you have experience with PB and if so can you suggest some loads.

Thanks

 

[Rule3]

I have never used it but load data can be found at their website. Can not say if PB is any better or worse than the multitude of other powders out there.

Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com

 

[Skip Sackett]

According to the IMR website, it is an extruded powder. I thought that it was of the "donut" variety but, hey, I can be wrong. Seems to me it has a high volume to weight ratio. That would mean fuller cases with lighter charges, a win/win in my book.

Never have used it much, and what I did it was a long time ago so.... Not much help. As has been stated, data is available for it.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I have read many times that you should try PB for more then cowboy level soft whooters. PB stands for porous base and it is on my "too buy" list to try.

For real wimp loads, get trailboss. Works great in 38's.

 

[LazyKB]

Thanks for the tips, so far.

The web site gives me a starting load of 4.0 at 959 FPS. Previously I was pushing a 158gr. at @ 800 FPS. It wasn't bad but still not fun for her. I know the heavier bullet will produce more recoil at a lower speed but can I slow down the lighter bullet without any problems? Where to start?

 

[Rule3]

The test data is from a 7.7" barrel. So you are not going to be near that velocity. Just reenter the numbers for a 125 gr bullet and find the lowest start velocity and chose that powder. For a reduced puff load than maybe PB is not want you want. Why does it have to be PB?

As mentioned Trail Boss is the slowest and at a start load would be like a 22.. If that isn't light enough than she needs a different gun or caliber. It's not really correct that a heavier bullet will generate less recoil.

 

[LazyKB]

Good points OCD1

It doesn't have to be PB but since I have a pound of it I was hoping it would be. I can use the PB in my .40 S&W. So Trailboss might be the way to go? She has no hand strength and I have yet to find a semi auto slide she can rack. I don't expect her to shoot a lot from the Bodyquard but would like to avoid any flinch if possible. She has a Ruger Security Six she shoots like a champ and she used my 19-3 six inch for her CCP. Just want her to want to carry her .38, and feel comfortable with shooting.

 

[TSQUARED]

I want to load some reduced rounds for my wife and I to use at the range in our snubbie .38s. I intend to us a LSWC flat nose of 125 grains. A friend has suggested PB powder. Do any of you have experience with PB and if so can you suggest some loads.

Thanks

The unquestionably best powder for reduced loads using lead or plated bullets is Trail Boss. It is very bulky so it takes up more room in the case and it meters exceptionally well. Check out the data on the Hodgdon website. I use Trail Boss for all my loads in 38 Special, 44 Special, and 45 Colt.

 

[Rule3]

It doesn't have to be PB but since I have a pound of it I was hoping it would be. I can use the PB in my .40 S&W. So Trailboss might be the way to go? She has no hand strength and I have yet to find a semi auto slide she can rack. I don't expect her to shoot a lot from the Bodyquard but would like to avoid any flinch if possible. She has a Ruger Security Six she shoots like a champ and she used my 19-3 six inch for her CCP. Just want her to want to carry her .38, and feel comfortable with shooting.

Yes, I and others think Trail boss would be the powder to use. Snub 38"s are not the easiest guns to shoot and a lot of women do not like them (from the gun shop, not me) Loading them that light makes them much less effective. HP 38/. Win 231 would be my pick. It's more cost effective. Those jars of TB are only 9oz and it's real light and fluffy so don't sneeze or it will blow away.

A nice Beretta 32 with tilt barrel would make a nice gift

 

[alwslate]

I think PB would be a poor choice for your reduced loads. A light cast
bullet in 38 spl brass will leave a lot of air space. I bought one can and
tried it with light cast bullet loads in 38 spl, 45 AR and 44 mag. My loads used 158gr bullets in 38, 250gr in 44 and 200gr & 255gr in 45 AR.
I found PB to yield low velocity for charge weight compared to other
powders like Bullseye, Red Dot or 700X. It's position sensitivity leads
to large variations in velocity. I will never buy any more for use in
hand gun loads. An old NRA hand loading manual had an article about
minimal loads in a S&W 36 using cast BBWCs to reduce air space.
The author went down to .75grs of Bullseye for 195 fps. Bullseye
would be a much better choice than PB for any 38 spl loads in my
opinion.

 

[LazyKB]

Thanks

Thanks for the help. Looks like I get to do some experimenting. Good starting info. Thanks again.

 

[Overdrawn]

Here's a thought, I use 38's & 357's without recoil problems but for someone like your wife, I think the 327 Fed mag would be ideal if she's having problems with flinching & recoil. With the 327 Fed mag she could shoot anything from 327 Fed Mag, 32 H&R mag, 32 S&W (Long), 32 S&W (short) all in the same gun if she wanted to instead of trying to make a 38 into something it's not to accommodate her fragile hands.

 

[2152hq]

Email Hodgdon off the website and ask them about that PB load you tried. See what their recommendations are as far as reducing the charge any further or not.
There's usually a good reason for the minimum as well as the max charge listed. It may be a bit slow burning for the light weight bullet to go any less on the charge weight.

By your original post, I take it you're just making up range loads to shoot (and not self defense rounds), you might think about just going to the 38specW/C load. Easy on the gun and shooter.

I know PB can be used effectively. Probably 2.5 / 3.0 grains would give you around 700fps,,but check the mfg. load data for the info,,don't trust my 'guesstimate'!.
A nice 38Special load for informal shooting.

Most any of the older shotshell powders in that burn range will make up nice 38Spec target loads. RedDot, GreenDot, PB, 700X, etc.

 

[LazyKB]

Thanks 2152h

Great advice and yes they are intended for the range only, should have said that up front.

 

[tops]

.38 spec., 3.5 grs. Unique, 158 SWC, 577fps., 1 7/8 barrel.Larry

 

[ArchAngelCD]

In addition, like most shotgun powders PB will be very dirty at the lower pressures associated with light loads.

The above suggestion of trying W231/HP-38 or Trail Boss is valid.

 

[Treeman]

I've loaded gobs of .38spl. with PB. My mild load was/is 3.6gr PB with a 158 gr cast swc. Clean mild and consistent. I don't recall trying 125s w/PB. FWIW that 3.6/158 yields about 650fps from a 4".

 

[Nemo288]

PB can be a great target load powder in revolver rounds.
Back about 20 years ago I embarked on a program to find the
lowest power .44 load that would shoot holes touching groups
and still get the bullet down range. I didn't get a stuck bullet
as I chickened out going below 700 fps.
The load is 4.5gr. of PB over a 240gr Keith type SWC lubed
in one shoulder. I always use an inert material/buffer to fill
up those big cases and hold the powder against the primer.
Clean and consistant as the previous post says. Maybe a touch
more work but it's fun work!
I have used Grex shotgun buffer as well as used up polishing
compound both corn and walnut. It all works fine. The Grex leaves
a thin film of plastic in the bore which lubricates it. The polishing
compounds slowly polish your bore especially the walnut.
The burning walnut also smells a little like a hippy party. Older guys
at the range may look at you funny I gave up on the walnut
and use Grex now.
You should load enough buffer to create a slightly compressed
round. The buffer compresses fine. The whole idea is to hold the
powder in one place.

---
Nemo