Power Pistol for old veterans

[shil]

I have on hand some Power Pistol powder which I bought for loading .45acp, simply because my supplier was out of WW231 and HP38, I was reluctant to travel 15 miles for VV N340 or Accurate #5 (I've used both), and Bullseye just makes me nervous (mental block?). I have used Power Pistol in the past for .45acp with no problem in a 1911A1 and a Model 25-2, except for the fireworks. Now, I have both a Smith and a Colt 1917 I'd like to occasionally shoot, using 230 grain FMJ and keeping loads on the conservative side in deference to the age of the guns. Referring to the my manuals, I see the loads for Power Pistol running from one end of the scale to the other, maximum loads, which I tend avoid, varying by almost a full grain in one instance. Another example: the start load in one manual almost equalled the maximum in another. Power Pistol may not be the best powder for the purpose, but I like the way it meters and burns fairly cleanly. I also have Unique, but its metering quality leaves a bit to be desired. Can anyone suggest a Power Pistol loading for the 1917's using a 230 FMJ? I have on hand the Montana Gold flavor.

 

[Alk8944]

Shil,

Straight from a late Alliant "Reloaders' Guide":

230 gr. FMJ, Federal 150 primer, maximum 7.2 gr. Power Pistol

From the on-line Alliant site:

230 gr. Speer TMJ RN, CCI 300 primer, maximum 8.1 gr. Power Pistol.

The last load makes me a little nervous, in spite of coming from the Alliant site. 12 1/2% increase in charge weight is pretty significant, and the first load is already shown to be 20,000 PSI, which is SAAMI standard for MAP for the cartridge. All the years I have been doing this I have a real hard time believing a primer and bullet manufacturer change can ever allow this great a difference! Usually the loads in the on-line resource are somewhat less than the paper Reloaders' Guide, not more!!

When available I have always preferred to use the powder manufacturer's data instead of that from bullet makers. The wide variation you are seeing is the primary reason.

 

[Rule3]

I have just started playing around with Power Pistol and bought a large amount of it for 9mm and 40 SW, It may become my go to powder.

The new Hornady #8 has data for the 230 FMJ of:

5.5 gr= 700 fps
5.9 gr=750
6.3gr=800
6.7=850
7.1=900 MAX

From what I found with the 9 and 40 the max loads are really that.They are loud and have a lot of "zip" Unlike some other data that is anemic even at the tested max.

So for your intended use I would definitely go with the start of 5.5 grs and see how it goes. From what I have tested and read, accuracy does not suffer even at the low end. It meters great and clean burning.

 

[TSQUARED]

I have alwys tended to use the powder manufacturers pressure tested data. That being said the Alliant/Hercules data has been known to fluctuate quite widely. For the variety of pistol games I use loads which are well below maximum and in 45 ACP I prefer the faster burning powders such as HS-700X, Bullseye, VV N-310, American Select or WST - much less muzzle flash than Power Pistol.

 

[shil]

Thanks for your feedback, guys.

 

[longaction]

45 Auto and Power Pistol

I've chronographed these Alliant Power Pistol 230 fmj loads in my 4506 (5" barrel). For a 1917 revolver, I would stay at or below 6.8 gr. Notice how quickly the velocity jumps up after 7.0 gr.

(O.A.L. of 1.270)
6.5 gr. = 785 f.p.s.
6.8 gr. = 811
7.0 gr. = 822
7.2 gr. = 860
7.5 gr. = 930

 

[PattonTime]

Power Pistol in 45acp

I have used between 6.5 and 7.4 grains with this powder and both plated and FMJ 230 grain bullets.
I have become pretty well stuck on 6.8 grains, it just doesn't seem to need any more !
I think it is safe at 7.4 , I just do not see the point.
I saw that 8.1 grain figure published too.
Not in my guns !!
I really do like Power Pistol though, I have about quit using Unique and switched to Power Pistol where I used to use Unique which is about everywhere.
I think Unique works very well for my purposes, I just plain don't get the metering consistency with it that I do with Power Pistol, I just bought 8 # kegs of Accurate #5 and # 7 and I really like those too. All seem cleaner and better metering then Unique.

 

[shil]

Thank you, all, for your advice. I'm going to drop down to 6.8 grains max and see how things go.

 

[joedaddy]

Just ran 100 at 6.7 grains power pistol through my SW1911 yesterday. It is a good load that feels just a tick hotter than most factory stuff. It chronographs for me about 840-850.

There's no way I would go to 8 grains with this powder. I have gone up to the max loads (hornady's) with no signs of trouble, but they were in the 900+ fps range.

I agree with PattonTime that 6.7 is enough, and I too think it is an outstanding powder because of it's burn rate and ease in metering. It's also a dandy in 44 special loads!

 

[shil]

6.7 grains worked out quite well in my 1911A1 MilSpec!
Thanks, everyone.

 

[noylj]

Unique may not meter that well, but it sure performs well even with a +/- 0.2gn variance. 6.0gn of Unique works quite well with almost any standard weight bullet in .45Auto.
Have you tried Trail Boss? It fills up the case.
Personally, best powders for .45 for light loads are Bullseye, AA2, Solo 1000, and Red Dot.
I would stick with Unique, myself.
Always start with the LOWEST starting load you can find and always reference at least two independent sources.