Speer 14 - 38 Spl +P 158 gr SWC Power Pistol

[38SPL HV]

The 6.0 grs Power Pistol under 158 gr LSWC in 38 Spl +P is becoming legendary in its own right - an accurate and powerful loading. I decided to load up some and send them over my chronograph (these are my loads and intended for my revolver only and data are being provided for informational purposes only. Please refer to Speer reloading data for instructions and details in all cases before loading anything).

Components same as Speer’s requirement using 158 gr Speer LSWC and CCI500 primers with 1.440” OAL:

Firearm: Ruger 4 5/8 inch Blackhawk
10 shots
Hi 1046 fps
Lo 1000 fps
Avg 1019 fps
ES 46
SD 15

Notes: Speer gets 1,037 fps with this load in their 6 inch revolver. The load results above will vary depending on 158 gr lead bullet being used. I suggest no deviation from Speer’s components at this upper end load, and started low and worked up to it in my robust Ruger 357 Magnum Blackhawk. My usual favorite in 38 Spl +P with Speer’s 158 gr LSWC uses 5.6 grs Power Pistol. The only problem is that I’m now out of Speer’s LSWC and they have been unavailable for a long time (like many other reloading components).

 

[Goldstar225]

I worked up the 6.0 grain PP load in my 4" model 15. Using my home cast bullets out of my RCBS 150 SWC-KT mold (actual weight 158 grains) it chronographed at 1050 (AVG) FPS at 10'.

 

[38SPL HV]

I also get higher velocities using cast bullets (12 BNH and Lyman 2), that’s why I’d stick with Speer load data and it’s listed bullet and primer components (and considering OAL) when at upper end of load data. Velocity with a given bullet weight is a good indicator of pressure, for example, if you’re getting more velocity with the same bullet weight, charge and barrel length as used in actual firearm in the loading manual, you may be over the pressure of that load listed in the manual. I know cylinder gap (“tighter” tolerance equates usually to more velocity for a given load) plays a role but I’ll side with a conservative approach.

 

[rockquarry]

The 6.0 grs Power Pistol under 158 gr LSWC in 38 Spl +P is becoming legendary in its own right - an accurate and powerful loading. I decided to load up some and send them over my chronograph (these are my loads and intended for my revolver only and data are being provided for informational purposes only. Please refer to Speer reloading data for instructions and details in all cases before loading anything).

Components same as Speer’s requirement using 158 gr Speer LSWC and CCI500 primers with 1.440” OAL:

Firearm: Ruger 4 5/8 inch Blackhawk
10 shots
Hi 1046 fps
Lo 1000 fps
Avg 1019 fps
ES 46
SD 15

Notes: Speer gets 1,037 fps with this load in their 6 inch revolver. The load results above will vary depending on 158 gr lead bullet being used. I suggest no deviation from Speer’s components at this upper end load, and started low and worked up to it in my robust Ruger 357 Magnum Blackhawk. My usual favorite in 38 Spl +P with Speer’s 158 gr LSWC uses 5.6 grs Power Pistol. The only problem is that I’m now out of Speer’s LSWC and they have been unavailable for a long time (like many other reloading components).

I'm out of Power Pistol so I've been using nothing but my standard pressure Bullseye powder load with an H&G #51 158 gr. cast SWC in the .38 Special. I still have the remnants of an 8lb. keg of HS-6, certainly a popular .38 Special powder for moderately heavy loads.

According to my notes, Power Pistol appears to be at least slightly better than HS-6 from an accuracy perspective with several cast bullets in the 158-170 grain range. From a velocity standpoint there seems to be little difference.

I've tried HS-6 with standard and magnum (often recommended) primers using a minimal taper crimp and can see no real difference in accuracy, velocity, or clean burn characteristics between the two primers.

 

[38SPL HV]

…thank you rockquarry…I also understand that HS-6 doesn’t have the blast and flash signature of Power Pistol; all enough reasons to try it.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I don't have any PP but I did try it's cousin, BE-86
in my J frame with a 158 lead and 5.2 grs did 950fps.
In my 686 6", 8.1 grs of BE-86 gave me 1271 on 5/6/2017.

I notice little or no flash in my 9mm and 357 loads in daylight outings.
Have yet to shoot this powder, indoors.

 

[38SPL HV]

I don't have any PP but I did try it's cousin, BE-86
in my J frame with a 158 lead and 5.2 grs did 950fps.
In my 686 6", 8.1 grs of BE-86 gave me 1271 on 5/6/2017.

I notice little or no flash in my 9mm and 357 loads in daylight outings.
Have yet to shoot this powder, indoors.

I’m using BE-86 more and more nowadays…it is gradually replacing Unique in my load book. Meters great and I get excellent accuracy with it, and unlike Unique, it is readily available. My basic 38 Spl +P uses 4.8 grs BE-86 under generic cast 158 gr SWC…gets 930 fps in my 5 inch S&W HD (about the same as Federal #38G 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWCHP.)…very accurate at least for me.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Using Rim Rocks popular soft lead 158gr L-SWC-HP-GC bullet with P-P @ 6.0grs, in a 38 Spcl case & ignited with CCI-500 primers I got 820mv / 236me from my M360J's 1-7/8" barrel.

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[Phish]

I started using Power Pistol in place of Unique when I couldn't find any. Great powder for a variety of loads I had tried but then I found a 8lb jug of Unique last month.