Using PB for cast boolits

[frkelly74]

I have seen a supply of PB powder for sale at a reasonable price. My impression is that it is a fairly fast bulky powder and I wonder if it could be useful for loading a 45 ACP or light loads for a 30/30. Any experience out there? Thank You .

[BABore]

PM 357Maximum. I know he uses it for 357 mag plinker loads as a substitute for WW 231. Not the same weight mind you, but similar burn rate IIRC. He had good luck with it.

[Rocky Raab]

PB is one of the almost forgotten powders, despite its usefulness and good qualities.

It is the sole survivor of a line of powders DuPont created. PB stands for Porous Base, and the idea was that a porous powder could easily be tailored for burn rate by the use or lack of selected coatings that would fill those pores in various degrees. It was a very good idea and worked well - better than the other powders that were based on it.

Many burn rate charts do rank it very near W231/HP38. It is useful in cartridges as small as the .380 through midrange loads in large revolver rounds, reduced loads in some rifle rounds - and with cast bullets.

[Dale53]

I ran into an Estate Sale at a Gunshop and bought several pounds of PB, 7625, and Blue Dot for a VERY good price.

Those are NOT the powders that I was using regularly. Right now, I working my way through PB in my .45 ACP for target loads. I am shooting 5.1grs with a MiHec #68 200 gr SWC cast of WW+2% tin. The load shoots VERY well. It is not as dirty as Bullseye but does leave a bit of "debris" in the barrel. It is NOT accumulative and "makes no nevermind". The carbon wipes out quite easily with a solvent soaked patch. I clean every three-five hundred rounds whether it needs it or not.

Dupont listed data for it in their reloading booklet.

It should work just as well in the .38/.357, .44 Special/Magnum, and .45 Colt for light target loads.

FWIW
Dale53

[AZ-Stew]

PB is also a good shotgun powder. It's the one I started with when I began loading shotshells 35+ years ago.

I use it's "brother" powder, SR 7625, for my midrange loads in .41 Magnum, .32 H&R and a j-bullet load for the .223 I use for squirrel hunting. I've also gone to 7625 for my 12 ga loads.

Regards,

Stew

[frkelly74]

I have seen it for $7.50 per can which I believe is 1/2 lb. Thank you all, I will grab some.

[C1PNR]

One of the hottest loads I've ever shot in my Browning High Power was loaded with PB. Shoots real good, but I'm out of it right now.

I also agree that it's great for loading your trap shells, inexpensively BTW.

[Shooter6br]

I swear by Unique or Universal. From 32 long to 45-70 to 12gu slugs..The name "Unique" sums it up for me.

[sargenv]

PB could be thought of as the Unique by IMR. I've always liked it for mid range shotshell data and for backup for a lot of pistol calibers.. The PB meand "Pourus based", not really knowing exactly what that means

[frkelly74]

Well, I looked in my old Lyman manual and there are a bunch of loads listed for all weights of cast boolits. My newer Lyman only shows it being used on one of their 200 gr SWC with two lube grooves. I should have just looked . But on the other hand now I know that some have had good experience with it. Thank You

[Echo]

I used PB a lot when I was shooting my 20-gauge - still have some, and would not hesitate to use it for any pistol round up to mid-levels.

[390ish]

I have used it for 38 special and 45 acp. no problems.