Alliant Power Pistol

[dek]

Being that powder availability is really hit or miss, I purchased some Alliant Power Pistol as a substitute for Unique since they are very close in burn rate. Alliant's website does not show a load for .41 Mag but does have data for .44 Mag/Spl. The .44 Spl w/225gr SWC GC indicates 7.7gr of Power Pistol for a velocity of 952 fps. I will try 7.0gr with the 210 gr cast (no GC) SWC which I feel should be fairly safe and a good starting point to work with. I'll be firing the loads in an S&W Mod 58. I want a fairly moderate plinking load. My primer is wolf LP and the brass is Starline. The load I'm replacing was with 5.0 gr Bullseye but I wanted a powder for the larger calibers that would fill the case a little more and closer to Unique which would have been my choice if it were available. I'll be changing most of my revolver loads (.41 - .45) from Bullseye to Power Pistol for at least 8 lbs. Any suggestions or comments? Anyone have any experience with Power Pistol? Thanks, Dennis

[rintinglen]

I have had excellent results with power pistol in the 9mm and also in the 45 ACP. It has been a bust in the 327, though. It is slightly slower than Unique, but only a smidge, but meters better. I use 5.2 grains under a lee 124TC in the 9mm, and 6.8 grains under an MP clone of the H&G 68. I have not tried it in any large cartridges, but will be following this thread with interest.

[44MAG#1]

Critical study will show us that PowerPistol is slower than Unique and Universal.
If we take that information and use it to our advantage we will be able to deduce that picking a mid loading charge of Unique or Universal should be okay as a start for PowerPistol.
If one feels safer one can start at the same starting charge as Unique.
Of course one needs to be careful and watch for pressure signs and other abnormalities that are associated with reloading ones ammo just as we would with any published data as quirks and unknown circumstances can occur that can throw us in a problematic episode that we may not need to be in.

[Thumbcocker]

I have had excellent results with PP in 9mm, .44 special, and .44 magnum. In .44 special you can break 900 fps with a Keith boolit with category one pressures. I loaded some .41 mags for a friend with a NOE boolit heavier than you are using and worked up to a higher charge than you are contemplating. Gun was a 3 screw Ruger and it shoot the load VERY well. Power Pistol is great stuff.

[Bonz]

I have used PowerPistol for everything from 380 to 500 magnum. Its perfect in 9mm for 'limp wristed' shooters.

[BRobertson]

I worked up a load for my 500 Wyoming Freedom Arms. Due to my location, I have been unable to get the powders that are recommended for moderate loads in the 500 WE.

It was easy to get 1450 fps with a 400gr powder coated wfn (no grease grove) that I had Mountain Molds make for me, using H110/296. However it is a little more than I want to shoot regularly!!


So I carefully tried some PowerPistol that I have.
16.5 grns gives me 1300 fps, and it is the cleanest load I have ever shot from a revolver!! If not for the fired primer, you almost could not believe that it is a fired case!!

Bob

[MT Gianni]

I love it in the 40 S&W. Picked up a lb at Cabelas last week for $21.99.

[mart]

FWIW I ran your load in Quickloads. At 7.0 grains of PowerPistol and a 210 grain lead bullet it predicts 779 fps and 8418 PSI. At 14.5 grains it predicts 1427 fps at 35217 PSI. At 7.0 grains it ought to be a soft shooter.

[dek]

Wow! My QL shows 1164 fps for 7.0 gr Power Pistol. Something's not right.

[mart]

I'll double check but I used the Lyman .410 210 grain LFN with 7.0 grains of PowerPistol and a six inch barrel.

[mart]

I ran all the numbers again and came up the same. I was mistaken on the bullet weight. It was 212 rather than 210 grains but 2 grains won't make that much difference. I'm curious why the huge difference.

[dek]

I went to the range, this am and fired some with 6.0 gr and 7.0 gr of Power Pistol. I did not have a chrono but the 6.0 loads shot very well (6 rds, 2 in @ 25') and the 7.0 also shot well but was much stiffer in felt recoil (12 rds, 3 in @25 yds). Maybe I'm not used to really shooting magnum type loads but the 7.0 equalled my .45 ACP w/230 gr hardball as far as recoil. So, I'll also recheck my QL.

[dek]

mart - thanks for doing the QL. You're right - I forgot to change barrel length and had it at 26" instead of 6". That does make a difference. With the change to 6" bbl, I show 872 fps for 7.0 gr. With the results on target and felt recoil, 6.0 gr of Power Pistol will be my load for the .41 Mag. I will probably have to increase my crimp as I definitely have some "blow by" on the cartridge and they do show soot on the interior. In all respects, I'm pleased with Alliant's Power Pistol.

[mart]

I've done the same thing, forgetting to change the barrel length. Couldn't figure out why I was getting such low figure for one of my centerfire rifles till I noticed I hadn't changed from the 4 inch barrel length I had used previously.

[ddixie884]

I use 7gr PP under 215gr in .41spl............