Hard to beat Power Pistol for 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWC

[Hi-Speed]

I’ve always gotten consistent results using Alliant Power Pistol in my 158 gr LSWC 38 Spl +P loads. I use Speer +P manual data and have duplicated the velocity of Remington’s 38 Spl +P 158 gr LHP from a 6 inch S&W Model 10 (I wish that I still had that one) - 975 FPS as I recall. The load is 5.6 grs Power Pistol and Speer’s 158 gr LSWC - this is my favorite range/plinking load in my Ruger B/H 357 Mag with 4 5/8 inch while out in the high desert - has enough authority to keep me interested. Very accurate and doesn’t beat up my aged hands.

I also never noticed any unruly muzzle flash using lead/cast bullets and Power Pistol even when shooting indoors.

Please feel free to share your experiences with Power Pistol.

[osteodoc08]

Clean, meters well, low flash, what’s not to like. Like you, I’ve found it is an excellent newer powder but I have a soft spot for 231 and use it in just about everything I can.

[waco]

Never used it. I have so much pistol powders on hand now it would be hard to justify trying a new one. Sounds like a good one though.

[RU shooter]

No experience with it but does anyone know if power pistol is just a new version of the old WAP win action pistol powder ?

[Petrol & Powder]

I don't believe Power Pistol is a version of WAP but I do believe Ramshot Silhouette is the new version of WAP.

I feel that Power Pistol works a bit better in smaller casings such as the 9mm but I will not disparage Power Pistol.

I'm in the camp with osteodoc08 - WW231 [AKA HP-38] is one of my favorite powders for 38 Special.

[Texas by God]

PowerPistol is the first powder I tried in 10mm auto for my brother's Glock longslide. We are very pleased with it.

[Tim357]

Power Pistol was originally develped for 9mm. BE-84 I believe was the nomenclature before it became the canister grade powder we know and love today.

[clearwater]

I am still on my Granddads canister of Dupont #6 for my 38.

[richj]

I believe the newer BE-86 powder is a lot like Power Pistol but with less flash.

[cwlongshot]

I not "big" on most of the new powders. (Anything not older then 10 yrs is a new powder top me.)

I agree 100% I have been using quite allot of it. My next order will be at least a 4# probably a 8#.

Loading it in 357sig, 357Mag, 40, 10 and 45 so far. Haven't loaded a 38+p is thirty years. ;)

CW

[cwlongshot]

Good to hear!

I still have about a pound and half of WAP left and was kinda cherishing it! ;)

CW

[Forrest r]

I use quite a bit of pp in several different cartridges. I use 6.2gr of pp in the 38spl p+ loads using cast/coated 158gr hp bullets. That combo is getting 950fps in a 2" bbl'd ca undercover. 7.5gr of pp in the 45acp pushing a 225gr home swaged/jacketed hp is getting 990fps in a 5" bbl'd 1911. 6.4gr of pp pushing a 125gr cast/coated hp is getting 1100fps in a 3.2" bbl'd compact 9mm.

pp also gave excellent performance in standard pressured 44spl loads with bullets in the 240gr/260gr range the 6 1/2" & 10" bbl.'s. I also like to use pp for medium level 357 & 44mag loads in the +/- 1250fps range for 6" bbl'd firearms. 150gr/170gr bullets in the 357's and 240gr/260gr bullets in the 44mag's.

be-86 is nothing like pp & is more in line with unique performance wise.

[Hi-Speed]

Forrestr- that 6.2 gr pp probably gets you nearly 1,100 FPS in 6 inch tubes.

[Wireman134]

Forrestr- that 6.2 gr pp probably gets you nearly 1,100 FPS in 6 inch tubes.


It does that in a 4"bbl

[robg]

True blue works well and burns clean.

[RED BEAR]

I have never tried pp will have to pick some up and give it a try.

[dogdoc]

PP is great on 44 special. 8 grains with 250 Keith is cats meow.


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[Thumbcocker]

Amen. also works great in 9mm.

[MT Gianni]

I like it in the 40 S&W and it shows plenty of promise in 44 Special. If I were starting today it would be one of my standards.

[JBinMN]

I use PP pushing 130gr XTP in two different snubnoses ( a 38 & a 357M), and pushing 185gr. XTP in a 45ACP, as SD rounds. I am pleased with using it so far on targets & other stuff. I have not tried it for lead boolits yet, but I will.

[rintinglen]

PP is great on 44 special. 8 grains with 250 Keith is cats meow.


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What he said!^^ This duplicates the old Skeeter load, but at (allegedly) lower pressures.
I have used a lot in 9 mm loads as well.

[Outpost75]

Has anybody done side-by-side charge-velocity tests of AutoComp vs. Power Pistol?

I've had great results with AutoComp, 5.5-6.0 grains in .38 Special +P, also 7.4 grains with 87-90 grain Hornady in 7.62x25 and .30 M1 Carbine, 11 grains with 250 Keith in .44 Mag for Medium Velocity...

Burn rate similar to Herco, but measures like water in Star or Dillon.

[fecmech]

Have not done AutoComp but have done PP and BE86. BE86 bulks the same (same grain wts in my bushings) and in the .38 spl with different loads velocities are essentially the same for the same grain wt and bullet weight. I think BE86 is just flash suppressed PP.

[ShooterAZ]

I just got some PP last weekend. I've never tried it, and want to cook up some loads for 38 Special and 45 Auto Rim. Has anyone use it in 45AR with the Lyman 454424?

[Texas by God]

I am down to about 20 rounds each of the three
.38 special loads I keep in rotation. I have some power pistol so I believe I will try it. To the Loading manual I go.

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[curioushooter]

I too have gotten max velocity with PowerPistol in 38+P. That said max charges of Unique are right on its heels, it is more accurate with greater consistency shot to shot, and is just as clean, low flash, etc. I stopped using PowerPistol in 38+P and switched to Unique. PowerPistol is a better powder for 9mm however.

[MtnGunner]

I’ve had good results with Power Pistol in .32 mag and .44 special loads as well.

[skrapyard628]

I have been playing around with PP in 357mag, 10mm, and 40s&w and like the results I am getting for each caliber.

I like 357mag loads that are fairly hot but not nuclear hot. And I have really liked 7.2gr PP under a coated 158gr SWC from SNS casting. No pressure signs, burned clean and shot accurately.
I fired this load side by side against the W296 load that I had for the same bullet and decided to ditch using W296. The PP load (7.2gr) chrono'd at 1099fps and the W296 load (13.1gr) chrono'd at 1178fps. The W296 load was one of those loads where you could feel the pressure blast smack you in the face and there was some very noticeable sticky extraction from the cylinder after firing. The PP load showed no pressure signs and case extraction was not sticky at all. And I can probably bump the PP charge weight up a bit to match the FPS I was getting from W296. Cant say I'm sad to quit using w296.

For the 10mm I got some great velocities with PP. Im currently launching a 135gr Nosler JHP @ 1441fps using 10.9gr and there is still room to bump that charge up a bit too.

Power Pistol is definitely a good powder. I can see many jugs being purchased in my future!