I have used it in 45 & 9mm, might have tried it in 40S&W but don't remember. The only thing I thought it did well in is 9mm with lead bullets. I wish I still had or could get some bullseye.
I have used a lot of Power Pistol in the past, but have switched to BE-86. It is Power Pistol with a flash suppressant. It is just a little hotter than PP.
I've used Power Pistol in a lot of 9mm and some .45acp loads. It performs well, gives excellent velocities, and as you pointed out, it meters great. There is flash, but since I wear hearing protection, I can't really say it's louder than any other powder. Honestly there are several things I judge my loads by, and loudness isn't one of them. performance (accuracy), velocity, and how it meters are things I go by. Put your muffs on and keep using it.
I have been using it in my 10mm guns for quite a while. In hot loads I have been very happy with it. I can not wait to get out and try some of it in my just acquired Ed Brown LS-10.
I have used a fair bit of PP, mostly for 10mm. As you noticed it barks and flashes more than others I have used. Indoors it is very unpleasant in fact and even outdoors during daylight the muzzle flash is noticable.
My initial negative reaction to Power Pistol was largely because I shoot 610s more than 1911s. It’s a nasty powder in a revolver. The blast and noise generated by the cylinder gap is intolerable. Obviously a real alpha male like Grumpy would be immune to it, but for me it’s distracting. My club has recently added a variety of long range steel animal silhouettes and pounding them with a 10mm revolver has become an addiction.
Had I first encountered it in 1911s and not revolvers I’d probably have liked it more.
BE-86 sounds goods Rodll, thanks for the heads up.
My initial negative reaction to Power Pistol was largely because I shoot 610s more than 1911s. It’s a nasty powder in a revolver. The blast and noise generated by the cylinder gap is intolerable. Obviously a real alpha male like Grumpy would be immune to it, but for me it’s distracting.
Brent, I'm far from alpha material, probably closer to an omega male, that and I'm close to being deaf. I wear lots of hearing protection at the range (ear plugs and muffs) trying to save what hearing I still have. My whole thought and the point I was trying to make was, with the quality of today's hearing protection devices why would noise level be an issue? I have no doubt PP may well be louder than some other powders, I just have no problems with it when using proper hearing protection. Please note, my experience with PP has all been in auto-loading firearms. I will have to try some in one of my revolvers and see if I can note the difference.
It must be a revolver thing. I've shot quite a bit of PP in 9mm. It gives me excellent accuracy and I get loading manual stated velocities in compact 9mm such as CZ PCR. Specifically 4.8 grains achieves 978fps with 147gr Hornady XTP from a 3.75" bbl. 5.0 gr is the listed max and achieves a bit over 1000fps in the same gun. Meters well, excellent accuracy, good velocity, and available. Checks all the boxes. But I'm not shooting a 10mm revolver so my results don't mean Pooh to the OP.
I received 1 sealed pound estate lot purchase last summer loaded 45 ACP 200 rounds . Really did not like the recoil or the bang , ignition . I have a fondness for Titegroup no I love it with my 225 gn RN hand cast soft or hard alloyed lead .
Disclaimer : My post is subjective please take no offense if your preference is Power Pistol .
I finally opened a pound I bought 5 years ago. Made up some test rounds with a 200gr xtp for my new xds. From what you guys are saying it should be interesting out of a 3.3 inch barrel. If the rain stops I'll report back.
I scored 5 pounds at the start of the pandemic as a replacement for my usual 10mm powder, Accurate No. 7.
I’ve now loaded quite a bit of it for both revolvers and 1911s in 10mm.
It meters well and produces a quick, pleasant, suitable for high volume shooting recoil impulse in 1911s.
Having said that it makes a lot of flash and seems notably louder than No 7.
Any of you fans? I’m still not sure what I think of it, but will go back to 7 when I can find it.
I love the stuff; I load 9mm, .38 Super, .38 Spl., .40S&W, 10mm Auto, .45 Auto and .45 Colt with it. It meters really well, I don't notice it being any louder than other powders (I wear muffs), and it has a wide range of loads. I'd love to have 5 pounds of it, then all I'd need would be some H110 for my .357's and .41's.
I too wear plugs and muffs. My club has added a massive series of barriers to prevent bullets from leaving our property as of course a sprawling McMansion subdivision now borders us. These structures direct all blast back at the shooter. It has made enjoying revolvers tougher than it was in the past.
Old Fart, I think if you tried a similar FPS load with Power Pistol and then a different powder you’d experience the difference in terms of noise folks are reporting. There is something uniquely unpleasant about the bark it creates.
I’m certain that in some of our guns we’re producing sound impulses that are still damaging our hearing despite hearing protection. That’s a topic for another day.
I just fired 16 rounds of 45acp out of my S&W PC1911. The load is 6.5 Power Pistol under a very vintage Cramer 230gr cast bullet. Lots of blast, stiff recoil as this is a +P load. Hits hard, STEEL GOES RING!!!!!
I usually load 45acp with HP38, Win231 or Unique. But these days you use what is available.
I haven't tried PP in a 45 but use it for 9 and 40, it does produce a bigger bang but I've gotten pretty good accuracy. One thing I've noticed with it is when I work up loads I usually divide the range into 10 groups/weights and it seems like I get very little or no change in velocity with small changes in load.
For years now Power Pistol is all I have used for plated or jacketed 9MM, 40S&W, 38/357 & 45ACP bullets. Like several have already said, it meters well and I have found it more accurate than other powders I have tried.
For any lead bullets I use only Bullseye. Again, it meters well and is accurate.
I have tried many other powders over the years but always come back to these two. PP & BE do everything I need them to do so I am not really motivated to experiment.
Before covid I could get 4# containers of PP or BE for $72. Last time I bought BE it was $90/4#. Haven't shopped for powder for a while now and suspect it will not be pleasant.
I have heard that BE-86 is like PP without all the flash & bang, and I'd like to try it, but have not found it at any of the shops I frequent for reloading supplies.
I used to use it for 9mm mainly and found it to be accurate and well-metering in a Dillon. It did seem to be flashy and dirty, and I've mostly switched over to HP-38 and CFE Pistol for 9mm and .45.
I've loaded lots of 9mm with it, great results. Loaded 45acp, worked, haven't done much testing, just a couple of mid-range loads to see how it worked. Shooting outside I don't really notice much difference, indoors, the flash and bang is somewhat noticeable. It has scared a 'novice' shooter or two.
Years back, I tried Power Pistol in .40 S&W and 9 MM. accuracy was good but was dirty and flash (indoor range) was just short of a old flash bulb camera. There would be soot on the table in front of the shooter. I would use it if it was all I could find.
PP is pretty much my go-to powder for 9 mm and 45 ACP cast bullet loads. Burns clean and meters well through my powder measurer on my Lee four hole turret. I keep several lbs. on hand at all times and buy it when I see it.
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