Sell me on Power Pistol

[TheotherMikeG]

I've got 2000 125gr JHP Zero bullets coming my way and I'm trying to figure out what powders would work best for 9mm practice and defensive loads. I was leaning toward using Unique and/or Herco, both of which are in my cabinet right now, but I keep reading posts extolling the virtues of Power Pistol. It appears that many of y'all think highly of it as an all-around powder, and specifically well suited to 9mm. Is it worth it to add another powder to my bench?

Btw, I also load 45acp, .38, and .357

[Jim Watson]

Power Pistol will give you a lot of muzzle blast and flash. If you like fireworks, that is the powder for you. I tried a can and people were asking me "What have you got in that thing?"

[PowderBurn14]

I just started using power pistol for my glock 17, I love it. I tried so many powders in 9mm and it won the test. I was looking for a slower burning powder that gives top velocities, meters well and keeps pressures in check. HS-6 meters well, was fast and had lower pressure but my extreme spread numbers were higher than PP. Blue Dot was very accurate and had top velocities but the big flakes don't meter well in my powder measure. Bullseye velocities were a bit low for the pressure it generates. HS-7 was fast but less acurate. Also ES was pretty big. I hand measured my charges and tested them from the bench over my chronograph. I settled on 6.4 grs of PP under a 124 gr plated flat point, rainier and berrys bullets. CCI 500 primer, c.o.l. at 1.120" Win. and R-P brass. This load gives me an average of 1225 fps. FYI, I did replace my Glock factory recoil spring with a 20 pound Wolff spring and thier steel guide rod. I hope this helps. :D

[Sport45]

5.5 grains of Unique should get those bullets down the barrel nicely for practice. For defense, I don't recommend reloads so I can't suggest a powder.

IMHO, JHP bullets made by Zero, Montana Gold, Berry's, etc., are made to look good and sell. I don't know if they've had a lot of research put in to terminal ballistics. The MG 9mm bullets match the profile of the Hornady XTP pretty well so they make a great practice bullet if Hornady is your defense choice.

[WESHOOT2]

Alliant Power Pistol is a darling of 9mm Bullseye competition shooters (under the 121g Hornady).

It is used in its non-public form (Bullseye 84) in numerous factory's 9x19 commercial ammo.

It offers easy and consistent metering, clean burn characteristics, and both great velocities and accuracy.
It is an excellent choice for loading lead, plated, and jacketed bullets weighing from 115g up to 151g.

---It is NOT an ideal choice for those wishing to make USPSA Major power factor.---

I recommend Alliant Power Pistol be on all handgun cartridge reloader's benches, because it, much like Unique, works so well in SO many handgun cartridges.
(I have used it myself in 9x19, 9x21, 38 Special, 38 Super, 357 Magnum, 40 S&W, 400 CorBon, 10mm, 41 AE, 41 Magnum, 44 Special, 44 Magnum, 45 ACP, and 45 Colt.
I am working with folks testing it in various 32 calibers, and the 380.)

If you are not convinced to test Power Pistol, then may I most highly recommend Ramshot Silhouette, or Vihtavuori Oy 3N37?

[45Marlin carbine]

I use Red Dot or BullsEye for cast slugs and PPistol for jacketed in all pistol rounds I load.
PP is clean burning and gives tight groups.

[Sevens]

Lately, I've been running Power Pistol in .380 loads with a Berry's 100gr plated bullet, and in 10mm loads pushing a 150gr Nosler JHP. In both, it seems a touch less violent than other loads I also use.

[WESHOOT2]

Might also try W231 in that 380, and N350 in the 10mm.

[TheotherMikeG]

I appreciate the feedback guys, thanks. Would Herco not do the job similarly? Unique?

[Sevens]

Might also try W231 in that 380, and N350 in the 10mm.
Appreciate the note. At this point, I've used Power Pistol and Bullseye in the .380. Both work, the Power Pistol seems a little smoother and less violent.

In 10mm, I've used Power Pistol, Blue Dot and AA#7. Power Pistol seems to be the smoothest of these three with 150gr Nosler JHP, and at a lower charge weight than the others. I've used other powders with cast lead in 10, but with jacketed, I've stuck to these three to this point.

Vihtavuori powder-- likely not something I'll ever use, simply because it's more expensive (that I've seen) and I just don't find it where I typically shop. It may be better in a number of different ways, but the last thing I need is to get addicted to something that costs more and it harder to get! I'm typically not looking for velocity or "power" out my handloads. I like accuracy, safety and easy repeatability. When those conditions are met, then I look at frugality.

Still, always enjoy suggestions on different powders that have performed well in a particular caliber for someone else. If anything, I would love more tips on more calibers and bullet weights to use Power Pistol. I plan to go with 4 or 8 pounders at next purchase. I'm through a pound of it now, I've only been using it for 6 months.

[Jim Watson]

Would Herco not do the job similarly? Unique?

Pretty much, yes. Especially since you have them on hand. There is hardly anything you can't make shoot with Unique and there is data for Herco if you don't mind putting up with its coarse granulation.

[TheotherMikeG]

The courseness of Herco actually works in my favor, as my Lee Pro Auto disk powder measure sprays the fine powders like #5 and 231 all over my bench.

[WESHOOT2]

If the definition means "safely launching a projectile" then most all handgun propellants will do, but often, we as handloaders find it worthwhile to optimize the ammo we make for our unique specific gun.
THAT said, Unique has been used in trillions of 9mm rds, even for sub-guns.

I currently have 24 different handgun powders (I think; I ain't getting up to count), and all of them will 'work', but some (or even one) might be better......

(N350 is just SO sweet in the 10mm, seeminly regardless of bullet weight.
I use 135/140/155/175/180/200/220g of varied construction and manufacture, and I admit becoming addicted to a couple expensive Vihta choices; 3N37 and N350.)

[TheotherMikeG]

I hear you on the issue of "similar" vs "optimal". Sometimes I feel like I cast about for the perfect powder/bullet/product when what I already use is likely sufficient. Since I plan on developing a carry load, I'm willing to branch out. The vv 3N37 is on my list also.

[WESHOOT2]

If you wish, when you acquire some 3N37, e-mail direct for discussion about its use in the 9x19.

WESHOOT2@aol.com

[TheotherMikeG]

Most kind Weshoot, I'll take you up on that.

[totalloser]

I think the best thing about Power Pistol is the pressure and velocity numbers. Compare them, and it's clearly at or near the top of the list for most high performance autoloader rounds (in the realms of 30,000 psi). In smaller cartridges like .380 and lower pressure cartridges like .45acp, it's performance advantage dissipates to on par with many other powders.

BTW, you gotta crank down on them knurled nuts on the powder measure. This is a common issue with the perfect powder measure. Once snug it should meter with virtually no mess. When loose, the grains roll over the wiper.

I'd say no5 is very similar in metering/velocity/pressure, but probably still takes a back seat to PP. I am still using no5, but plan on switching to PP next time powder and primers are available at the same time!:rolleyes:

[ForneyRider]

For me: W231, Power Pistol and H110 cover the gamut for pistol ammo.

380 ACP, 9mm, 357 Sig, 40S&W, 45 ACP +P work great with PP. Also, PP works with magnum pistol (41 mag) factory velocities.

Saw some videos comparing these 3 powders for muzzle flash. The Power Pistol was no where near H110. H110/W296 = big fireball. I shot some just after dusk and the PP was closer to W231 than the H110. I think the H110 was more than 2 feet of fireball in my 41 Mag Blackhawk.

Alliant #5 would be my next pick to PP.