IMR PB

FreedomUIC · April 28, 2014, 09:58 AM

Has anybody used this powder for a .40?

I really love Clays for 9mm and .40 but I am running low on Clays (about 1 and 1/2 lbs left) but I have four bottles of PB.

Any experiences in either 9mm or .40?

myfriendis410 · April 28, 2014, 10:13 AM

I haven't used PB for pistol but used to load it in shotgun. Burn rate is going to be in the Unique or Universal Clays range and it ought to work pretty well in the .40. Ridiculously clean powder in the shotgun. It also works in 12, 20 and 28 gauge well. But expensive.

MR_X · April 28, 2014, 10:26 AM

I use it for 45 ACP and 38 Super and I like it. Meters well and it's pretty clean. If I had to gripe about anything on it, it would be on its dull color makes it hard to check charges if you don't have good lighting. Even at max load with the 45 recoil is nice and not flashy.

**44 AMP** · April 28, 2014, 10:43 AM

From the historical trivia section:

You are highly unlikely to see any today, but back in the early days of smokeless powder there was a DuPont powder called PB. IT was very similar in appearance to oatmeal, being about the same color, with slightly smaller flakes.

It was commonly called "bulk" powder, being loaded "bulk for bulk" in shotshells as a replacement for black powder. It is possible that the PB stood for "Powder, Bulk", but I have no proof of that.

The stuff was actually what I would call "semi-smokeless" powder, giving less smoke (and fouling) than black powder, but more smoke than later true "smokeless" powders. My Grandfather used it, up until shortly before WWII. I am fairly sure it hasn't been made in any quantity since then.

I mention this, only for general information, and so that you know that, should you find an old can of PB in an estate sale or somewhere, it is NOT the same stuff being sold as PB today. Not even close.

Real Gun · April 29, 2014, 09:07 AM

Don't know if it is relevant or not, but news comes to mind that PB is being discontinued, along with SR4756 and SR7625. I think there is one other that may not be considered for handgun application. You might hang onto that PB and trade it to someone attached to its use.

math teacher · April 30, 2014, 04:03 PM

I have used PB for loading 9mm.

BOOMST1CK · April 30, 2014, 10:11 PM

I just started using PB in 40S&W, and so far I really like it.

FreedomUIC · May 1, 2014, 09:22 AM

Do you have a recipe for 180 grain CJHP?

BOOMST1CK · May 1, 2014, 09:44 AM

Right now I'm using 4.7 gr of PB under a 180 gr berrysbullet flat point. This load cycles my smith just fine. It runs in my bil's glock just fine too.

Jim Watson · May 1, 2014, 10:00 AM

Interesting, Amp. I had not previously seen DuPont Bulk Shotgun powder referred to as "PB" = "Powder, Bulk."

Anything for the past 50 or 60 years referring to PB will mean PB-6 (the 6 does not appear on the label) where the "PB" stands for "Porous Base". Probably why it is being discontinued, it has its own manufacturing process and sales are not large.

FreedomUIC · May 1, 2014, 10:33 AM

Powder Valley had a ton of it at one time and they did have a receipe for 90 Gr CJHP XTP bullets for my 9mm. It was on sale, buy 1 get 1 at 1/2 price.
I got four pounds worth and ran through the 90 gr bullets in nothing flat.

Nice to know that I have enough to shoot for 9mm and .40 S&W for quite some time. Have about 5lbs of Vihta Vuori of N135 and N150 for my .308 Winchester loads.

Elkins45 · May 4, 2014, 07:44 AM

I saw some new old stock tucked way back in the recesses of the shelf in a gun/pawn/flea market shop. It was in the old brown metal cans. I was excited to see the price listed as $14.99 until the lady pointed out that the can was marked eight ounces and not one pound. It must be some really bulky stuff as compared to the normal DuPont powders.

If the price had really been $15/pound I would have bought it all and found a use for it in some sort of handgun application.

Urban_Redneck · May 4, 2014, 09:34 AM

I recently tried a bottle (14oz.) of PB in 45acp and really liked it. I'll test some 9mm loads next week, if it performs as well as it did 45, I'll grab one of 8 lbers he had on the shelf.

April 28, 2014, 09:58 AM	#1
FreedomUIC Member Join Date: April 25, 2014 Posts: 61	IMR PB Has anybody used this powder for a .40? I really love Clays for 9mm and .40 but I am running low on Clays (about 1 and 1/2 lbs left) but I have four bottles of PB. Any experiences in either 9mm or .40?

April 28, 2014, 10:43 AM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,839	From the historical trivia section: You are highly unlikely to see any today, but back in the early days of smokeless powder there was a DuPont powder called PB. IT was very similar in appearance to oatmeal, being about the same color, with slightly smaller flakes. It was commonly called "bulk" powder, being loaded "bulk for bulk" in shotshells as a replacement for black powder. It is possible that the PB stood for "Powder, Bulk", but I have no proof of that. The stuff was actually what I would call "semi-smokeless" powder, giving less smoke (and fouling) than black powder, but more smoke than later true "smokeless" powders. My Grandfather used it, up until shortly before WWII. I am fairly sure it hasn't been made in any quantity since then. I mention this, only for general information, and so that you know that, should you find an old can of PB in an estate sale or somewhere, it is NOT the same stuff being sold as PB today. Not even close. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 28, 2014, 10:13 AM	#2
myfriendis410 Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2011 Location: Lompoc California Posts: 274	I haven't used PB for pistol but used to load it in shotgun. Burn rate is going to be in the Unique or Universal Clays range and it ought to work pretty well in the .40. Ridiculously clean powder in the shotgun. It also works in 12, 20 and 28 gauge well. But expensive.

April 28, 2014, 10:26 AM	#3
MR_X Member Join Date: April 23, 2014 Posts: 22	I use it for 45 ACP and 38 Super and I like it. Meters well and it's pretty clean. If I had to gripe about anything on it, it would be on its dull color makes it hard to check charges if you don't have good lighting. Even at max load with the 45 recoil is nice and not flashy.

April 29, 2014, 09:07 AM	#5
Real Gun Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,743	Don't know if it is relevant or not, but news comes to mind that PB is being discontinued, along with SR4756 and SR7625. I think there is one other that may not be considered for handgun application. You might hang onto that PB and trade it to someone attached to its use.

April 30, 2014, 04:03 PM	#6
math teacher Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2012 Location: Southwest WA Coast Posts: 559	I have used PB for loading 9mm.

April 30, 2014, 10:11 PM	#7
BOOMST1CK Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2014 Posts: 117	I just started using PB in 40S&W, and so far I really like it.

May 1, 2014, 09:22 AM	#8
FreedomUIC Member Join Date: April 25, 2014 Posts: 61	Do you have a recipe for 180 grain CJHP?

May 1, 2014, 09:44 AM	#9
BOOMST1CK Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2014 Posts: 117	Right now I'm using 4.7 gr of PB under a 180 gr berrysbullet flat point. This load cycles my smith just fine. It runs in my bil's glock just fine too.

May 1, 2014, 10:00 AM	#10
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Interesting, Amp. I had not previously seen DuPont Bulk Shotgun powder referred to as "PB" = "Powder, Bulk." Anything for the past 50 or 60 years referring to PB will mean PB-6 (the 6 does not appear on the label) where the "PB" stands for "Porous Base". Probably why it is being discontinued, it has its own manufacturing process and sales are not large.

May 1, 2014, 10:33 AM	#11
FreedomUIC Member Join Date: April 25, 2014 Posts: 61	Powder Valley had a ton of it at one time and they did have a receipe for 90 Gr CJHP XTP bullets for my 9mm. It was on sale, buy 1 get 1 at 1/2 price. I got four pounds worth and ran through the 90 gr bullets in nothing flat. Nice to know that I have enough to shoot for 9mm and .40 S&W for quite some time. Have about 5lbs of Vihta Vuori of N135 and N150 for my .308 Winchester loads.

May 4, 2014, 07:44 AM	#12
Elkins45 Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2010 Posts: 498	I saw some new old stock tucked way back in the recesses of the shelf in a gun/pawn/flea market shop. It was in the old brown metal cans. I was excited to see the price listed as $14.99 until the lady pointed out that the can was marked eight ounces and not one pound. It must be some really bulky stuff as compared to the normal DuPont powders. If the price had really been $15/pound I would have bought it all and found a use for it in some sort of handgun application.

May 4, 2014, 09:34 AM	#13
Urban_Redneck Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Posts: 73	I recently tried a bottle (14oz.) of PB in 45acp and really liked it. I'll test some 9mm loads next week, if it performs as well as it did 45, I'll grab one of 8 lbers he had on the shelf.