Power Pistol 357 mag

roc1 · April 10, 2009, 09:42 AM

Has anyone used Power Pistol in 357 loads with 158gr swc? i have plenty of this powder and am curious about it in 357. I use it in 40 S&W all the time. I normally use either 2400 or Unique in 357 but I did load some Power Pistol in 357 am going to try this weekend.Just curious if there is a pet load anyone uses or how it performs.
Thanks
roc1

madmo44mag · April 10, 2009, 10:06 AM

It works well and I have loaded it many times, although IMR 4227 gives better results and accuracy in the 357 mag as long as you have at least a 6in barrel.
I even load my 44mag with it now after testing it against 2400 and IMR 2447.
You have to watch though because PP has a very small load range.
In a Ruger SBH I was loading 6.0gn PP and it shoots good but never got close to the IMR 4227 in accuracy.

45Marlin carbine · April 10, 2009, 10:32 AM

is the SWC a cast slug? if so there are powders better suited for them. Red Dot being A+.
I like PP in .380acp, 9 Mak, 9mm Para and .45acp for jacketed slugs.

**Unclenick** · April 10, 2009, 10:37 AM

I haven't tried it, but a quick pass through QuickLOAD says it won't be bad. It's a little quick, is all, so it won't be a maximum performer. Alliant's data says its a 1000+ fps powder verses using 2400 to get 1200+ fps. I assume that's with a 6" barrel, but they don't say. So it is not a peak performer, but I would guess that with shorter barrels you may find it is more consistent and possibly more accurate since the slower powders like 296/H110 need more time to get burning well. Power Pistol only needs about 55% of the charge weight of 296/H110 to get to the same peak pressure with that bullet weight.

Alliant's load recommendation is attached.

AlaskaMike · April 10, 2009, 12:40 PM

Power Pistol is my hands-down, absolute favorite for midrange loads in .357 mag. I use 8.0 grains with standard CCI primers with RCBS 38-150-SWC, or Lyman #358477, or Lasercast's 158 grain SWC. They all run about 1100 - 1125 from my 4" S&W model 28. No, PP won't give you the velocity that the slower powders will, but for a general purpose load 8 grains with a 158 grain SWC is very hard to beat.

Mike

scsov509 · April 10, 2009, 12:52 PM

I've also used a fair amount of Power Pistol in my 4" 686 and had excellent results. I like 7-7.5 grains Power Pistol under a 158 plated FP for my indoor range load.

April 10, 2009, 09:42 AM	#1
roc1 Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2005 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 560	Power Pistol 357 mag Has anyone used Power Pistol in 357 loads with 158gr swc? i have plenty of this powder and am curious about it in 357. I use it in 40 S&W all the time. I normally use either 2400 or Unique in 357 but I did load some Power Pistol in 357 am going to try this weekend.Just curious if there is a pet load anyone uses or how it performs. Thanks roc1

April 10, 2009, 10:06 AM	#2
madmo44mag Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: Ft.Worth, Texas Posts: 1,522	It works well and I have loaded it many times, although IMR 4227 gives better results and accuracy in the 357 mag as long as you have at least a 6in barrel. I even load my 44mag with it now after testing it against 2400 and IMR 2447. You have to watch though because PP has a very small load range. In a Ruger SBH I was loading 6.0gn PP and it shoots good but never got close to the IMR 4227 in accuracy.

April 10, 2009, 10:32 AM	#3
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	is the SWC a cast slug? if so there are powders better suited for them. Red Dot being A+. I like PP in .380acp, 9 Mak, 9mm Para and .45acp for jacketed slugs.

April 10, 2009, 12:40 PM	#5
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 947	Power Pistol is my hands-down, absolute favorite for midrange loads in .357 mag. I use 8.0 grains with standard CCI primers with RCBS 38-150-SWC, or Lyman #358477, or Lasercast's 158 grain SWC. They all run about 1100 - 1125 from my 4" S&W model 28. No, PP won't give you the velocity that the slower powders will, but for a general purpose load 8 grains with a 158 grain SWC is very hard to beat. Mike

April 10, 2009, 12:52 PM	#6
scsov509 Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 819	I've also used a fair amount of Power Pistol in my 4" 686 and had excellent results. I like 7-7.5 grains Power Pistol under a 158 plated FP for my indoor range load.