Favorite target pistol powders for caliber.

Is this some kind of trap? Every time I find a new favorite powder I like and tell somebody about it, the stuff disappears from the face of the earth! :p:confused::eek:
 
For the purposes of this post I'm going to define a "target load" as one you can shoot 100 rounds of without developing a flinch. That being said I can't wait for one of the younger guys to chime in with .357, 23gr of H110 is just what we're lookin for. Probably will want to shoot it out of a 2" barrel. :rolleyes:
 
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231 is my go-to powder for just about everything, including moderate lead bullet loads in .357 and .41 Magnum.

The exceptions are I use Trail Boss for .44 Special, and Universals for .45 Long.

For full magnum loads in .357 and .41 I use either WW 296 or AA 7.
 
Another powder for me to reconsider, always used AA7 for 10mm never tried it as a Magnum pistol powder. This post is providing all sorts of useful information.
Thanks fellow forum members.:)
 
VV N310 for .45 acp. Meters like a dream, super accurate, clean.

Universal for .357 mag. Again, perfect metering, super accurate, clean.
 
those are some extremely spicy ".38 Special" loads and I doubt they would pass for SAAMI-spec .38 Special these days with modern test equipment.
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Sevens, your words above describes my 38 special loads perfect.

I will not post the load info however I will say my use of IMR 4227 is with cast bullets 158 grains or heavier and I do not shoot these loads in light frame 38s like the J frame Smiths.

The load has always been extremely accurate from the K frame smiths I shot them in, that's why I listed it as my favorite when it came to target, plinking and hunting load.
 
I originally picked up a couple of containers of AA 7 to use in my 10mm, Brutus.

I then ended up selling it, but didn't include the powder.

I really like it in both 10mm and .41 Magnum, but my biggest complaint with it overall is that it is so damned fine that it leaks through my Lee Auto Disk Pro like water through a sieve.
 
Sevens, what is Xtreme Bullets was West Coast Bullets in the past. Their cast line was Western Nevada Bullets. Then they became Accura Bullets...then they became Xtreme. They went through a couple name changes due to changes in ownership but the operations remained in Carson City.
 
Good info!
On a related note... I believe the original plated bullet was the early 80's USAC system with the plastic cartridge cases... and those folks later became Ranier.
 
For anyone who says they can't find pistol powder, Midsouth has Longshot at $141 per 8 pound jug. Buy the haz mat limit, which is 48 pounds, and even after shipping and Haz Mat fee, it will come out way cheaper than any LGS (no tax if you live out of state).

Longshot is great for any non magnum pistol application. I use it in 9mm, 45 acp, 40SW, 38 spl, and 44 spl. Longshot is great and cheap.

For SMG applications, my MP5s have run on a 90% diet of Longshot, and they run beautifully, everytime.
 
Longshot is also quite good for magnum loads also, .357 and .44 Magnum is a fine spot for Longshot. Doesn't bring full velocity and fury of the slowest powders, but makes for very enjoyable loads with half the charge weight of 2400, AA#9 or H110.

Meters well also, Longshot is one of my favorite powders.
 
Never tried Longshot or titegroup but I've read good things about them. What kind of powder is it, flake or ball? How well do they meter? In regards to AA#7 does anyone use it in 9mm?
Wan't to experiment with the 9 a little more as I'm sort of new to reloading the punybellum.:p
 
#7 in 9mm works well enough with 115 gr. pills but it takes a lot. Works better w/ 124 gr....likes to be loaded hot. If you work up carefully, you can make some mighty hot rounds with it.

It was originally formulated for the heavy bullets....specifically the 158 gr. Uzi ammo. You read it right..158 gr. It works very well in 147 gr. ammo where you can have compressed loads.

I have 124 gr. loads that when fired out of my ported P89 the port pressure keeps muzzle rise to near zero.
 
Just fartting around, I stumbled into a very nice 44 mag load using Red Dot. It is one of those first time hits that you can't believe. I see no need to tinker with it...it is GTG as is pushing a 240 gr. plated out at 950 fps from my 7 1/2" SRH. Works pretty nicely in my Marlin too.
 
Both Longshot and Titegroup are teenytiny flake powders and both meter beautifully. (I will note however that Hodgdon has Titegroup packaged and marked as a spherical powder... I think they are flattened balls)

Titegroup is a powder that requires your attention. Usually very small charge weights that take up very little room in most cartridge cases. It is also a high nitro and high energy powder-- if my goal was to absolutely blow something up, it's the best choice in my cache.

And if you play with Titegroup in places where you already have other favorite loads with different powders you WILL notice right away that this stuff runs -HOT- and unless you are oblivious to it, you will likely notice a difference in the amount of heat it generates. My handguns get hotter, they feel hotter and they stay hot longer. In an otherwise perfect world, this is NOT a feature that you hope to get.

As to AA#7 in 9mm, I'm sure it would work but I would imagine it's comfort zone is with absolutely top-end loads in 9mm. I find AA#7 better suited to larger cartridges. 10mm, .327 Federal, I think I may have tried it in .30 Carbine some time back.
 
Sounds, from your description, that Titegroup is a lot like Power pistol as far as performance goes. I like Power Pistol but it seems to have considerable more muzzle flash and recoil tends to feel some what different in that it's more intense, not snappier but pushes back in your hand harder than other powders producing similar velocities. Anyone else find this to be the case or am I not describing it properly. I've only used it in .45ACP trying to emulate Federal Hydra shock self defense loads. Sorry for getting off subject.
 
I've got some people using AA #7 in 9mm under 147 and 124 grain bullets for soft recoiling loads that make SSP power factor for IDPA and they love the recoil sensation that is more straight back with a lot less muzzle flip than they were used to. I absolutely love #7 in my 40 under a 175 swc for the competitions I shoot.
 
I agree with the flash, bang and gas generated from Power Pistol, but I'm not sure I would compare it to Titegroup. Power Pistol is slower burning, uses heavier charge weights and I don't notice any abnormal heat coming from guns shooting Power Pistol loads.

One great thing about Titegroup is that unlike many powders... Titegroup doesn't seem to care when it is a small charge in a big case. Many (most?) other powders act erratically when there is a whole bunch of empty space but Titegroup doesn't care. I really like the 870 fps 240gr .44 Mag I make with it.
 
The best thing about Longshot? It's less than $19 per pound AFTER shipping and Haz Mat ($18.66 per pound to be exact, at $25 shipping and $25 Haz mat fee). The cheapest I have seen any powder at a LGS is $22 per pound, one pound at a time. Factor in the cost of fuel to drive back and forth to buy individual pounds of powder, and you're talking +$3 - +5 per pound of powder, and then add sales tax. That's worse than a Haz Mat fee, for those who hate the Haz Mat fee.

Why would you ever buy powder at a LGS?
 
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