Evidence?In handguns, loads using faster powders are known to generally be more accurate than loads using slower powders. Not sure if that is the fault of the powder itself or some other factor.
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Just look up what all the bullseye shooters use. You know, the guys that need a 1911 to shoot a 1 inch group at 50 yards. They know a thing or two about handgun accuracy. And they are using 231, bullseye, WST, Clays, N310, and other fast powders. None of them use A9, or 2400, or HS-6, or 3N37 or other slow powders. There may be a number of reasons why this is, but the fact is that fast powders are preferred for accuracy loads in handguns.
The 45 ACP bullseye shooters use fast burning powders and light bullets at moderate speeds to keep recoil low.
From: https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/loads-for-the-bullseye-shooter/99418
"In keeping with the goal of low recoil, relatively fast-burning powders best achieve this goal. Fast-burning powders require less weight to reach a given velocity than slow-burning powders. Powder weight matters because a powder that requires less weight to push a given bullet to a given velocity produces less recoil than a powder that requires more weight. This is because the weight of the powder is part of the mass that is ejected out of the barrel along with the bullet. Through the principle of conservation of mass, the powder's weight is part of the formula to calculate recoil force, and less powder weight contributes less to the mass exiting the barrel."
9mm/38 Super bullseye shooters use medium speed powders, and in the 9mm lots of them like/use Power Pistol because of its accuracy. It usually has to be run pretty fast for the best accuracy, and some don't like the recoil but it's a small price to pay for top accuracy.
Recoil control is important for speed games like USPSA and IPSC. Bullseye has slow fire. Ten minutes to fire 10 shots. Even the rapid fire stages are only 5 shots in 10 seconds at closer targets. So recoil control is only a small part of the equation. Accuracy is far and away the most important, and those shooters are typically choosing fast powders to maximize accuracy. Sure there will be outliers like the power pistol powder in 9mm. Some combos of slower powder will work. But it’s not disputed that fast pistol powders are the most common choice, and this is among shooters where accuracy is king.
I have seen with my 45 ACP how bullseye a very fast powder will shoot paper targets with relatively tight groups. I figure the powder burns 100% before bullet leaves barrel. So energy of powder is used in the lenth of barrel. Where as a slower powder might not burn powder as completely causing energy waste out of barrel = less accuracy.
Thanks to all for your input.
74A95–Sigh ... The horse is already dead. Maybe address the OPs question?
The biggest factor in accuracy is probably the bullet. Powders, primers, OAL are probably secondary factors.
Yes i agree.
You’re starting to convince me. I have to admit I’ve seen stellar accuracy from some very hot loads of H110 in handguns.