Trying a new powder

K

kmw1954

New member
Recently obtained a new 380 pistol and like the others I will be reloading for it. So I am almost out of powder now and I thought I would try a different powder than what I'm using and since I load plated bullets I decided to try a powder offered by Western because of their published load data for plated bullets.

After looking at data for both the 380 and 9mm I decided I would give Ramshot Silhouette a try as it seems to be always available at out local Cabela's.

It appears to be slower than HP-38, which is what I've been using, yet faster than AA#5 which is what I was going to try. The powder is a finer grain then the HP-38 and appears to be a more consistent size.

I ran some thru my Lee Auto Disk powder measure and it proved to be very consistent drops and found no leaking on the press or the bench when I was finished.

The load I was working up for the 100gr 380 called for 3.7gr of powder and magically the #.30 cavity in the Lee disk dropped exactly 3.7gr! I then tried the #.32 cavity and it dropped 3.95gr and I've yet to try the #.34 but the max load for this combination is 4.4gr of powder which I believe the #.34 will be below that!

After I do some testing with this 380 I will be loading up some tests for the 9mm and compare it to my HP-38 loads.
 
I haven't used Silhouette and I don't load .380 but I do use several Western Powders and they are excellent.

They do have excellent data for the plated bullets. I use Rainier Bullets and they have data specific to them which I appreciate. If you have any questions you can contact Western and they get back to you quick and friendly.

Start low, work up, have fun.
 
I've used 3 grains of Titegroup under a 100 grain plated bullet. This duplicated factory ammo with regards to chrono tests. Factory ammo averaged 892 fps and my reloads averaged 891 fps
 
Silhouette is a superb semi-auto powder. I have used it in both 9mm and 45acp. It meters like water, and has very consistent drop weights even at low volumes. You can't go wrong with it.
 
I haven't used Titegroup and so far I don't plan to. From what I see and read it's too fast for my interest and is too spikey when it comes to pressure. Same reason I don't load really slow powders that do not perform well until they get to the upper load ranges. I personally have never loaded a max load. Just don't feel the need.

Not trying to put a knock on whatever anyone else is using, this is just the powder that I'd decided to try this time. Who knows I may not even like it or I may just fall in love with it. All I can honestly say at this point is I love the way it measures thru my Auto Disk.
 
Nice of you to share your powder experiments.
Have a little 1903 colt that I think this Ramshot Silhouette may be worth a try in. In the past W-231 was my oh so limited preference and have always wished its (kernels) were a bit smaller. It appears I may have gotten my wish with the OP's (description of) R/S powder.
 
Thought that's why we all came here, to learn and share!

Was hoping to get to the range today to test fire these but that doesn't look like it's going to happen now.
 
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