Anyone have any luck with cast bullets and Power Pistol?

[Adam P.]

I've got a couple pounds of Power Pistol and some 180gr TC Missouri Bullets. Bullets are cast and of course I've got plenty of jacketed data. I'm guessing that since I can't find much info for PP and cast bullets that perhaps it may not be a very popular combination. If anyone has any input, I would appreciate it. Not trying to make major, I only shoot IDPA at this time.

Thanks

[2147]

Lyman has lots of loads for Power Pistol in both .40 and 10mm with lead. Whether they work for you I can't say. I've used it with lead in 40/10mm/45acp. I try and find a middle of the road load.

[Adam P.]

Lyman has lots of loads for Power Pistol in both .40 and 10mm with lead. Whether they work for you I can't say. I've used it with lead in 40/10mm/45acp. I try and find a middle of the road load.

Right...I have the Lyman, but it only had 175gr cast data and the rest is all jacketed data. Guess I'll work up some loads backing off a little from the start loads of the jacketed data I have. Just trying to see if anyone used this combo before with good results.

[CiDirkona]

I've loaded 180gr (actaully weigh in around 183-185) TC at 5.5gr, 6.0gr and 6.5gr of PowerPistol for a friend's S&W to emulate factory defensive loads. I didn't chrono them, but they were very accurate and not too smokey -- and quite hot. There were no case deformations, but the recoil was impressive. These were at 1.125" OAL. He liked the recoil, I thought it was a bit much.

I will be loading hand cast 185s starting at 5.5gr and working DOWN in probably .2 or .3 gr increments so I can find a major and minor load.

[CiDirkona]

Update from the range:

PowerPistol, Glock 22 w/ LWD barrel, 13lb spring, 1.130", 180gr Lee 175 TC, Carnauba Red lube, mixed brass and CCI small pistol primers:

4.6gr = 145 pf

5.0gr = 158 pf

5.5gr = 168 pf

6.0gr = 183 pf

6.5gr = didn't try as I was already over major twice.

Standard deviation was 17.1 at the lowest charge and decreased to 12.3 at 6.0gr. Extreme spread also consistently reduced from 64 to 33 between min and max loads. All 10 shot strings.

[GrumpyOne]

I've shot pounds of PP with cast lead. Never any issues. My load is 5.6 of PP with a 180 TC bullet at 1.125.

[noylj]

Bullet Mfg. Nominal Bullet Weight Bullet Type Powder Powder Weight Primer COL Accuracy: 5 shots unless noted

Speer 150 JHP Power Pistol 8.0 1.40

Montana Gold 155 JFP Power Pistol 8.1 WSP 1.90

NBC 155 L-SWC w/LLA Power Pistol 5.4 500 1.211 1.69

NBC 155 L-SWC w/LLA Power Pistol 5.7 500 1.212 3.25

Penn 40/155 155 L-SWCBB PowerPistol 5.4 500 1.145 1.72

Speer 155 GDHP Power Pistol 9.0 1.39

Montana Gold 165 JHP Power Pistol 7.3 WSP 2.44

Penn 40/165 165 L-TCBB Power Pistol 4.0 500 1.149 1.88

Penn 40/165 165 L-TCBB Power Pistol 4.0 500 1.149 1.94

Penn 40/165 165 L-TCBB Power Pistol 4.5 500 1.149 0.75

Penn 40/165 165 L-TCBB Power Pistol 4.5 500 1.149 2.06

Penn 40/165 165 L-TCBB Power Pistol 5.0 500 1.154 1.38

Penn 40/165 165 L-TCBB Power Pistol 5.0 500 1.154 3.81

Penn 40/165 165 L-TCBB Power Pistol 5.5 500 1.154 1.31

Penn 40/165 165 L-TCBB Power Pistol 5.5 500 1.154 1.38

Rainier 165 plated-RNFP Power Pistol 7.2 WSP 1.78

Speer 165 GDHP PowerPistol 7.8 2.32

NBC 170 L-SWC Power Pistol 4.3 500 1.53

NBC 170 L-SWC Power Pistol 4.3 500 2.47

NBC 170 L-SWC Power Pistol 5.1 500 1.13

NBC 170 L-SWC Power Pistol 5.1 500 1.75

NBC 170 L-SWC Power Pistol 5.8 500 0.82

NBC 170 L-SWC Power Pistol 5.8 500 1.88

NBC 170 L-SWC Power Pistol 6.3 500 2.38

NBC 170 L-SWC Power Pistol 6.3 500 2.22

Penn 10/170 SWC 170 L-SWC w/LLA PowerPistol 4.5 1 1/2 1.215 1.50

Penn 10/170 SWC 170 L-SWC w/LLA PowerPistol 4.5 1 1/2 1.215 2.31

Penn 10/170 SWC 170 L-SWC w/LLA PowerPistol 5.0 1 1/2 1.214 2.40

Penn 10/170 SWC 170 L-SWC w/LLA PowerPistol 5.0 1 1/2 1.214 2.44

Penn 10/170 SWC 170 L-SWC w/LLA PowerPistol 5.5 1 1/2 1.214 2.03

Penn 10/170 SWC 170 L-SWC w/LLA PowerPistol 5.5 1 1/2 1.214 2.03

Penn 10/170 SWC 170 L-SWC w/LLA PowerPistol 6.0 1 1/2 1.213 1.69

[Adam P.]

I've shot pounds of PP with cast lead. Never any issues. My load is 5.6 of PP with a 180 TC bullet at 1.125.

What kind of crimp did you have on those if you can recall? My current crimp is .422. I'm not having any issues, just curious.

Thanks

[CiDirkona]

3.6gr PP at 1.095 gives a VERY light minor power factor load. Easily lighter than any minor pf 9mm load I've made yet.

[GrumpyOne]

I don't remember the crimp, sorry, but it should be somewhere around .420

[CiDirkona]

Agreed -- I've done just enough crimp to straighten the case walls. There's plenty of bullet bearing surface against the inside of the case to keep it from setting back.

[Adam P.]

Well I've settled on 5.5gr of PP at 1.13 OAL. Very accurate out of my M&P 40 FS. This load feels softer than my previous load with Bullseye powder. I started with 5.2gr of PP and worked up to 6gr. I didn't notice any leading out of the 100 rounds I fired this morning. They be smokey though, but I shoot outdoors 95% of the time so it's not an issue. I've got Bayou Bullets for when I shoot indoors. Thanks for all the info guys.

[atonguis]

Well I've settled on 5.5gr of PP at 1.13 OAL. Very accurate out of my M&P 40 FS. This load feels softer than my previous load with Bullseye powder. I started with 5.2gr of PP and worked up to 6gr. I didn't notice any leading out of the 100 rounds I fired this morning. They be smokey though, but I shoot outdoors 95% of the time so it's not an issue. I've got Bayou Bullets for when I shoot indoors. Thanks for all the info guys.

I throughly enjoy shooting Bayou Bullets, I just picked up another 2k of them on Monday. I was questioning Donnie about his bullets vs plain cast and he told me that I can use fmj data with no problems as long as I don't go to the max and over. So, I tried it using power pistol and he was right, no leading and the barrel was shiny clean with no smoke

[Glockman1000]

Update from the range:

PowerPistol, Glock 22 w/ LWD barrel, 13lb spring, 1.130", 180gr Lee 175 TC, Carnauba Red lube, mixed brass and CCI small pistol primers:

4.6gr = 145 pf

5.0gr = 158 pf

5.5gr = 168 pf

6.0gr = 183 pf

6.5gr = didn't try as I was already over major twice.

Standard deviation was 17.1 at the lowest charge and decreased to 12.3 at 6.0gr. Extreme spread also consistently reduced from 64 to 33 between min and max loads. All 10 shot strings.

I cast the same bullet and use the same lube. LWD Glock 35 Slide, Bar-Sto barrel, ISMI 13lb., same OAL, same primers too. I just load 4.5grns. of WW231 for practice and plinking since powder is really scarce over here. I hope to get some Solo 1000 that everyone here recommends. How do you like the cast bullet/lube combo? Works great for me.

[CiDirkona]

I cast the same bullet and use the same lube. LWD Glock 35 Slide, Bar-Sto barrel, ISMI 13lb., same OAL, same primers too. I just load 4.5grns. of WW231 for practice and plinking since powder is really scarce over here. I hope to get some Solo 1000 that everyone here recommends. How do you like the cast bullet/lube combo? Works great for me.

Works well for me too. The only thing I don't like about the lube is that it does sometimes get on the noses of the other boolits under the Star as I size them, and it's pretty sticky while it's warm. I figure I could use some flex tube or something to let them tumble all the way to a bucket on the floor and cool down a bit on the way down too -- haven't tried it yet though. It's not a problem once it gets cool though, I can snap off the extra lube or wipe it off with some mineral spirits. I tried BAC too, but that made for a very messy, soggy, waxy bucket of boolits at the range... WAY too soft for the hot Arizona desert. I have a 3.5gr load as well that makes just over 125pf as well and shoots VERY light -- but at that rate, it doesn't feel that much different than my 9mm 125gr loads but uses alot more lead out of the supply... so I've pretty well stuck with 9mm for a while.

Edited May 6, 2011 by CiDirkona