Best Pistol Powder for Low light

[swandme]

I shot a low/ No light match yesterday and found Smoke from the Powder ( and I was told the Molly Coat Bullets I like ) were the reason for Excess smoke.

I was using Solo 1000 and I find it clean overall so I can try it with JHP's as well

PLease share your thoughts.

THX

SWandME

[Strick]

Any fast burning powder and lead will smoke.

Clays and 231/hp38 seem to work well.

[solaritx]

for 9mm....I shoot a 147 gr jacket bullet WITH Accurate #2. No smoke and the smallest flash I have ever found.

[swandme]

You can see my dilemma

[astephenson]

I use Solo1000 and moly bullets (BBI) and have shot several low-light matches. I've noticed the smoke, but there has never been enough to keep me from seeing what I need to see. How are you holding your flashlight? I use a neck index and the sights and target are perfectly illuminated, and the light points wherever I look.

[hankfan79]

VV N320 Works well for me.

[DWFAN]

Titegroup and cmj/jhps are the best i have personally tried.

[swandme]

I have the VV 320 I will give that a try .

Anyone tried a 135 140 in a low light ? I was afraid of too much muzzle flash .

[Steve Koski]

Plated or jacketed bullets + any powder that isn't Blue Dot.

Edited April 12, 2011 by Steve Koski

[ben b.]

I use Solo1000 and lead or moly or plated or jacketed. I have not found muzzle flash to be an issue at all in low/light or flashlight stages.

Solo and jacketed or plated will be about as smoke-free as commercial ammo.

[slowhand23]

VV N320 Works well for me.

I agree! Tough to beat for low flash. Clays is my 2nd choice and a cheaper alternative.

[Shadowrider]

Stages like that in the video are the precise reason I only shoot jacketed at indoor matches. WST is a one of the lowest smoking powders I've seen with lead, but it's still too much for a flashlight stage. Personally I think ANY powder with lead is going to smoke too much. You can get by for a couple of rounds in 9mm before your targets start hiding, but .40 or .45 forget it. Night sights or not you can't put them on a target you can't see.

[blind bat]

From my experiments, S1000 is one of the best powders for low light. I don't see much muzzle flash in that video. I do see a good deal of smoke from the moly bullets. Go to a JHP or CMJ type bullet and a nice bright (Surefire) flashlight and you'll be fine.

[MemphisMechanic]

Solo100 is a very clean powder. If you load jacketed ammo over it. JHPs or CMJs (no exposed lead at the base of the bullet) will be even cleaner.

In this case, the smoke comes from the moly coating burning off the bullet, not from the powder. If you want something cleaner, try WST or VV N320. Those are about your only options.

My indoor load was a 124gr Precision Delta over Solo1000.

Outdoor load is a 130gr Black Bullets moly over Solo1000.

So I have a little bit of experience with this one. Btw, the P.D. FMJs I use do have an exposed lead base. But still are more than clean enough to shoot low-light indoor stages.

Edited April 14, 2011 by MemphisMechanic

[swandme]

Looks like I will just GO to Jacketed for the indoor stuff and stick with the Solo 1000

Thanks everyone for the info

[swandme]

one last ??? on this

Stick with the 180's or try lighter for less recoil ( knowing I could end up with more muzzle flip ) is it worth the trade off ?

THX

[Forrest Halley]

one last ??? on this

Stick with the 180's or try lighter for less recoil ( knowing I could end up with more muzzle flip ) is it worth the trade off ?

THX

Stick with the 180's. You've solved the smoke problem now try to create the same load in recoil impulse with the jacketed vs. moly. This way you can practice with the cheaper stuff and shoot the expensive stuff for the match. No sense getting too complicated with this, you'd only be causing another problem to solve.

[swandme]

I'm Polish, it's my nature to second guess.

Your thought makes sense to keep the recoil the same.

Thanks

Dan

[xd1977]

HP 38...very little flash and nearly no smoke...CZ Zero down bullets 124 or 147 gr.

Edited April 21, 2011 by xd1977