Best handgun powder for light loads

Bushmaster

And the powder wars start all over again.

A lot of powders burn poorly at lighter loadings because not enough pressure is built up in the case upon firing. Hence dirty burning problems or unburned powder flakes left in the chamber, barrel and clock works. Most of these powders are flake powders.

Now we return you to the original programing.........

Try light loads of W-231 in both the 9mm and .45. It is a ball powder and preforms much better and burns much cleaner then flake powders.

stovepipe · Last edited by stovepipe on Wed May 04, 2011 7:14 am; edited 1 time in total

Watch it reducing 800X (or any) loads more than 10-15% from start. I do not recomend more than same, or, reducing any START pistol load with a slower powder than this.

I have a "reduced" load for my 45ACP. Uses W-231. It's reduced in comparison to factory recoil and blast etc...but, it's still a recoil opperated auto loader so it needs some pop and pill weight to make it function. I got it right now and I dont have to fiddle with the spring etc...it'll digest factory JHP and my CPRN loads equally well with a good magazine with the same, stock recoil spring and can fast tripple and quad the last rounds in the mag and the slide 'll stay locked open on the last one. And that's a good thing! Razz

Revolvers you can load as light as you like, till ya get a squib Mad

, so again, watch it, but use a fast(er'ish) powder and a light pill for minmal recoil, like, a .38spl WC with a smidge of Red Dot or 700x- at 25y indoors these loads are more accurrate than I can hold off a rest. Some use fillers if you have less than 50-60% case filling. I maintain at least 60-70% case filling to the heel of the bullet on roller loads when bullet's seated on all loads or I use another powder with a higher VMD in that speed range. Big air gaps can cause lots of issues.

Had killer success with 700x on all kinds of stuff. Only harp is it may meter funny in small amounts on some measures.

As ya know it might be dangerous in some cases to reduce loads too much- esp slower powders. When researching same I start at the START charge w/ the bullet i wanna use then go from there and check for function.

stovepipe

Bushmaster wrote:

And the powder wars start all over again.

A lot of powders burn poorly at lighter loadings because not enough pressure is built up in the case upon firing. Hence dirty burning problems or unburned powder flakes left in the chamber, barrel and clock works. Most of these powders are flake powders.

Now we return you to the original programing.........

Try light loads of W-231 in both the 9mm and .45. It is a ball powder and preforms much better and burns much cleaner then flake powders.

Good points. Slow powder charges beign reduced, low pressures, light pills, short tubes, all the above. Etc.

slimjim

More good tips. Just what I need. Thanks!

.... and the two of you seem in agreement ... rare.

stovepipe

Goota be nice he's rentin' me a room in his barn soon...all I gotta do is feed the horses, muck out the stalls, lay in new bedding, chase ticks and worms, pick hoove's, curry comb and wash, soap the tack and it's only gonna cost me 1500$/mo to stay there.

Such a deal!

Bushmaster

Don't forget. Patch the roof.

stovepipe

Roger that. Cold patch and ladder, check, rope on bumper of pick-up, check.

Good ta go.

slimjim

Stovey, I got a better deal for ya. You can do all that here in TX and I'll provide A/C and the rent is $500 less per month!

stovepipe

What???

Man that's tempting, but, gotta clear with it with him first. Wohoo! A/C means no flies in my moustache wax!

Bushmaster

Hey slimjim. I saw the fis....him first...

stovepipe

Aw...they're fightin' over me...how cute! Laughing

Bushmaster

Air conditioner?

I'll throw in a fan.......

stovepipe

Some skeeter nettin' 'd be nice.

Bushmaster

Don't have a "skeeter" problem here. Barn on top of the ridge with a constant breeze. Forgot about the breeze...Taking back the fan. You won't need it.

stovepipe

That'll make the tree huggers here happy. Barn livin' off the grid!

Hope the goat's don't eat my paper smock and Birkenstock sandles.