Power Pistol muzzle "flash", not seeing it

[Hammerdown77]

I've been using Power Pistol for a while now in my big bore revolvers, and one thing you always read about on forums or magazine reviews is how bad the "flash" is. Folks will say, "It's a great powder, but I just can't get past the flash signature."

Well, I ain't seeing it.

I was putting lots of lead down range last weekend from my .44 Special flat top, with 8.5 grains of Power Pistol behind a 250 gr. Keith. Tried looking for a flash, couldn't see one.

I even fired after sunset, not dark, but low enough light to where I could see flames coming out of other folks' guns at the range.

Still didn't see it.

Ok, so maybe I'm blinking when the shot breaks, and missing it (even though I didn't think I was). I had my brother shoot it, while I stood off to the side.

Nothing.

So has the formula changed? Or is this one of those things that people just parrot on the forums because they read about it in another post or magazine article, despite having never experienced it themselves?


Now H-110.....THAT'S a flash!

 

[mattsbox99]

Probably a parrot thing... as far as I know, all gunpowder has that flash/boom/smoke thing going on.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I like Power Pistol. So does Brian Pearce. If there is some sort of a big flash associated with it, I sure don't see it. It's not like Blue Dot or WW296.

 

[RidgwayCO]

I've used Power Pistol primarily in 9mm Luger factory duplication loads, where (to me at least) the flash is very noticeable, especially compared to VihtaVuori 3N37. My shooting buddy confirmed this to me when I was testing loads at our indoor range. I also got pretty good fireballs from it in healthy .357 Magnum loads. Not up there with H110 or W296, but attention grabbing. Interestingly, my notes don't mention flash in any of my .44 Special loads.

My pound of Power Pistol is pretty old, however, purchased in the late 1990s. Maybe Alliant is adding a flash suppressant now?

 

[WESHOOT2]

Power Pistol ("Bullseye 84" in canister-name) has always had flash suppressant present.

It is not as "flashy" in certain cartridges when compared to its flash signature particularly in the 9x19.

It works superbly in 380 on up. Certain ammunition manufacturers use it ("Bullseye 84") in commercial high-performance offerings.

Considerable development work using Power Pistol in revolver cartridges (and auto, too) up to 45 Colt showed me many of its traits.
Recommend.




3N37 has the least flash of any powder I've ever tested, alongside N350.....

 

[EDK]

I loaded several hundred 44 magnum casings with 8 grains of POWER PISTOL, using clones of LYMAN 429421 (group buy moulds from castboolits) and both original and plain base clones of RANCH DOGs TLC 432 265 round nose flat point, both at about 260 grains in my alloy. Lubed with 50/50 ALOX formula or tumbled lubed with LEE LIQUID ALOX.

I didn't notice any difference on muzzle flash compared to TITEGROUP or HP38 at equivalent velocities, BUT it seemed to be a bit noiser in my 5.5 or 7.5 inch 44 VAQUEROS.

 

[mactex]

I use Power Pistol for .380acp, 9mm, .45acp, and 10mm. Some of these, primarily the 9mm and .380acp, show more flash, actually more like sparks than flames, than others. I can't say that I see it coming from the end of the barrel so much as from the breach as the case is being ejected from the pistol. It is also the 9mm and .380acp that tend to have more unburnt powder deposited on my hands and arms. Observing the unburnt powder and sparking happening at the same time sort of helped me create the theory that .380 and 9mm don't do quite as well using Power Pistol for lightly loaded rounds.

Loading Power Pistol with middle of the road load levels helped some and switching to Universal Clays reduced the perceived flash quite a bit with 9mm and .380acp. Just my .02 cents worth of observation.

 

[Hammerdown77]

Just an update after further testing.

I've been shooting more 9mm lately since buying a Glock 19, and just recently loaded up a box of ammo using 115 gr. Rainier plated round nose bullets over 6.0 grains of Power Pistol. I fired these at the indoor range today.

Holy smoke, the flash! It was very apparent when mixing in rounds loaded with HP38. Actually kinda fun after a while.

I don't remember any flash with the .45 Auto loads I shot before, but I'll try those again at the indoor range.

I wonder why there's a difference between the big bore cartridges and the 9mm?

 

[Tam 212]

Yep. Only used Power Pistol in 9mm and .357SIG so far and there is flash in all the loads I've worked up - primarily factory duplication rounds for practice/training.

Keep in mind, my local range is a fairly dark indoor range so I may see and report more than someone who is in a brighter lit or outdoor range.

My canister is brand new. 2010 production, I believe.

I use 2400 for my .327 and there is a healthy flash with that also.

 

[DeletedMember275]

I loaded a bunch of .45 ACP with Power Pistol and found that it meters very well through my Dillon 550B, produces accurate, consistent ammo, and gives a perceptible flash. I've only fired it at an indoor range to date, so I don't know if the flash will be as noticeable outside.

I didn't find the flash objectionable, just perceptible. I found it to be of a very short duration, but definitely noticeable - more so than most of my old standby powders for .45 ACP like Unique or W231. I anticipate using more Power Pistol in the days and years to come.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I wonder why there's a difference between the big bore cartridges and the 9mm?

Please consider the inside of the case; its shape, and its volume. Think about the diameter where the flash hole sits in the middle.
Think about the charge present in the case, and where and how it lays.

The differences are for every cartridge case.

 

[8emem]

I don't notice any big flash when using Power Pistol. It's a whole different story when I use Blue Dot. That powder should be renamed to Blue Flash.

 

[BIgMuddy]

I have not noticed anymore flash, but I always shoot outdoors.

What I do find with Power Pistol is the lowest extreme spreads of any smokeless powder I have ever tried, great accuracy, and good velocity with relatively low pressures. My brass is so clean after shooting with PP that I don't really have to tumble them, even though I still do.

By far my favorite powder now for the 44 special.

Have used it in 41 mag, 44 mag and 40 S&W.

Would like to find some good data for 45 Colt and PP, but have not been able to find any just yet.

 

[WESHOOT2]

Would like to find some good data for 45 Colt and PP, but have not been able to find any just yet.

http://www.pennbullets.com/Testimonials/testimonials.html 8)

 

[BIgMuddy]

Would like to find some good data for 45 Colt and PP, but have not been able to find any just yet.

http://www.pennbullets.com/Testimonials/testimonials.html 8)

THANK YOU!!!!

Dan

 

[WESHOOT2]

You're welcome.


I may do a 'bit' on his 125g .356", too. Takes time.....to do right.