IMR PB and Cast Bullets

[Sam1911]

I've done a little research and it seems like PB would work for my needs but I figured I'd ask first...

I was in my favorite LGS last week and almost the only pistol powder they had was IMR PB. I couldn't recall even having heard of it in any specific context, and don't know anyone who's used it, so I let it sit on the shelf.

It looks like it will be discontinued this year, but a few lbs. would help me get through the next competition season, surely, if it will work for my needs.

My big load requirements are for 9mm cast 147s, at 875 fps, .44 Spc. 200 gr. LRNs at up to 850 fps, and maybe .45 ACP, again at 200 gr. LSWC 850 fps.

Looks like PB would be fine in either of those, and pretty low pressure for the velocity, too, if I'm reading the charts right.

Anyone used a lot of PB with lead bullets? How's the consistency and how's the leading as you get up into high round counts?

Thanks!

 

[murf]

pb should work fine for your 44spl and 45acp needs (not so much for the heavier 147gn 9mm need). i am referencing the 2011 hodgdon annual manual.

personally, i have used pb in 38spl and light 357mag loads:

38spl, 3.0gn pb, cci500, 148hbwc, col - ??? (a hair above flush with case mouth iirc), chrony 5 shots 596fps avg and 95es.

357mag, 5,4gn pb, cci500, 140gn xtp, chrony 4shots 945fps avg and 29es.

murf

 

[Elkins45]

Only thing to worry about is room in the smaller cases. PB is fluffy: the old metal "one pound" IMR metal cans only held 8 ounces of PB.

 

[Sam1911]

Ok! Thanks guys! Sounds like it really wouldn't be the very best thing for the load I shoot the most of...

 

[Ron H]

While I have no experience with PB, I recently bought 8 Lb's of PB-38 for $55 simply because power is scarce in my neck of the woods and PB-38 looked to be a middle of the road type load for many bullet weights in everything from 38Spl to 44 Mag and everything in between.
Simply couldn't pass up the opportunity for the price given the scarcity of powder her.

Ron H

 

[Ron H]

I stand corrected !!!! When I said PB-38 I meant HP-38.. Sorry for the miss information.

Ron H

 

[Potatohead]

Thats pretty cheap.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[rskent]

I don't know anything about cast bullets, but with plated bullets PB works pretty darn good in 9mm.
I went into the LGS looking for some pistol powder. The only thing they had was PB so I thought I would give it a try.
I am out now, but PB is on my buy it if you can find it list.

 

[Elkins45]

Ok! Thanks guys! Sounds like it really wouldn't be the very best thing for the load I shoot the most of...

These days finding the "very best thing" in terms of pistol powder availability is often something you dream about rather than actually achieve.

 

[Blue68f100]

I stand corrected !!!! When I said PB-38 I meant HP-38.. Sorry for the miss information.

Ron H

HP-38 is the same as Win231. It's a very good powder for pistol loads except Mag. For general plinking you will like it. Being a ball powder it meters extremely well. Not sure how it preforms on the heavier bullets since I have only used it for the lighter loads.

 

[Jim Watson]

8 lbs of HP38 for $55? That is enough to start a new Oklahoma land rush.
$155 would be cheap, $255 not unheard of these days.

 

[Tony k]

Not the most applicable to the OPs question, but here's my experience with PB in 9mm:
Powder: IMR PB
Bullet: Xtreme Plated 115 grain
OAL: 1.1
Primer: CCI SP


3.6 grains = too light to reliably cycle pistol
3.7 grains = 1 fail to eject in testing (10 rounds)
3.8 grains = OK
3.9 grains = OK
4.0 grains = OK

I'm not blown away with how great it is, but I'm also not running away screaming about how bad it it either. I've been loading up 3.9 grains as a practice/ plinking load.


I've also tried PB working up loads for a S&W model of 1905 .38 special (circa 1915 to 1920). The goal was a mild load that would not bee too hard on this old revolver. Using 158 grain Xtreme Plated bullets, I tested between 3.3 to 3.7 grains of PB. They were all very mild loads with low recoil. At 15 yards, 3.5 grains would not knock over a steel MGM plate. Accuracy was decent, but a touch too weak.

Overall, I've found it to be one of the softest shooting powders I've tested. It seems accurate enough for my needs, but it's velocity seems lower than most other pistol/ shotgun rowders I've tried.

I can't speak to leading issues because I've only used it with plated bullets.

It is "fluffy" but not as fluffy as I expected.