Ramshot Silhouette for High Velocity 45 Auto

[98s1lightning]

I've been doing some reading and I see many articles and posts on forums mentioning the Silhouette powder being the best choice for high velocity 45 auto without the high pressure....
Is this still valid or are there better choices.

Right now I am using Unique.

I have a chrono but have not chronod unique yet.

I want to push 200gr jacketed as fast as possible inside saami specs for 45 auto standard pressure

I have a HK 45C the barrel length is 3" (this is the length of where the rifling starts from chamber to tip of barrel)

 

[ReloaderFred]

Ramshot Silhouette is the old Winchester Action Pistol (WAP) powder under the current label. Data from either name is interchangeable, which gives you more choices.

With that said, I think there are better powders for what you want to accomplish. Accurate #7 would be one choice, Blue Dot would be another, Longshot would also work, and if you want to get into +P loads, then HS-6 and HP-38/Win. 231 will work. All these powders are capable of pushing a jacketed 200 gr. bullet over 1,000 FPS and still remain within SAAMI specs.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[fxvr5]

I've been doing some reading and I see many articles and posts on forums mentioning the Silhouette powder being the best choice for high velocity 45 auto without the high pressure....
Is this still valid or are there better choices.

Silhouette looks like a good powder for that job. A#7 would also work. You can check Western Powders' load manual for that data.

I'd avoid 231/HP-38. I don't see any data to suggest it would produce velocity that matches Silhouette and A#7 at the same pressure.

I have a HK 45C the barrel length is 3" (this is the length of where the rifling starts from chamber to tip of barrel)

That's not how to measure barrels in semi-auto pistols. HK says the barrel length is 3.94 in. https://hk-usa.com/hk-models/hk45-compact/ Use that number, and no one would fault you if you called it a 4" barrel.

 

[98s1lightning]

I agree with you that manufacturers measure semis that way

From a reloading powder standpoint the way im looking at it is if you measured it the same way you measured a revolver barrel (whats there for barrel after the cartridge) one may use a different powder in a 3" revolver than a 4" revolver since its "short barrel"

Semi auto pistol barrel lengths are including the cartridge as part of the barrel length, and rifles and shotgun barrels do too kind of silly but the only easy way to measure really.

I measured mine with the barrel out of the pistol and sent the quil of a set of calipers down inside the bore then eyed it up

 

[ATLDave]

But revolvers have a B/C gap that leaks a little power.

It's more than "manufacturers" that measure semi-autos differently than revolvers. Everyone does that. So anything you're looking at in terms of data is going to include that disparity in measurement. Including things like reloading manuals or magazines that list chrono results and the length of barrels that were used.

 

[98s1lightning]

Ok

 

[fxvr5]

I agree with you that manufacturers measure semis that way

From a reloading powder standpoint the way im looking at it is if you measured it the same way you measured a revolver barrel (whats there for barrel after the cartridge) one may use a different powder in a 3" revolver than a 4" revolver since its "short barrel"

Semi auto pistol barrel lengths are including the cartridge as part of the barrel length, and rifles and shotgun barrels do too kind of silly but the only easy way to measure really.

I measured mine with the barrel out of the pistol and sent the quil of a set of calipers down inside the bore then eyed it up

But revolvers have a B/C gap that leaks a little power.

It's more than "manufacturers" that measure semi-autos differently than revolvers. Everyone does that. So anything you're looking at in terms of data is going to include that disparity in measurement. Including things like reloading manuals or magazines that list chrono results and the length of barrels that were used.

ALTDave is correct.

98s1lightning, please don't try to reinvent the wheel or think you are more clever than the entire world. we all know the difference between revolver and semi barrel length design and measurements. stick with convention or you're going to be left behind and will misinterpret and misunderstand everything you read from all the sources of information on the planet.

here's another reason to use the conventional method; i learned that S&W made a new model M&P with a 3.6" barrel. I went to a LGS to see if they might have one in stock, and asked the guy behind the counter. He said he didn't know but would measure one he thought might be. he took a ruler and measured one on the rack that was clearly a model with a 4" barrel. I could see that from where I was standing - the 4" guns have a longer dust cover with 3 picatinny rail slots, the 3.6" guns have 2 picatinny rail slots. He said it measured about 3.6" if he subtracted the chamber and let me hold it. The guy was either clueless about to measure barrels on semi-autos or he was trying to pull the wool over my eyes thinking he could con me into buying it. Neither interpretation is flattering. I haven't been back to that store. I found a 3.6" gun elsewhere. Oh, I have a 4" model too.

 

[98s1lightning]

I certainly don't think I'm more clever than the entire world, and I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel. I'm looking for the most performance I can safely get from what I have.

 

[98s1lightning]

If I thought that I wouldn't be here looking for help from others who have experience with the products I'm interested in.

 

[fxvr5]

If I thought that I wouldn't be here looking for help from others who have experience with the products I'm interested in.

No problem. As noted Silhouette and a few other powders will get you the high speed you desire. If you want to push 230 grain bullets fast, check out this article: https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/fast-loads-for-the-45-acp/99214 Enforcer also pushes 200 grain bullets to around 1100 fps and remains within standard pressure.

 

[98s1lightning]

fxvr5

I did see that article, once I read that and surfed around the web I gathered not as much mention of the Enforcer vs the Silhouette.

Have you tried either in this application?

Thanks

 

[fxvr5]

Yes, I've used both powders for 230 grain bullets, and A#7 too. My results were like the results in that article.

I don't think I've run many powders for fast 200 grain bullets.

 

[kmw1954]

I load 200gr Berry's and Xtreme with Silhouette and have found it to be the most accurate and consistent when compared to AA#2, AA#5, and HP-38. That is shot thru a full size Witness and a XD Mod 2 4.0

 

[98s1lightning]

Does the Silhouette burn cleaner than Unique???

Someone else mentioned using lead free primers is key to cleaner burning cartridges. This is something I have no experience with. If the primer is that important for clean burn please recommend which ones I should try and get my hands on.

 

[Walkalong]

Lead free primers do give cleaner cases, but even with regular primers some powders burn cleaner than others. IMHO Silhouette is cleaner than Unique, not a deal breaker either way, Unique is good stuff.

 

[98s1lightning]

I chronographed some silhouette loads today. I started low on powder charges and worked my way up 0.2 grains at a time. I can see this powder does not seem "sensitive" but may be once I get closer to 1000fps. My loads only ran 850fps today. I will jump another 0.2 then go from that up in 0.1 increments.

 

[98s1lightning]

Over a range of 1.0 grains I only gained 150fps.

 

[fxvr5]

How about sharing your data: bullet and weight and powder charge weight. It's hard to appreciate what you've done if you just post velocity without the other information.

 

[98s1lightning]

For 200gr 45 auto......Since ramshots load data had an average of 7.0 to 8.2 on charge of silhouette for standard pressure, depending on bullet brand...

My brand montana gold 200gr jfp was not listed, so I loaded 7.2, 7.4, 7.6, 7.8, 8.2. One brand bullet had a max charge of like 7.5, and my COAL was slightly shorter than everything listed. This is why I chose the charge weights I did figuring it would be a safe bet.

In the +p data published, some bullet brands go up to 9.5 grain charge weight!!!!!

I'm going to increase my charge to 8.4, then load 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, etc. Until I reach about 950-1000fps since my barrel is 1" shorter. As long as things seem safe still, I will be careful to decide on charge weight or trying to get to 1100fps which may not be possible with 4" bbl and this powder or cartridge for that matter.

I will also reduce charge weight again if I change primer brand.

****Please do not use my data for you own****Only use published data that you know is safe****