I know loads for revolver calibers are probably worked up from the average barrel lengths for that caliber. The short barreled guns(2") fit into a different catagory. I have two revolvers with short barrels, a .357 and a .45 Colt. Which powders for these calibers would work best in short barrels?

Don

I'm not sure what powders and bullet types/weights you're using now.

W-W 231 and Alliant Unique at about the fastest burning powders I'd use for normal loads. Alliant Bullseye is the fastest, but it's only used in reduced practice loads for the most part. Some use it for full power loads, but I don't.

The faster burning powders will pressure peak quicker and burn more completely in the shorter barrels. Whether they will be more accurate is another question.

Contrary to urban legend, the powder which gives the highest velocity in long barrels usually gives the highest velocity in a shorter barrel. Even though there may be a lot of partially burned powder with the slower burners, the result is usually a faster bullet. Accuracy may be a different matter, as another poster noted.

One disadvantage of slow powders ( like H110 and W296 ) in short barrels is excessive muzzle flash and blast. I've used a lot of Unique in my .45LC with 4.6" barrel and not found it objectionable. Velocities are not as high as with AA9 or H110, but the expereince is more pleasant. A compromise powder is BlueDot, with a burning rate between Unique and H110 it gives excellent performance in my .45LC T/C. AA-7 and HS-7 give similar performance, but the flash seems more with the latter two.

You will get a pretty good fireball from any .357 load in a short-barreled gun, regardless of the powder used. Yes some will be worse than others, but they'll all be pretty spectacular.

Since the .45 Colt operates at somewhat lower pressures, it will likely be a bit better behaved in a 2" gun.

321 ingniton has it right...cheap chronographs have put lots of general knowledge to the test; in this case, the powders that do well from 4" and 6" are aslo the ones that do well from 2".

Is one addition...need a tight bullet/case fit (bullet pull) to get the benifit of slow powders....no amount of crimp can make up for a poor fit. The slower powders need this intital resistance more than the fast powders.

Don't know of any snub-nosed 45colts that should be used with extra-warm loads, and in that one's case, would probably be better to stick with the medium-fast powders....can't get the slow ones to work right in lower prssure loads in long barreled guns, so doubt a short barrel is going to help.


Sure do get a big ball of flame and a loud noise...a lot of the energy of the slower powders is expended in the air, but the amount transfered to the bullet is still higher than the fast powders running at the same pressure.

As for the noise and flash...the way i look at it, I'm not going to be shooting anyone in secret...if i have to use a defence gun, having noise and flash to notify others that I'm in deep do-do is fine by me.

321 ingniton has it right...cheap chronographs have put lots of general knowledge to the test; in this case, the powders that do well from 4" and 6" are aslo the ones that do well from 2".

Is one addition...need a tight bullet/case fit (bullet pull) to get the benifit of slow powders....no amount of crimp can make up for a poor fit. The slower powders need this intital resistance more than the fast powders.

Don't know of any snub-nosed 45colts that should be used with extra-warm loads, and in that one's case, would probably be better to stick with the medium-fast powders....can't get the slow ones to work right in lower prssure loads in long barreled guns, so doubt a short barrel is going to help.


Sure do get a big ball of flame and a loud noise...a lot of the energy of the slower powders is expended in the air, but the amount transfered to the bullet is still higher than the fast powders running at the same pressure.

As for the noise and flash...the way i look at it, I'm not going to be shooting anyone in secret...if i have to use a defence gun, having noise and flash to notify others that I'm in deep do-do is fine by me.
:cool: Thanks for that insight . I never thought of it in that way. Pepe Ray

Thanks for the help here guys. The loads I've been using for my Ruger are too hot for the snubbie .45 Colt. I've been using H110 for those loads. The load information for the standard .45 Colt loads, don't list for the H110 powder and seeing how I was going to buy a new powder anyway, I thought it best to seek some advise on it. I'll take a look and see if there are any powders that are compatable for the standard Colt loads and the .357 mag., while I'm at it I should see if I can find one that will work with the .38 special loads as well. I haven't had the funds to set in a supply of several powders, but I think that is my goal now. It will give me several to choose from for different loads. Which powders would be good to keep a supply of for various uses. I load for the .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .357 mag./, .38 special, .44 mag., and the .308 Win.? One other question I came up with. Are the .38 special cases, the same ones to use with .38 +P loads? The .357 snubbie will be easier to handle for target practice, with the .38 Spec. and +P loads.

BigBlue,

Try old reliable Bullseye in your snubbie .357. .38 cases or Magnum brass. 4.5 grains in .357 brass with a 158-grain lead bullet will be a duplicate for the .38+P load using the same slug.

A second choice for an all-around handgun powder would be Win 231.

Sectioning 38specials headstamped +P and those not so stamped didn't show any measurable differences, at least within the same brand...are some differences between brands.

The traditional powder for the .45colt when loading to factory or a LITTLE above has been Unique. Is bulky enough to occupy enough volume that an accidental double charge wouldm be noticed and bulky enough to take up enough volume that ignition is more positive.

Unique is an old favorite for warmisn lead bullet .38specail loads as well, but slower ones work better in the .357 (even in short barrels).

I agree that Unique would be a good all around choice. The new version is cleaner burning, and according to Sierra it is capable of lots of power in the .357 (125HP@1400fps), the .38SPL (125HP@1100fps), the .45ACP (230@950fps), .45LC (240HP@1100fps), .44Mag (210HP@1350fps). It isn't really suitable for the .308.

Bullseye and W231 are fine powders for lighter loads, giving lower flash and recoil, but lower velocities too in many instances. I also like AA-5 for these applications; with a burning rate near that of Unique is fills the same role. Because it is a ball powder it meters better than Unique does. But it is a higher density powder so it doesn't fill the case as well as Unique does.