Colt Detective Special: Unique Vs. Power Pistol

[Doug.38PR]

After almost a year of preparing to reload. I finally started about a month ago and have been shooting actual rounds for two weeks.
Until tonight, all I have been shooting is 158 gr. LRN loaded with 4.0 of Unique (I did try a single +P load with Unique with I think 4.7 grains...didn't feel any different really). NOW I just reloaded 6 hot .38 Special+P rounds with 5.4 grains of Power Pistol. Shot them just now out back out of Colt Detective Special. WOW! That stuff is hot. Bright muzzel flash in the dark and sharp recoil....and I blew the top off an old Jack O Lantern 8) Result...reloading is still fun ...and cheaper than store bought.

[smkummer]

I have noticed some high velocity data with power pistol over tradition powders such as unique. I wonder if it is Buffalo Bore's secret. Might have to try some. I am away from my loading books right now but 4.7 grs. unique appears to be more of a standard pressure load for 38 special and a 158 grain bullet. Its good to look at several data sorces and ask Santa for a chronograph this year, your reloading experience will now have a new avenue.

[ColtSnakes]

Unique and Power Pistol are my two favorite powders and use it in several calibers. The biggest edge I find PP to have over Unique is that it meters better. As far as hot loads go, I have loaded each side by side using the same bullets in .357 and got similar results as far as FPS goes....I could live without Power Pistol, but doubt if I could get along very well without Unique.

[Oyeboten]

Hi Doug.38PR,



Any Chronograph readings on these?

[Peter M. Eick]

4.6 grns of unique with a 158 (lead) will do 781 fps out of a detective special (2"), 893 out of a Diamondback (4"), 925 out of a 5" 38/44 HD, 895 out of a 6.5" 38/44 od.
5.0 grns of unique with a 158 (lead) will do 969 out of a 4" 38/44, 984 out of a 5" 38/44, 1013 out of a 6.5" 38/44
5.5 grns of unique with a 158 (lead) will do 1020 out of a 4" 38/44, 1044 out of a 5" 38/44, 1079 out of a 6.5" 38/44.

6.0 grns of Power pistol with a 158 (lead) will do 1029 out of a 4" 38/44, 1057 out of a 5" 38/44 and 1057 out of a 6.5" 38/44.

If you want 38/44 power levels, you need more of both powders. My guess is about 6 grns of Unique and 6.5 grns of PP but that is just a guess. Not responsible for transcription errors.