Silhouette powder?

[dyl]

I purchased 3 lb of it recently because it was all I could find suitable for handgun at the time and now I am having some regret.

Care to share your experiences with it in 9mm, 38 special and 40 cal?
Especially if you've had success with less-than-max loads? (I'm not trying to batter my guns for fun, trouble finding spare parts for my 9mm in particular)

 

[LE-28]

I wish I could find some Silhouette, I always thought it was a really good 9mm, 40 powder.

I wish I could trade you for something for it.

 

[dyl]

LE, as of 10:49 pm Sinclair has 4 lbs for $70 as long as you don't mind hazmat fees. Hope you grab some!

 

[57K]

dyl, it's one of the very best powders you can use in 9mm or .40 S&W although there are better data sources than Ramshot whose data is a bit on the conservative side for 9mm. You'll find better data in the SIERRA manual, Maybe the SPEER. I don't have the SPEER#14 so I don't know how well they covered Silhouette. It's probably not your best choice for .38 Special unless you look at the Ramshot +P data for the Barnes XPB bullets, or any other +P data. It was never designed to operate at the low pressure of typical .38 Special loads. For JHPs at +P, the higher pressure will help and it's treated to have very low flash. If you need specific data for a warmer JHP or +P type load specific to the bullet you're using, contact Rob Behr by email through the Ramshot website. He'll fix you up!

 

[blitztech]

90 Sierra JHP 1.010 Silhouette 5.5gr 1100fps 6.8gr 1350fps
95 Sierra FMJ 1.020 Silhouette 5.5gr 1100fps 6.8gr 1350fps
115 Sierra JHP 1.050 Silhouette 5.2gr 1000fps 6.4gr 1200fps
115 Sierra FMJ 1.100 Silhouette 5.2gr 1000fps 6.4gr 1200fps
125 Sierra FMJ 1.090 Silhouette 4.6gr 950fps 6.1gr 1150fps
125 Sierra JHP 1.075 Silhouette 4.6gr 950fps 6.1gr 1150fps
130 Sierra FMJ 1.135 Silhouette 4.6gr 950fps 6.1gr 1150fps
115 Barnes XPB 1.125 Silhouette 4.5gr 975fps 5.0gr 1039fps


Only silhouette loads I've got in my 9mm database. Hope this helps

 

[steve4102]

now I am having some regret.

What are your "regrets"?

 

[dyl]

Thanks all for the response,

My regret is that a couple days later I saw they had Ramshot Zip in stock which is closer in burn rate to the AA#5 I'm used to using. I tried to change my order to Zip by phone but it was the weekend so i left a message - next day the silhouette shipped I remember having some unburned powder on the range bench when shooting Unique which is about as slow a powder I've ever used. Typically I use BE or AA5.

My greatest concern was my impression that Silhouette will only burn clean and completely at max pressure, which for a slow burning powder would also mean its a pretty stout load. I've heard it's not great for lighter loads and gets sooty/unburned at lighter pressure. I don't make powder puff loads, maybe about 3/4 of max pressures. Any problems at these levels you think?

 

[noylj]

Zip is very close to 231/HP38. It also has not been as accurate compared to 231/HP38 in my tests.
Silhouette is great for mid-range to full power loads. It is the best powder I have found for mid-range to full power .40 loads. AA5 has been the best low to mid-range powder for .40.
If works well in 9x19. I prefer Power Pistol in 9x19, but Silhouette is still good.
Haven't used it in .38 Spl, but it will work. May not be best in .38 Spl, but it will probably do everything you need it to do.

 

[steve4102]

I think you can relax as far as your "Burn Rate" concerns.

According to Western Powders (Ramshot/Accurate) Silhouette is "Faster" burning than #5, not slower.

http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/burn_rates.pdf

Ramshot load data for the 9MM confirms this.

http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WP_LoadSpec_7-2-13.pdf

I use a lot of Silhouette and It is one of my favorite pistol powders. You are correct, some powders burn more efficiently when loaded to the upper end, I personally have not noticed this with My Silhouette loads, but I don't load bunny fart loads either.

 

[noylj]

I don't know about RamShot, but in my guns, Silhouette is slower than AA5 in 9x19 and .40S&W.
True Blue is a powder that really shifts burn rate with cartridge...but it does well with all of them.

 

[WESHOOT2]

115--124g 9x19 = 5.2g start.