I was hoping to use TG as a powder for light/medium practice loads in everything from 9mm to .475. I thought that I had found the ideal powder for that purpose until a friend tapped into the S&W forum on another site and found blown guns with this powder. What are your opinions of this powder for light/medium practice loads? What experiences have you had with this powder? Thank you.

I have been loading Titegroup for years in lead bullet 9mm, .38 special, .45 a.c.p. and have had no problems.

I have used this powder with 45 colt and 44 mag loads with no problems for a long time. I use 240 Keith style for both 240 gr /44 mag and 255gr/45 colt. They are from Missouri bullets. As a matter of fact also with 357 mag and a 158 keith style same manufacture.

Like any small volume powder, there is a risk of a double charge going unnoticed and the subsequect damage to the gun and whomever it is attached to at the time. But, if you pay proper attention when loading you will do fine with it.

I have shot pounds of it through my FA in 454 for light 454 loads. 250's doing about 1050 fps. I have also chronographed a bucket load of recipes with the powder and almost all weight bullets in my 454, including 335's and 360's and have never seen any indication of erratic ignition that would show up in velocity anomolies.

I have also shot pounds of it loaded up in my 45acp's. As s4 noted, blow-ups are more likely related to double charges, and not the old too much powder space detonation theory. And for me the final word is the hodgdon reloading guide/manuals. They list the powder as suitable in a LOT of different calibers. I buy it by the 8lb jug ........

Craig

Gentlemen thank you for re-instilling my confidence in Tight Group.

Tight group was formulated as a non position sensitive powder for use in larger cases. As such, a double charge was the likely cause of any blow ups.

I have been using it in .44 Specials. No problems. reflex264

I've seem the same detonation claims said about Bullseye which is a fast burning/small volume powder (faster than Titegroup). Again it is a well tested and recommended powder just as Titegroup is.

http://forums.handloads.com/archive/forum_posts.asp?TID=22648&PN=1&TPN=1

This link has a scan of the article debunking the Bullseye detonation capability.

Jeff,

Thanks for the link. Very interesting article. My problem with all the folks who have posted reports of blown up guns is that whether handloaded or factory ammo, whatever was in the case is gone. The post mortum of the gun can only show so much about the gun steel and perhaps the pressure needed to blow. In the end, whether the case was overcharged can never be known for certain.

Craig