Winchester AutoComp

Winchester AutoComp is a smokeless pistol powder developed specifically for high-performance semi-automatic handgun cartridges. As its name suggests, it was engineered with competitive shooting in mind, particularly for action shooting sports such as IPSC and USPSA, where reliable cycling, consistent velocities, and controlled recoil are critical. AutoComp is a spherical (ball) powder, which typically meters very well through progressive powder measures, making it well suited for high-volume loading.

In terms of burn rate, AutoComp falls in the medium pistol range. It is commonly used in cartridges such as 9mm Luger, .38 Super, .40 S&W, and other similar semi-auto handgun rounds. The powder was formulated to help produce consistent performance and reliable function in compensated pistols, where maintaining sufficient gas pressure to drive the compensator is important. This characteristic made it popular among shooters developing “major power factor” competition loads.