Full Power 9mm Powders

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ArchAngelCD

ArchAngelCD

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I have used a few powders in the 9mm and while I'm happy with W231 for Cast bullets and for plinking I'm still not sure which powder to use for full power loads with a 124/125gr bullet.

I have used HS-6, AA#5 and Longshot but I'm not satisfied with those choices for one read or another. Longshot delivers good accuracy and good velocity but it's very loud.

I have been hearing good things about Silhouette and I'm wondering if it will deliver good accuracy and velocity or if there is a better choice out there to try. I have a pound if W572 I didn't try yet because it's way too cold right now. Anyone try that in the 9mm yet? That might be the answer, any one?

PLEASE, no guessing, only first hand information.
 
ArchAngenlCD,
You have overlooked what are probably the two technically best powders for your intended application:
BE-86(TM)
Power Pistol(TM)
There are lots of ways to make "full power" 124gr 9mm Luger, but these two BE-series materials are hard to beat.
Shoot well,
Paul
 
You may want to investigate the powders (not necessarily the specific load data!) that the guys shooting 9mm major in USPSA/IPSC are using.
 
Power Pistol. No question about it IMO.

Factory +P velocities are easily met and often exceeded.

My most accurate 9mm loads involve a 124gr XTP, and a stiff charge of Power Pistol.

It is loud too though.
 
Alliant Reloading said:
ArchAngenlCD,
You have overlooked what are probably the two technically best powders for your intended application:
BE-86(TM)
Power Pistol(TM)
There are lots of ways to make "full power" 124gr 9mm Luger, but these two BE-series materials are hard to beat.
Shoot well,
Paul
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. I have used Power Pistol but not BE-86 yet. Unfortunately in my area Allliant Powders and even more so Accurate Powders are difficult to find. It seems Hodgdon/ IMR/ Winchester Powders are on the shelves. It requires a 145 mile round trip to Cabela's to try and find Alliant powders and even then it's hit or miss. I appreciate the reply and will give BE-86 a try when I come across some.
 
I got more out of HS-6 than I did with CFE-P. That was with 124 gr. HP. I would have to look at my data to remember why.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
I have used a few powders in the 9mm...I have been hearing good things about Silhouette and I'm wondering if it will deliver good accuracy and velocity or if there is a better choice out there to try...PLEASE, no guessing, only first hand information.
Click to expand...
Silhouette is a very good choice; I would add (for consideration) VihtaVuori N340 and VV-3N37. BE-86 also performs exceptionally well ~ if you go back through the marathon BE-86 thread, you'll find many discussions that may help.
 
With 9MM 125gr RN Blue Bullets, I have done very well using Ramshot Silhouette. It meters beautifully and is accurate at competition power factor.

More recently I have switched to Hodgdon TiteGroup that I have used forever with 45 ACP RN. I was hesitant at first because of the possibility of an inadvertent double load, but am attentive with the Hornady LnL. I like TiteGoup very much. Clean, accurate, consistent.
 
Similar to bds, I have had good luck with 124gr RN/FMJs loaded with 5.2grs - 5.4grs of BE-86 @ 1.145. Great powder for mid range to upper end loads.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
Thanks for the reply. I have used Power Pistol but not BE-86 yet. Unfortunately in my area Allliant Powders and even more so Accurate Powders are difficult to find. It seems Hodgdon/ IMR/ Winchester Powders are on the shelves. It requires a 145 mile round trip to Cabela's to try and find Alliant powders and even then it's hit or miss. I appreciate the reply and will give BE-86 a try when I come across some.
Click to expand...


BE-86 and Universal are almost identical burn rates, often listed side by side on charts.
Also, BE86 is Power Pistol with a flash suppressant.

In other words, all 3 powders are suitable for the same thing.

That being said,, AA#7 was pretty much designed for 9mm.
 
BE-86 is never on the shelves near me either. I just have to bite the bullet on Hazmat fees and order a couple jugs of BE-86 and Sport Pistol (becoming a favorite for Minor PF loads) from Powder Valley in order for the cost of shipping to make sense.
 
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For "ALL OUT" 124gr +P, I prefer HS7.
Take a look at Speers data for the 124gr GoldDot.
Bump the charge up 0.3-0.5gr for +P and you're talking 1,300fps from a 5"bbl.
I've found that the Speer max is a very good, and accurate load. Not a +P load, but gets advertised speed for most +P factory ammo.
 
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Hooda Thunkit said:
That being said,, AA#7 was pretty much designed for 9mm.
Click to expand...

I believe it literally was, originally. IIUC, the very first cannisters of it were from overruns of european NATO 9mm ammo. It's a popular choice for 9mm Major rounds in IPSC/USPSA, which is typically well past +P SAAMI standards. VV 3N37 is another popular choice for that crowd, with HS-6 and Silhouette getting some love, too.
 
Take a look at True Blue. I discovered it during the first Obama era shortage and have been using it in my 9x19 ever since.
 
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/ramshot-silhouette.830699/#post-10723725

5.5 Grs Sihouette and RMR 124 Gr JHP (MPR) Not max, but not light, very accurate.
index.php


5.7 Grs BE-86 and RMR 124 Gr JHP (MPR) Max IMHO. 5.9 Grs opened the group way up.
index.php
 
True Blue is worth a try.

N330, N340, or 3N37 are good depending on power level wanted, but IIRC they are not readily available to you.

Try some Silhouette. :)
 
ArchAngelCD said:
I have used a few powders in the 9mm and while I'm happy with W231 for Cast bullets and for plinking I'm still not sure which powder to use for full power loads with a 124/125gr bullet.
Click to expand...
Not sure exactly what your priorities are for this load. CFE Pistol works very well but won't yield quite the velocity of BE-86. With a 124 grain FMJ my full power non +P CFE-P load does about 1125fps and is very accurate. BE-86 will do 1160+fps at this pressure level if this is a decision-driver.
 
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Blue Dot gives the highest velocities of anything I've used with 124/125 grain 9mm.

According to current Alliant data, it's almost 100 fps faster than Power Pistol .

But it's pretty loud.

You may need to revise your expectations, it's unlikely that you're going to get both high velocity and low noise levels in the same load.
 
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