Best Powder for 147gr , 9mm

Rifle or pistol?
Plus pee or no?

I load all my 147's with BE-86. My practice rounds and SD rounds mimic each other, other than bullet used, and are in the +p area.

i use unique as one of my powders for 147 gr hytek coated.

Titegroup and a 147 grain worked great for USPSA minor power factor. I still use it in a SIG 938.

titegroup works well.

It would be good to know what kind of load you are after?
I have had good results with Accurate #7 with 135gr Xtreme plated, #7 should do well for a 147gr bullet not sure about the coated ones.

3.1gr of titegroup over a 147gr coated boolit. I've loaded thousands.

I would load 5 - 10 of each checking velocity, accuracy etc. After all, that is part of the fun isn't it?
That said, I use a lot of CFE Pistol, less muzzle flash, accurate and reduces copper fouling.

Jonesy814 said:

Midrange or a bit higher plinking load with decent accuracy in a variety of pistols

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I’m not sure what a midrange load is, but I load a BB 145 RN with 3.0 of Titegroup at 1.120” and it’s traveling 888fps in a P226. This is .030” shorter than the recommended length from Hodgdon. This is one of my competition loads. Work up your load safely please!
You’ve got a range of powders for sure. CFE Pistol is a slower powder that will get you “a bit higher”. I have BE-86 but haven’t worked up loads yet. If you want flash bang loads, use PP!

4.0 grains CFE-P under a 147 grain Missouri plated bullet gives 904 fps from my 3.1" bbl P365.

I have had good results with CFE-P and 147s
I have also had good results with WSF. ( which you don't have at the moment)

Since you have them already I would give BE86 and CFE-P a try

Some chrono numbers
Not the bullet you are using but maybe some help

5" 9mm 1911
S+B SP mixed range brass, charges as thrown after setting measure
String: 1
Date: 6/17/2018
Time: 2:55:42 PM
Grains: 147
Hi Vel: 914
Low Vel: 899
Ave Vel: 908
Ext Spread: 15
Std Dev: 6
4.0 CFE-P RMR 147 FN FMJ 1.075 (jacketed bullet)
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
899 132.153 263.778
913 134.211 272.057
914 134.358 272.654
911 133.917 270.867
903 132.741 266.13
(note how shorter OAL upped vel over the load below)

String: 3
Date: 12/2/2016
Time: 12:35:16 PM
Grains: 147
Hi Vel: 908
Low Vel: 857
Ave Vel: 885
Ext Spread: 51
Std Dev: 20
9mm ACME 147 4.0 CFE-P 1.10 OAl (coated lead bullet)
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
857 125.979 239.707 This one messed up the SD and ES, maybe a bit light on the charge???
900 132.3 264.365
886 130.242 256.204
877 128.919 251.026
908 133.476 269.086


String: 3
Date: 2/28/2016
Time: 9:40:48 AM
Grains: 147
Hi Vel: 942
Low Vel: 908
Ave Vel: 920
Ext Spread: 34
Std Dev: 13
RMR 147 Target HP 1.10 OAL 4.0 WSF(plated bullet)
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
922 135.534 277.447
908 133.476 269.086
942 138.474 289.615
913 134.211 272.057
918 134.946 275.045

String: 2
Date: 3/26/2017
Time: 11:10:35 AM
Grains: 147
Hi Vel: 791
Low Vel: 774
Ave Vel: 783
Ext Spread: 17
Std Dev: 7
XTreme 147 1.16 OAl 3.7. BE86
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
775 113.925 196.03
787 115.689 202.148
788 115.836 202.662
791 116.277 204.208
774 113.778 195.524

String: 3
Date: 3/26/2017
Time: 11:11:38 AM
Grains: 147
Hi Vel: 848
Low Vel: 810
Ave Vel: 831.5
Ext Spread: 38
Std Dev: 16
XTreme 147 1.16 OAl 4.0 BE86
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
810 119.07 214.136
835 122.745 227.558
833 122.451 226.469
848 124.656 234.699

4.0 grains CFE-P under a 147 grain Missouri plated bullet gives 904 fps from my 3.1" bbl P365.

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And 3.8 grains of CFE Pistol under a 147 grain Berry's plated (OAL 1.140) is a nice accurate light load out of a Sig P938. I got 844 fps for it. I know that's pretty slow, but Remington 147 grain UMC only is 926 fps out of the same gun and it's OAL is much shorter, 1.090.

I use Ramshot Competition for my heavies.

Jonesy814 said:

Unique is what I have planned to use. It meters fine in my auto disc but I may do some with TiteGroup to compare recoil & accuracy

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my 147s are most accurate around 950 fps. i use 3.6 gr of unique

I think the best powders are:
Not in any order, but these are top tier:

IMR Target
Alliant Sport Pistol
Accurate #2
D032 Cleanshot (shooters world)
Alliant Blue Dot

Those are top of the mountain and I have tried and tested almost every powder.

Walkalong said:

Titegroup and Clays can make some nice light plinkers if you're careful, and BE-86 or Unique will work great for mimicking full power stuff.

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That sounds about right.

I would caution you to watch your loaded OAL with the 9mm... I got into trouble in my younger days loading 9mm for my Browning HiPower, that I finally traced to bullet seating depth. I've almost always used Unique, but I have experimented lately with TiteGroup and BE-86. Economically speaking, TiteGroup is the winner, but I don't really know how it behaves with 147's...

I'm another one that found 4.0 gr of CFE-P worked well with 147 gr. from MBC.
It's a fairly soft and accurate load for me.

3.1gr of TiteGroup under 147gr HiTek coated gets me 980fps from a 5" barrel.

taliv said:

i personally prefer to put the powder underneath the bullet, but that's the load i'm going to try

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early morning typing......
Originally found this recipe on the Brian Enos forums. Has run good in every 9mm I've owned.

Of the powders you list, and if for a pistol, Tightgroup and Unique. For carbine, that's where Blue Dot really shines.