9mm powder/accuracy questions

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Jmontie

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I am new to reloading. I have a hornaday lock-n-load progressive reloader. Using hornaday tapered crimp die set. Remington 115gr FMJ projectiles. I am current loading with 5.0gr of Unique powder. I crono'd them at 1130 FPS. It seems to me I'm all over the target as far as accuracy.

I'm thinking it has something to do with the powder. I have Hogdon HS-6, Hogdon Titegroup, and Accurate No. 5.

I have found starter loads for all of these, I was hoping for some suggestions on the best one, or at least the difference between them.
 
5.0 Unique with a 115 jacketed bullet is a pretty light load.

You might try bumping it up to 5.5 or so.

1130 FPS with that load??

Hmmmm.
It seems unlikely.
You might be crono'ing some muzzle blast if your screens are set too close to the gun.

rc
 
I am no expert on powder nor what you have going on. I have tried both HS-6 and Titegroup. I had OK results with HS-6 but I found it more difficult to find the sweet spot for that powder for each bullet I use.

I use both Titegroup and W231/HP38 for my 9mm loads with good results. I like TG for several reasons but beware it is a fast powder and there is a small range from starting to max loads. I have found it to be very accurate in 38 special, 9mm, and 40 S&W.

I have a friend who loads lots of Unique with great results. I would not say Unique is your problem but there might be a combination of things causing the inaccuracy.
 
Truthfully, any decent/suitable powder will achieve acceptable accuracy with 9mmx19. If you want to take accuracy to the next level you'll have to go beyond FMJ projectiles.

Of course, that will drive up the cost per round :-(

I've become a big fan of the Hornady 125g HAP projectiles for 9mmx19.
 
Unique, HS-6, WSF, AA5 are all examples of suitable 9mmx19 powders for 115 and 125g projectiles. (Non-exclusive list) I'm using WSF currently, I've used HS-6 in the past.
 
I like W231 for 115 gr 9mm. I had a lot of luck with it & every load I tried just worked - all were accurate & grouped nicely. 4.8 gr is what i use. I use the same load for 230 gr FMJ for .45ACP. Keeps things simple for me. Level .5CC Lee dipper for the 2 pistol calibers I load most.
 
I have had stellar accuracy and velocities with HS6 and Longshot, but Longshot has been my first choice of the two.

GS
 
Even though I'm a huge HS-6 fan it pains me to admit Longshot is a great powder for the 9mm with jacketed bullets. I still like HS-6 better with lead. That said I use more W231 in the 9mm than anything else. W231 is very clean and accurate for me.
 
And I think most reloaders would agree with you on regarding W231 Archangel. I think if the world ran out of all other pistol powders, most would likely never notice, or care, so long as W231 / HP38 was still readily available. I'm just a bit different type loader is all, and prefer those slow burners like Longshot.

GS
 
HP 38/W 231 is very good as is Titegroup in my opinion. The warning about the narrow range and possibility of double charge with Titegroup is valid.I find them equally good for accuracy. It is like Ford or Chevy- whatever you prefer.:)
 
Remember there is more to reloading 9mm than just powder selection.

I personally use W231. I have tested 4.2gr up to 4.6 gr and chrono'ed anywhere from 940 up to 1100. and used OAL of 1.10 to 1.60. You need to test different loads and find your sweet spot. Also, different powder levels have different effects on accuracy. My handgun is very accurate with 4.4gr of W231 with a OAL of 1.160. You need to find yours. Just my two cents worth.
 
New to reloading + accuracy issues tells me to examine your crimp. It's pretty common for new loaders to over-crimp semi-auto rounds which can deform your bullet and seriously degrade accuracy.
 
Good info above. To get REALLY good results in 9mm, make sure you're doing the basic stuff too...

► Use only one brand of brass (this makes a huge difference)
► Most 9mm pistols really prefer 124gr
► Jacketed bullets almost always trump plated
► Seat your bullets deep into the case with an OAL between 1.125 and 1.140"
► Do not over-crimp. Crimp diameters should run .376 to .379".
► Loose the Unique, it's clumpy and doesn't meter well. Try the ball powders like Accurate #2 or #5, or the flattened ball like W231 (aka HP-38) or WSF. Look at a Powder Burn Rate Chart. There's a ton of powders highly suitable, and slightly faster, between W231 and Tight Group. You should be able to find one of those locally.

Click Here - Hodgdon Powder Burn Rate Chart

;)
 
Thanks for all the info. The reason for the powder question is to get consistent powder drops. I've read that unique is a flake type of powder and doesn't flow good through progressive reloaders.

I ran into trouble at the range. I had four rounds that had no or little powder in them. Had to push the bullet out the barrel. I got to checking all my reloads (800+) and they varried from 178 to 186 gr. about 20 in the 178 to 179 range. 40 in the 183 to 186 range. The rest 180 to 182. I checked a few cases they ranged from 60 to 63 gr. I have shot over 1500 of these reloads up until now with no problem. I just cleaned my powder drop assembly, didn't find excess caking in the powder system.

The reason for the accuracy question is at 10 yards making slow consistent shots. The pattern was a foot wide. I'm not the most accurate shooter, but this was excessive.

As far as the crimp, I'm putting very little crimp. I haven't been checking case length, but I will check and see what kind of variances they have.

Once again thanks for the help.
 
Unique should have worked well, unless as rcmodel noted, the charge was just too light. As to metering, it meters OK but not great. It has never "clumped" for me, and while it meters up to +/- a couple of tenths sometimes, it out shoots me.

WSF, HS-6, or AA #5 will all meter great and give good performance. Plenty of good choices.

I got to checking all my reloads (800+) and they varried from 178 to 186 gr.
Click to expand...
Weighing finished reloads is a waste of time. Too much variation in brass weights.
 
Jmontie said:
I ran into trouble at the range. I had four rounds that had no or little powder in them. Had to push the bullet out the barrel. I got to checking all my reloads (800+) and they varried from 178 to 186 gr. about 20 in the 178 to 179 range. 40 in the 183 to 186 range. The rest 180 to 182. I checked a few cases they ranged from 60 to 63 gr. I have shot over 1500 of these reloads up until now with no problem. I just cleaned my powder drop assembly, didn't find excess caking in the powder system.
Once again thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
If you're looking for a better metering powder especially for a progressive press I agree a Ball Powder is a better choice. In the 9mm you will get very good results with W231/HP-38. Like said above, on the slower side try other ball powders like AA#5, HS-6, WSF and the like...
 
rfwobbly said:
Good info above. To get REALLY good results in 9mm, make sure you're doing the basic stuff too...

► Use only one brand of brass (this makes a huge difference)
► Most 9mm pistols really prefer 124gr
► Jacketed bullets almost always trump plated
► Seat your bullets deep into the case with an OAL between 1.125 and 1.140"
► Do not over-crimp. Crimp diameters should run .376 to .379".
► Loose the Unique, it's clumpy and doesn't meter well. Try the ball powders like Accurate #2 or #5, or the flattened ball like W231 (aka HP-38) or WSF. Look at a Powder Burn Rate Chart. There's a ton of powders highly suitable, and slightly faster, between W231 and Tight Group. You should be able to find one of those locally.

Click Here - Hodgdon Powder Burn Rate Chart

;)
Click to expand...
Looks like some good information for us new to reloading.
Thanks.
 
Every gun is different!
What works in mine may be the worst of all in yours.

But, in mine, 4.0 gr of Tite Group with a 124 gr bullet does the trick.
CAREFUL - that's for a 124 gr bullet.

Mine HATES all the 115gr bullets I've tried.
(Failure to Eject/Extract)

I've tried 4 different 124 gr bullets
Berry's (plated), Hornady (FMJ), Missouri Bullet Co (lead) & Extreme (plated) - all worked flawlessly.

I've tried Remington ammo, Winchester ammo & Blazer ammo 115gr - it was horrible!
 
Using Unique with a 115, you'll find the hotter the load the better the accuracy. Move up until they're good for you. The published data before me says 5.8 is max for jhp. Stay below that.
 
chhodge69 said:
New to reloading + accuracy issues tells me to examine your crimp. It's pretty common for new loaders to over-crimp semi-auto rounds which can deform your bullet and seriously degrade accuracy.
Click to expand...
I thought you dont crimp 9mm..? Or don't have to?
 
You do crimp. Very lightly. When not sure I take bullet apart to see how much crimp is there. I like to see slight identation on a bullet. I also go by outside diameter - xref with specs.
 
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