9 mm 147 gr powder choice

[roval]

i do practically all of my 9 mm shooting with 147 gr but i developed the loads during the shortage so i have had 2 loads from powders i had available back then Unique and AA no. 5. I'm more interested in shooting than developing new loads and the loads i had were accurate enough for me so I haven't tested other powders. i had kept some powders for my other calibers i.e bullseye for 38 spcl and 45 acp.

what would be worthwhile looking into. I have aa no. 2 , aa no. 7, w231, bullseye, 700x but that won't meter well with small volumes,

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

What bullets do you use?

 

[Jim Watson]

I load 147 gr 9mm with HP38 (Same as 231) and worked up a Bullseye load in case I could not restock HP38 or 231.
A vibrator on the powder measure let me load 700X well enough.
No recent experience with AA2.

 

[roval]

What bullets do you use?

147 gr rn powder coated at this time

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

147 gr rn powder coated at this time

AA 2, 5 & 7 will all work and they meter very well.

 

[roval]

would aa2 or aa7 do better than aa5?

 

[Dudedog]

I haven't used AA#5 or #7.
AA#2 will make nice light to medium loads with 147s.
Looking at the numbers if you are after full power loads AA#5 or AA#7 appear to be a better choice.

Not on your list but CFE-P has worked well for me with 147s.

 

[roval]

i find 147s at around 950 fps works best for me. i get it with 3.6 g unique and about 5 g aa 5. maybe ill try the w231.

 

[sparkyv]

I've used HP38 and Universal with good success with 147 grainers. I've got some loaded up with Blue Dot, not yet tried them yet.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

would aa2 or aa7 do better than aa5?

The smaller charges of AA2 would make it more economical. The small charges are harder to see in the case.
For full power loads Blue Dot works well.

This might help
http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WesternLoadGuide1-2016_Web-1.pdf

 

[Kaldor]

700X is very fast burning which works very well with 147s in 9mm. I use TiteGroup all the time with 147s, and its a really easy to shoot combination.

AA2 and 231 would probably be OK, but not optimal. AA7 is too slow, but would be fine for 115gr.

Take a peak at the burn rate charts:
https://www.hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/burn-rate-color.pdf

 

[Charlie98]

I'm actually looking for the same info as the OP... how about BE-86?

 

[Bat Rastard]

I love be-86 with 147 grain bullets. IIRC, 4.3 grains is getting a little over 900 fps. It burns clean and fills the case.
I am liking be-86 everywhere I try it. Very versatile.

 

[Toprudder]

AA2 and 231 would probably be OK, but not optimal. AA7 is too slow, but would be fine for 115gr.

I have used #7 with 115 and it worked very well. I'm not sure how it would work with a heavier bullet.

I love be-86 with 147 grain bullets. IIRC, 4.3 grains is getting a little over 900 fps. It burns clean and fills the case.
I am liking be-86 everywhere I try it. Very versatile.

I am a big fan of BE86, I have found good applications for it across many calibers.

 

[Kaldor]

I have used #7 with 115 and it worked very well. I'm not sure how it would work with a heavier bullet.

Yup, not a good combo. I push 115gr HiTek coated to 1450 FPS with CFE Pistol. AA7 will get you there too if you are chasing velocity!

 

[Jim Watson]

During the Obama/Clinton Panic when components were in short supply, A friend was nearly out. I made a list of 26 powders that I had 9mm loading data for. A local dealer had two of them in stock. He picked CFE-Pistol and has been happy ever since.

 

[Lee Q. Loader]

BE-86 is a great powder for 147 Berry's FP I like to shoot, but I still prefer my old stand-by Herco. Herco loads have a more pleasant recoil for me.

 

[Charlie98]

I am liking be-86 everywhere I try it. Very versatile.

Everyone is talking like BE-86 is the Final Solution to 9mm, and a few other cartridges. I've always used Unique, in 9mm and .380, and it's not been easy, I'd love to come up with a one-powder solution.

 

[nettlle]

I've used Bullseye with 147 gr coated with good results.

 

[Kp321]

Several years ago, I was getting unstability (yawing and tumbling) using fast powders with lead 147 bullets. Jacketed were OK with all powders. Blue Dot was the answer with the lead bullets. This was before the days of coated and plated bullets so don't know how they would perform. I'm currently loading jacketed 147's (RMR) with Unique. I loaded some with Bullseye but got better accuracy with Unique.

 

[Average Joe]

BE-86 here also, great for almost all pistol loads.

 

[kidneyboy]

I just started using BE-86 for 9mm but for years my 147gr coated bullet load has been 3.1gr titegroup.

 

[dh1633pm]

I used No 7 for my 9 MM loads with the same bullet weight.

 

[LiveLife]

Everyone is talking like BE-86 is the Final Solution to 9mm, and a few other cartridges. I've always used Unique, in 9mm and .380, and it's not been easy, I'd love to come up with a one-powder solution.

Because it is.

For me, BE-86 is modern Unique that meters well. Like WSF, BE-86 is flexible enough to produce accuracy at mid range load data and produce higher velocities than many other powders. As to accuracy, it has shattered my previous accuracy reference loads except WST. For most pistol calibers for mid to full power loads, it is a one-powder solution.

For lighter 9mm target loads, N320 was THE match powder currently being challenged by Sport Pistol. Many claim Sport Pistol the new N320 that burns cleaner. For me, Sport Pistol is the best metering powder I have used that will meter with less than .05 gr variance. As to accuracy, Sport Pistol has so far produced the smallest 10 shot 25 yard carbine group for me - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/new-alliant-sport-pistol.816514/page-5#post-10598431

 

[Bat Rastard]

I am not sure why they sell be-86 in containers smaller than the 8#.