9mm and .40 loads

[bomb dropper]

What is a good powder for lead bullets for 9mm (124gr) and 40 (155gr) that burns clean, meters well, ya de ya da and is interchangeable. mostly whats a good all around pistol powder.

Thanks

 

[rfwobbly]

Winchester 231 and Hodgdon HP-38 are the most popular, and some would say, the most universal pistol powder for lighter to mid-range bullets. Most reloaders agree they are the same powder under different labels. Loads for 1 of these powders appears in every reloading manual, so it is also easy to find load data. Or you can simply go to the on-line Hodgdon site.

It works well with any kind of bullet (lead, plated, jacketed) and it meters very good. And it is easy to find.

 

[Walkalong]

WSF, AA #5, Universal, N330, N340....W-231 for milder stuff.

 

[Snowboy]

W231 & vv3n37

 

[The Ten-Ring Kid]

I reload both 9mm and .40 and I like Winchester 231 for both

 

[atblis]

Alliant Unique.

 

[jfrey]

+1 for Unique. Works well in 9mm, .40, and .45. Good all around powder.

 

[shootinxd]

#5 works in both my 9mm and my 40 that I shoot in 3 gun.

 

[MetalMan52]

powder

Another vote for WW231. My go to pistol powder for standard loads.
Pat

 

[NuJudge]

Years ago I used Unique, with good results. Lately I've used mostly 231, mostly because it meters so well.

CDD

 

[RE-15]

accurate #2 for 9mm lead loads unique and universal for .45, power pistol for all jhp loads. I use #2 accurate because all other powder gave data O.A.L. 1.15 for lrn and I needed 1.095 for xd to feed. Accurate also meters better than the rest and the little square containers fit better on my shelves than the round ones.

 

[dwhite]

Hodgdon Universal

Burns clean. Provides good consistent velocity. Meters great even in my Lee Perfect Powder Measure. Seems to be pretty available, at least locally. Last, like Unique, it's usable in a broad range of cartridges.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[ohioshooter]

Universal is good for pretty much everything....I use it in 9, .40, .45 and will be using it in .357 after next week

 

[twice barrel]

Another vote for Hodgdon Universal.

TB

 

[blikseme300]

HP-38 or Universal.

Does it echo in here?

Bliksem

 

[zxcvbob]

Red Dot for light loads, Bullseye or Unique for medium, WSF for the hot stuff.

 

[cmgred]

Besides all the other very good powders mentioned:
VV N-340 & Power Pistol

 

[davestarbuck]

For practice ammo I use 5 gr of Bullseye in 9mm,40 and 45. I use either a 115 gr bullet or a 124 gr bullet in 9mm. For 40 I use 180 gr bullets and for 45 I use 230 gr bullets.

The 5 gr charge seems to work well with both jacketed and lead bullets in all calibers.

Note that most 9mm load data shows that the max for Bullseye and a 124/125 gr bullet is 4.9 gr. Not a big difference but proceed with caution. The 5 gr load is definitely snappy!!!

For what its worth, Bullseye works well with .380 for me...

-Dave