9mm powder

[gandog56]

What charge weights were you trying to throw with Unique? It is not recommended to throw anything less than about 4 gr or use a cavity smaller than .4 cc. This goes for any flake powder--Red Dot, Green Dot, etc.

I believe I was trying 4.9 grains which was the .53 cc cavity according to Lee. I was getting variations of greater than .3 grains, which means I was just about to have to individually weigh out every charge by hand, which defeats the purpose of the Auto-disk.

 

[benedict1]

If that's the case I would call Lee--

I shoot 4.7 gr Unique for 9mm and have repeatedly measured the charges and they never vary more than +- 0.05 gr.

I also lubricate the nylon bushing where the powder drops through with a little mica or graphite powder and make sure the powder measure is securely fastened to the disk carrier.

At .53 cc you should not have a problem--

 

[gandog56]

I have three different sets of disks, they all varied. New hopper didn't fix the problem either.

 

[caz223]

Out of the dozen or so powders I've tried in various bullet weights, I've settled on power pistol for 147 grain JHPs, and bullseye for 124 JHPs.
I don't load FMJ or lead, but the occasional plated, and bullseye works great with those too.
The honorable mentions go to (In order of preference.) WSF, HS-6, and unique.

 

[Clark]

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

If I were to turn my kids loose with handloading 9mm, I would give them Bullseye or Unique, and not give them any HS-6.

When I started handloading 8 years ago, the first thing I did was overload every 9mm bullet I had with every pistol powder I had until the case ran out of room or I got a kaboom.

Per my old notes:
1) Only 20% more powder than book loads will fit with 115, 124, or 147 gr bullets and Bullseye or Unique. No case bulges or primer piercings were observed in a Kel-Tec P11 with .190" of case support over the feed ramp. 9mm brass having .160" web thickness = .030" of thin unsupported case over the feed ramp.
2) About 80% more powder than book loads will fit with HS-6 and a 115 gr bullet and it blowed up real good.

 

[bobaloo]

These days I'm just using one powder, Power Pistol, for 9mm, .40, .45 and .357. It's a bulky powder, which makes it harder to double charge a case. I loaded 16 pounds of Titegroup last year without a kaboom, but I got nervous and wanted something bulkier. It's not quite as cheap as the charges are heavier, but the cost difference is really minimal. Burns clean, shoots soft, I've been very happy with it.

 

[spencerhut]

+1 on Power Pistol Bobaloo. I use it for 9mm, 38 Super, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. Great results will all of them.

 

[Clark]

25acp Power Pistol
32acp Power Pistol
32sw Unique
32swlong LIL'GUN or 800X
32-20 H110
7.62x25mm Power Pistol
380 Power Pistol
9x19mm Power Pistol
9x23mm Power Pistol
357 Sig Power Pistol
38 sp LIL'GUN
357 mag LIL'GUN
38sw Unique
40sw Power Pistol or 800X
10mm Power Pistol or 800X
11mm H110
44 mag H110
45acp Power Pistol
45Colt H110, Unique

 

[RustyFN]

Well I finally got to shoot some of my first reloads. It was great. I didn't shoot any paper targets to check accuracy. A friend and I went to the outside range and I brought some bowling pins. We set them up on tables and plastic barrels and shot them from 15 yards. Bowling pins are a blast to shoot. I am going to assume the accuracy was good because I hit a lot more pins than I missed, and at one point I was trying to shoot them fast as if in a competition and was still accurate. Here is the load data I used. I am still looking to buy a few different powders to try. Thanks for all of your input on the different powders you like.

All of these numbers are from speer reloading manual 13.
Bullseye 4.2 low - 4.7 high. Berry's 115 gr RN.
20 rounds 4.2 gr
20 rounds 4.4 gr
20 rounds 4.6 gr

Bullseye 3.9 low - 4.4 high. Berry's 124 gr. RN
20 rounds 3.9
20 rounds 4.1

HS-6 6.7 low - 7.5 high. Berry's 115 gr. RN
20 rounds 6.6
20 rounds 6.9
20 rounds 7.2

HS-6 6.0 low - 6.7 high. Berry's 124 gr RN.
20 rounds 6.0
20 rounds 6.3

 

[greg531mi]

Here's one you didn't think about, good ol PB. A great 9mm powder, that, AA#5 and Unique for target loads. AA#7 for full power hot loads.....one hole groups at 15 yards. with my steel frame Star 30....
Don't try it with your tuperware frames!!!

 

[cherryriver]

I've had good success with Unique in 9mm, and I would hazard a guess that Power Pistol is one of the best for this caliber, but I've had some really excellent loads with 151gr Rainiers in front of 4.0gr WSF, Winchester Super Field. It produces around 950fps, make minor power factor for competition easily, is quiet and blast-free, and recoils pretty gently. It's also very consistent on the chrono.
WSF seems to be Winchester's powder for 9x19.
Bill

 

[MSgtEgress]

I use AA#5 and #7 ONLY for my 9mm loads. I use #5 for cast target loads and #7 for Full Power loads. VERY,VERY clean burning powder. They are ball powders and meter supurbly-- very uniform charge weights

 

[LiquidTension]

I use Bullseye for 9mm and .45acp. I've got some HP38 sitting around but I've never opened it.

 

[rbstern]

Hey, Clark, can you give any more info on 38 Special and Lil'Gun. First I've read of that combo.