Anyone know?

[JDGray]

What powder Federal uses in the American Eagle 124gr fmj 9mm load? I weighed the powder at 4.8gr, and the stated velocity is 1120fps. This is the most accurate ammo I've shot out of my CZ75, it gives me clover leaf groups, off a sandbag at 25yrds. I would like to duplicate this load. Thanks for any info.

 

[Mal H]

Yes, but unfortunately they all work for Federal and are not members here.

More often than not, commercial manufacturers use a blend of powders that you cannot buy off the shelf in canister lots. They do extensive testing on the powders and will change the blend as required when a new car load of powder is deliverd to them in order to keep the characteristics of their ammo consistent from lot to lot.

So, in general, it is not possible to find the powder they use at your local reloading shop or from the large mail order supply houses.

 

[ReloaderFred]

As Mal H said, powder companies use "bulk" powders, as opposed to the "canister" powders available to handloaders. Bulk powders aren't blended to the extent tha canister powders are for consistency. The parameters are wider and it takes ballistics labs to find what works with each very large batch of bulk powders.

The closest you're going to be able to come is one of the manuals that list factory duplication loads, and that's only for velocity. You just have to keep experimenting until you find the combination that your particular handgun likes.

Hope this helps.

Fred