spcrobbins
Member
I am new to reloading. What powder should I purchase to load 9mm rounds?
Best Powder for 9mm?
- Thread starter spcrobbins
- Start date
- Status
ColtPythonElite
Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
- 10,475
For jacketed bullets I like Power Pistol. For cast or jacketed general purpose rounds, I like Unique.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I use Unique for everything.
But I don't load light plinking loads in 9mm.
Depending on your desires, you can save a little money with faster powder like W-231 that takes less to reach mid-level performance.
Or slower powder that takes more powder to produce higher velocity with less pressure.
But like I said, I use Unique for almost everything I load except very light target loads, and heavy Magnum revolver loads.
rc
But I don't load light plinking loads in 9mm.
Depending on your desires, you can save a little money with faster powder like W-231 that takes less to reach mid-level performance.
Or slower powder that takes more powder to produce higher velocity with less pressure.
But like I said, I use Unique for almost everything I load except very light target loads, and heavy Magnum revolver loads.
rc
mgmorden
Member
For jacketed/plated bullets I like Titegroup, but I've been using Bullseye some lately too with good results.
For cast loads I've used Unique, but it doesn't meter that well (still within a useable margin of error as I don't load anywhere near max loads).
For cast loads I've used Unique, but it doesn't meter that well (still within a useable margin of error as I don't load anywhere near max loads).
LBEE
Member
Powder
I have tried a lot of different Powder in My 9MM pistols & my 9MM like
Ramshot true Blue & Silhouette the best. I do a lot of Target shooting & load
in The medium Range using Berry 115 Gr Round nose Bullets.
I have tried a lot of different Powder in My 9MM pistols & my 9MM like
Ramshot true Blue & Silhouette the best. I do a lot of Target shooting & load
in The medium Range using Berry 115 Gr Round nose Bullets.
Last edited:
ElectrikKoolAid
Member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2010
- Messages
- 53
Power pistol.
zxcvbob
Member
I use Bullseye. Green Dot works pretty well too, but BE measures easier and gives a little higher velocities.
WSF for high performance if you don't mind burning a little more powder. It also measures great.
WSF for high performance if you don't mind burning a little more powder. It also measures great.
glenns
Member
Bullseye for jacketed and Power Pistol for lead.
chris in va
Member
I've been using Universal for my 9mm and 45 lead loads. Might have to try PP just because a pound of it at my LGS is only $14.
Redneck with a 40
Member
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2006
- Messages
- 2,273
I use Unique, works great in everything except heavy magnum revolver loads. All of my 40 and 9mm loads have Unique in them.
1SOW
Member
What are you shooting most of the time?
Target/plinking, Action shooting Competition, SD practice?
I like 124 gr jacketed bullets in 9mm.
What you are shooting AT and the Bullet speed needed/wanted, may change powder recommendations.
With no other info, and being new to reloading, I'd recommend Win 231/Hp38 as a good 9mm first powder to learn to reload.
It's very easy to measure and gives a good "load range" to start with.
Target/plinking, Action shooting Competition, SD practice?
I like 124 gr jacketed bullets in 9mm.
What you are shooting AT and the Bullet speed needed/wanted, may change powder recommendations.
With no other info, and being new to reloading, I'd recommend Win 231/Hp38 as a good 9mm first powder to learn to reload.
It's very easy to measure and gives a good "load range" to start with.
Last edited:
rfwobbly
Member
As you can see, there are tens of great powders for 9mm. As 1SOW said, it mostly depends upon the job at hand.
For first time reloading you want a powder that's very forgiving, has lots of information listed for it, meters well for novices, a powder that can be bought in almost any gun store, and is reasonably priced. That pretty much narrows it down to Winchester 231, which is also sold (usually for $1 cheaper) as Hodgdon HP-38. It's the exact same powder sold under 2 distinct labels.
Look around in your load books and you'll see it's always there. It's a perennial favorite that's very easy to work with and has a very wide load range to help keep you out of trouble. You won't find anything to dislike about this powder.
For first time reloading you want a powder that's very forgiving, has lots of information listed for it, meters well for novices, a powder that can be bought in almost any gun store, and is reasonably priced. That pretty much narrows it down to Winchester 231, which is also sold (usually for $1 cheaper) as Hodgdon HP-38. It's the exact same powder sold under 2 distinct labels.
Look around in your load books and you'll see it's always there. It's a perennial favorite that's very easy to work with and has a very wide load range to help keep you out of trouble. You won't find anything to dislike about this powder.
oldreloader
Member
I've had good results with HP38,AA#5,and AA#7. I prefer #5.
spcrobbins
Member
Thank you all for your feedback. I mostly shoot steel targets, but was planning on reloading 115JHP to be similar to my Self Defense rounds that I purchase. Trying to get the same felt recoil and similar accuracy. Wasn't sure if there was an all around choice for this or not.
rfwobbly
Member
Then what speed are your 115gr SD rounds traveling?
Data from the Hodgdon web site....
Lyman got closer to 1200 fps with a similar load.
Data from the Hodgdon web site....
Lyman got closer to 1200 fps with a similar load.
Last edited:
spcrobbins
Member
So, between Unique, Power Pistol, and Winchester 231.....pro/cons?
Seedtick
Member
I've used several but my favorite is Power Pistol.
Seedtick
ETA:
PP and W231/HP38 are good 9mm powders. Unique is good as well but I can get it to meter consistently.
Seedtick
ETA:
PP and W231/HP38 are good 9mm powders. Unique is good as well but I can get it to meter consistently.
Last edited:
jfrey
Member
I used to load everything with Unique and it worked well. I recently switched to WSF in 9mm only and like it better. A little softer recoiling load in my G19 and improved accuracy.
I rarely use jacketed bullets.
For the Lee 120tc conventional I use 4.4gr WSF. It's fairly accurate but this bullet leads my barrel. I won't be casting any more of these.
The same powder under an MP-Molds 128hp is horribly inaccurate. To make a long and boring story short, after leaving the 9mm in the safe for a year or more, I've recently tried power pistol and blue dot. Power pistol (5.4-5.6gr) tends to string vertically. 5.9gr of blue dot appears to be the winner for this bullet as it groups equal to if not better than the Lee. This bullet does not lead no matter what I do, in fact it will clean out lead from the Lee.
For some reason power pistol would spew burnt(?) residue all over the bench as well, more so than even titegroup. Not that it matters, just an observation.
5" XD9 with OEM barrel.
For the Lee 120tc conventional I use 4.4gr WSF. It's fairly accurate but this bullet leads my barrel. I won't be casting any more of these.
The same powder under an MP-Molds 128hp is horribly inaccurate. To make a long and boring story short, after leaving the 9mm in the safe for a year or more, I've recently tried power pistol and blue dot. Power pistol (5.4-5.6gr) tends to string vertically. 5.9gr of blue dot appears to be the winner for this bullet as it groups equal to if not better than the Lee. This bullet does not lead no matter what I do, in fact it will clean out lead from the Lee.
For some reason power pistol would spew burnt(?) residue all over the bench as well, more so than even titegroup. Not that it matters, just an observation.
5" XD9 with OEM barrel.
CZ57
member
While flake powders give good casefill they do not meter as well as ball/spherical powders. Unique is certainly a capable 9mm powder albeit somewhat dirty. Power Pistol will get you the velocity you want but at the price of great muzzleblast/flash. W-231 will get you some excellent Target rounds, meters well, but it is limited in performance.
LBEE recommended two very overlooked powders by Ramshot. True Blue will meter like fine sand and has a low flash signature. Silhouette is treated to give very low flash and meters very well. HS-6 is one of the better 9mm powders and can get you some pretty high velocities, especially if older data is found and used. WSF is also worth consideration. Out of this group I would choose Ramshot Silhouette. It is very similar to Vihta Vouri 3N37 in 9mm but without the high price.
- Status
Similar threads
