best powder for short barrel 9mm
- Thread starter hawkes
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dnmccoy
Member
W231 here
1SOW
Member
For range loads, the faster powders will work fine.
For SD loads, I'm working on finding one now.
For SD loads, I'm working on finding one now.
Overkilll0084
Member
I use Bullseye for practice ammo.
I have used HS-6 for building some full steam 9 mm loads. It might be a bit on the slow side for a short barrel. AA#5 might be worth a look.
I have used HS-6 for building some full steam 9 mm loads. It might be a bit on the slow side for a short barrel. AA#5 might be worth a look.
Mike 27
Member
My SR9c loves Bullseye, and AA2. Have used HS6 but like the bullseye and 124gr projectiles much better. Very accurate, and fun to shoot in the SR9c.
J_McLeod
Member
I've used 231 and HS-6 with every bullet weight in 4 different 3" barrels and one 4" barrel. Both work great.
RE-15
Member
AA#2 has been good for me.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Whatever powder gives the highest velocity in long barrels also gives the highest velocity in short barrels.
Look in your reloading manual and see which powder gives the highest velocity with the bullet you want to load..
That right there is the best powder for a short barrel too.
Fast pistol powders are unsatisfactory for use in high intensity calibers such as the 9mm in anything other then light target loads.
They will always perform better, and possible cycle the gun more reliably with medium burn rate powders they were designed for.
rc
Look in your reloading manual and see which powder gives the highest velocity with the bullet you want to load..
That right there is the best powder for a short barrel too.
Fast pistol powders are unsatisfactory for use in high intensity calibers such as the 9mm in anything other then light target loads.
They will always perform better, and possible cycle the gun more reliably with medium burn rate powders they were designed for.
rc
Striker Fired
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I've had the best luck with Power Pistol in 9,snappy though.Other good ones would be AA#5(good with lead),N320,N330,and WSF(best with lead). The Vihtavuori powders are great for softer felt recoil,they should help with the short barrels.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
W231 in my choice for practice ammo and HS-6 or Longshot for more serious work.
777TRUTH
Member
I've used Bullseye, HP-38 and Power Pistol. I like BE or HP-38 best for plinking loads.
For practice loads I use W231. For serious loads I use AA#7.
AA#2 works well in my Sig239 but has issues cycling my P89.
Just started working with AA#5 & Longshot and haven't run them yet so no comment there.
HS6 works but is tempermental and a bit Flashy.
Blue Dot works but it too is flashy and I haven't found a good accuracy load yet.
AA#2 works well in my Sig239 but has issues cycling my P89.
Just started working with AA#5 & Longshot and haven't run them yet so no comment there.
HS6 works but is tempermental and a bit Flashy.
Blue Dot works but it too is flashy and I haven't found a good accuracy load yet.
1SOW
Member
AA#5 wouldn't make 124JHP speed in my Sig 239 (3.6" bbl). 1045'/sec avg of 5 at 6.2 grains and had very little increase from 5.8grs. I like the powder, but 6.4 is listed as max load in a high pressure load. I'm trying another powder soon--n340.
J_McLeod
Member
I don't have a chrono, but judging from the distance the brass flew a starting load of HS-6 with a 115gr gave a significant power increase over a midrange load (4.9gr) of 231 with the same bullet.
+2 on RC's post. reason being as I recall looking at graphical depictions of pressures recorded in testing shows pressures to peak very quickly even with slow powders for a given caliber. It looks like most of the bullets acceleration happens in the first few inches of barrel even with rifle calibers. If memory serves me correctly the slower powders have a broader peak. Of course my memory's questionable these days. I bet google would find some pressure graphs for you. I may do that myself to refresh my questionable memory.
1SOW
Member
Shimitup:
While that's 'basically true', it doesn't tell the whole story by a longshot (pun).
The powder burns in milisecs and the bullet travels through the bbl in mili-secs.
I have a PDF file (I don't know how to copy and att.) where a group tested pistol powders and different bullets and calibers in barrels ranging from 2" to 30" The change per inch of barrel was very impressive with most powders. With Almost ALL the powders, pistol bullets were still gaining speed in barrels out to 20+ inches. Some in even longer barrels.
Barrel length matters. Powder burn rate matters Some powders more than others.
The reason Blue Dot (and several other slow powders) have muzzle flash, is that much of the powder hasn't finished burning after the bullet leaves the muzzle.
While that's 'basically true', it doesn't tell the whole story by a longshot (pun).
The powder burns in milisecs and the bullet travels through the bbl in mili-secs.
I have a PDF file (I don't know how to copy and att.) where a group tested pistol powders and different bullets and calibers in barrels ranging from 2" to 30" The change per inch of barrel was very impressive with most powders. With Almost ALL the powders, pistol bullets were still gaining speed in barrels out to 20+ inches. Some in even longer barrels.
Barrel length matters. Powder burn rate matters Some powders more than others.
The reason Blue Dot (and several other slow powders) have muzzle flash, is that much of the powder hasn't finished burning after the bullet leaves the muzzle.
bubbacrabb
Member
I shot a bunch of rounds loaded with unique in my lc9 and they shot well and on target. I pretty much just load plinkin ammo though.
1SOW
Member
Shimitup,
Found the link. Enjoy, it was interesting. BE SURE to look at the muzzle energy graphs.
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/
It has been a year or two since I went to their site. It's much better arranged and organized.
It was just one long list and difficult to find the length and bullet/RAW DATA. This is shortened to bite-size info chunks and they eliminated some data altogether.
Found the link. Enjoy, it was interesting. BE SURE to look at the muzzle energy graphs.
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/
It has been a year or two since I went to their site. It's much better arranged and organized.
It was just one long list and difficult to find the length and bullet/RAW DATA. This is shortened to bite-size info chunks and they eliminated some data altogether.
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You don't loose a lot of velocity with the 9mm in short barrels. I have a Walther P1 with a barrel of 2-3/4" and a couple full length 4.9" models. The little over 2" shorter barrel only lost about 100 +/- fps for the 2 loads I ran over the chrono on the same day with each barrel length. 124gr factory Hot Shot ammo was 1,054 fps average from the standard length barrel and 962 fps average from the P1K. A hand load of 6.0 grs of Unique behind a Remington Bulk 115gr JHP in S&B case lit by a WSP primer was 1,257 fps from the P1 and 1,139 fps from the P1K .
Best velocities in the 9mm without pushing beyond standard pressure and published data come from mid burn rate powders like Unique, Power Pistol. AA5 regardless of barrel length so I stick with those.
Best velocities in the 9mm without pushing beyond standard pressure and published data come from mid burn rate powders like Unique, Power Pistol. AA5 regardless of barrel length so I stick with those.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I agree, the powder that will give you the highest velocities from a 4" barrel will also do so in a shorter barrel.
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