Fast powders in 9mm with 147 grain bullets?

[PO2Hammer]

For light(ish) target loads with 147 plated bullets. Rainer RNFP and Berry's RN.
I don't normally load 147s in 9mm, but times are a changin'.
So I want to burn up what I have most of on hand, Bullseye and 147 plated.
Are the quick powders OK with 147s for light loads, or do I want to use my WSF?

 

[1KPerDay]

No personal experience, but Lyman 49th says 147 TMJ Bullseye 3.4 to 3.9 grains, and 147 lead Bullseye 2.8 to 3.5 grains.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Thanks, that's my main reference too.
Just wanted to hear about accuracy, recoil, etc...
I've loaded them before, always used WSF, but wasn't impressed.

 

[Dudedog]

Lots of the USPSA guys shoot 147s with fast powders to make minor, Titegroup, N320...
No reason I can think of why Bullseye wouldn't work, but never tried Bullseye with 147s myself.

Fast powder with a 147 in 9mm, need to make sure charges are right, also watch for bullet set back, not a lot of wiggle room.

 

[lordpaxman]

Are the quick powders OK with 147s for light loads, or do I want to use my WSF?

I do load 147’s with faster powders, but haven’t used bullseye. My press is currently set up to load 3gr IMR Target, 147gr Bluebullet .356, at 1.120”. This gets me 130PF with a P320 legion. A jacketed 147 requires a bit more. I believe Target is IMRs Bullseye competition. I do have similar loads with Titegroup, N320 and ASP. You do have to watch COL and setback but the fast powders work fine. You may want to try a few with WSF as that combination can yield very small groups. Good luck.

 

[Havok7416]

I use Bullseye with 147s. Accuracy is just fine. More importantly to me there is less perceived noise at the muzzle, which means my cans are that much quieter to shoot.

The other powder I (used to) use in 9mm was Unique. I never noticed a difference in recoil or accuracy between the two though.

 

[Charlie98]

I'm actually loading 147's right now... I have a box of Berry's left over from some load work I was doing a few years ago... loading over SportPistol to try to use it up.

Fast powder with a 147 in 9mm, need to make sure charges are right, also watch for bullet set back, not a lot of wiggle room.

+1... In my early reloading days I got into trouble pushing 147's too fast with Unique, let alone something like TiteGroup or Bullseye. I would probably opt for WSF, which is supposed to work pretty well for the 9mm.

 

[Dudedog]

I like WSF with 124s, I have used it with 147s and they shot well.
I just don't really care for 147s that much however. Nothing wrong with them I just prefer the feel of 124s.
Some chrono data with WSF
S+B SP, mixed range brass,5" 9mm 1911, charges as thrown after setting measure



String: 4
Date: 7/23/2016
Time: 9:03:16 AM
Grains: 147
Hi Vel: 921
Low Vel: 873
Ave Vel: 897
Ext Spread: 48
Std Dev: 17
Berrys 147 FN 3.8 WSF (Plated)
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
873 128.331 248.741
903 132.741 266.13
921 135.387 276.846
900 132.3 264.365
891 130.977 259.104

Name Xtreme 147 3.9 WSF 1.13
Notes N/A
Number of Shots 5
Extreme Spread 40
Average 904
Standard Deviation 15
Power Factor Average 133
Power Factor Low 130
Power Factor High 136
Shot List Index Velocity Bullet Weight Ft/Lbs Power Factor Date
Xtreme 147 3.9 WSF 1.13 1 884 147 255 130 2/11/2018 12:51
Xtreme 147 3.9 WSF 1.13 2 908 147 269 133 2/11/2018 12:51
Xtreme 147 3.9 WSF 1.13 3 916 147 274 135 2/11/2018 12:51
Xtreme 147 3.9 WSF 1.13 4 891 147 259 131 2/11/2018 12:51
Xtreme 147 3.9 WSF 1.13 5 924 147 279 136 2/11/2018 12:51

String: 5
Date: 5/14/2017
Time: 3:20:59 PM
Grains: 147
Hi Vel: 897
Low Vel: 857
Ave Vel: 876
Ext Spread: 40
Std Dev: 17
XTREME 147gr RN 3.7gr WSF 1.13
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
893 131.271 260.269
897 131.859 262.606
864 127.008 243.639
857 125.979 239.707
870 127.89 247.034


Edit: I was aiming for a bit more than 125PF for matches

 

[sparkyv]

The fastest powder I used with 147gr Berry's was HP38/W231. My test loads performed acceptably.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Finally got around to loading and shooting some.
Rainier 147 PFP @1.135" OAL, 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6 grains Bullseye.
Shooting my Kimber full size 1911 target model with 22# mainspring and 10# recoil spring.
3.0 cycled the slide and gave decent accuracy at 25 yards, but the slide did not lock open on empty.
3.2 cycled and was very accurate, the long bullets must have needed a few more rpm's. Slide locked open reliably.
3.4 and 3.6 were accurate as well, just a little more recoil.
Really liked these Bullseye loads, very good accuracy with low noise and recoil.
Was going to try W231, but W231 gets a little wimpy in cold weather, causing reliability issues with light loads.
Bullseye (and WST) don't wimp out in the cold.

 

[alfsauve]

Keep in mind, that Alliant powders (Bullseye, Unique, Power Pistol, etc) are in short supply and will be for a while.

Hodgdon, so far, is still available at reasonable prices, and while TiteGroup is not my preferred 9mm powder it's going to have to do for the next year.