help me pick a new 9mm powder

[Ruger 15151]

VihtaVuori N320

Letting your bullseye match shooter side shine through!

Great powder, especially for match competition shooting. However, I think it might be a bit expensive for plinking.

 

[Ruger 15151]

View attachment 794536
90 Gr with 3N37 - (Fact Rd) - 124 Gr with N320 - RMR 124 Gr MPR with Silhouette (Also worked well at max with BE-86) - 125 Gr with N340

Is that round in the middle loaded with an Extreme HP bullet?

 

[ATLDave]

Letting your bullseye match shooter side shine through!

Great powder [VV N320], especially for match competition shooting. However, I think it might be a bit expensive for plinking.

Nah, it's not that bad. Charge weights are generally low. Unless you're shooting a really, really high volume, you're talking a few bucks per year. And it really is nice!

 

[JO JO]

Just got back from local store picked up a pound of BE86 to try , no sport pistol to be had , guess I will go back and re-read the thread BE 86 ,
Also picked up a pound of AR Comp to try in my 308
Back to the bench and off to the range
Thanks all

 

[Ruger 15151]

You will like the BE-86. I get great accuracy with 5.2gr - 5.4gr behind a 115gr FMJ or 124rg FMJ @ 1.145. Obviously, start lower and work your way up to that but you will read from many of the posts on the BE-86 thread that this is a happy spot. I prefer the 124gr FMJs because they are very accurate and have a very light recoil.

Here is some links for BE-86 and Sport Pistol:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/be-86.760289/

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/found-my-new-favorite-load.819387/#post-10513424

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/new-alliant-sport-pistol.816514/

 

[someguy2800]

Power pistol has recently become my powder of choice. I'll bet money I would like BE-86 just as much but nobody here has it on the shelf.

 

[Walkalong]

Is that round in the middle loaded with an Extreme HP bullet?

Yes. Loaded to 1.060 +/-

 

[Rodentman]

A vote here for Titegroup. I use it a lot because I have a lot of it. Works great for me.

 

[kcofohio]

CFE-P & Silhouette work well for me. But so does HP-38. Titegroup did good, just that before I got the Lee Auto drum, I was getting inconsistent powder drops.
I like HS-6 for top end loads.
Let us know your thoughts on BE86. A lot of people seem really pleased with it. Maybe one day I will have to try it out.

 

[Dudedog]

I have had a couple different lots of BE86, one was a least .1 to .2gr "hotter than the other two"
Alliant list a MAX of 5.8 or 5.9 with a 124 depending on bullet, -10% to start would give 5.2ish but if it was me I would start a bit lower, maybe 4.6 with a 124. YMMV.
BE86 worked well for me but seemed happier at the higher side of it's charge range.
5" 9mm 1911, Mixed range brass, S+B Sp
charges as thrown after setting measure.

String: 2
Date: 4/23/2017
Time: 12:52:05 PM
Grains: 124
Hi Vel: 1084
Low Vel: 1061
Ave Vel: 1072
Ext Spread: 23
Std Dev: 9
Xtreme 124RN 5.0gr BE86 OAl 1.14
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
1071 132.804 315.793
1079 133.796 320.528
1067 132.308 313.438
1084 134.416 323.506
1061 131.564 309.923

String: 3
Date: 3/31/2017
Time: 3:14:34 PM
Grains: 124
Hi Vel: 1070
Low Vel: 1045
Ave Vel: 1054
Ext Spread: 25
Std Dev: 10
RMR 124 RN1.12 OAL BE86 4.9gr
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
1070 132.68 315.203
1051 130.324 304.109
1048 129.952 302.375
1059 131.316 308.756
1045 129.58 300.646

String: 6
Date: 3/31/2017
Time: 3:18:05 PM
Grains: 124
Hi Vel: 1180
Low Vel: 1143
Ave Vel: 1158
Ext Spread: 37
Std Dev: 14
RMR 124 RN 1.12 OAL BE86 5.5gr
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
1180 146.32 383.343
1163 144.212 372.377
1160 143.84 370.458
1143 141.732 359.68
1146 142.104 361.57

 

[JO JO]

thank you for sharing that data Dudedog

 

[WestKentucky]

Bullseye. I love it.

 

[LiveLife]

BE-86 ... Scary accurate

... what loads are you handloading?

While WST can produce very good accuracy, it's limited in producing higher velocities as you will start compressing powder charge around minor power factor. BE-86 will produce very good accuracy while producing higher velocities.

Here's 25 yard groups with WST and BE-86 using thick plated bullets (Notice bullets loaded long to prevent powder compression with WST) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ts-and-discussions.778197/page-6#post-9924922

 

[2ndtimer]

I have loaded a bunch of different powders over the years for the 9mm. Currently use mostly Titegroup for target/plinking loads, and Power Pistol for performance loads. Also need to use up a pound each of Universal, HP-38, W-231, Bullseye, and I will still have a couple pounds of Titegroup and a 4 lb keg of Power Pistol. (During the great shortage, I grabbed whatever was available that I knew I could use down the road.) I also like Power Pistol for strong but less than maximum loads in the .357 revolvers.

 

[Shmackey]

WST for light and accurate. PP for boomers.

(Assuming they still make WST.)

 

[Dudedog]

Your welcome, I believe I have some data with the same charge at different OALs, if your interested in it PM and I will be happy to send it to you.
Also possibly some with powder coated bullets, getting senile so I forget
I didn't want to clutter up the thread with a bunch of data.

 

[splattergun]

I love W231 for an accurate, easy shooting mild-to-moderate load.
I'm learning to like BE86 a lot for my heavier loads.

 

[rfwobbly]

Letting your bullseye match shooter side shine through!

Great powder, especially for match competition shooting. However, I think it might be a bit expensive for plinking.

It's only "plinking" until the first relative shows up. After that it's called "competition" !

 

[Texas1880]

Sport pistol or power pistol.

Sport pistol is low flash

 

[JO JO]

I do want to try sport pistol but it is not available near me unless I order online , the next time I order online supply's I will a 1lb to my order

 

[Ruger 15151]

It's only "plinking" until the first relative shows up. After that it's called "competition" !

You are soooo right!!! But that's also when the Zero JHPs loaded in Starline brass come out to play.

 

[Ruger 15151]

I do want to try sport pistol but it is not available near me unless I order online , the next time I order online supply's I will a 1lb to my order

Sport Pistol is a great powder. Many of the 9mm bullseye match guys (25yrd / 50yrd ) are trading their Vihtavuori powder for Sport Pistol. Its difficult to find because its only been out for a year and guys are just learning about it. That's why it's not staying on the shelves.

My advice would be to buy several pounds either through Powder Valley or at your LGS (when you see it). Its cheap powder and works in many calibers. If you were a reloader that had already developed some favorite pet loads with older powders, then you may not see the value in developing loads with a new powder. However, since you are starting from ground zero with your 9mm load development, you might as well put in the work with a more advanced powder.

 

[Ruger 15151]

I love W231 for an accurate, easy shooting.

My most accurate Sport Pistol loads are the same as what I used to load with W231. However, the powder is less temperature sensitive, safe for coated bullets, and burns extremely clean.

 

[WiTom]

Titegroup and Unique for me.

 

[Growlers]

this will be used for target shooting / paper punching / range fun / 115 or 124 gr

^^
This is exactly what I use my 9mm reloads for too. I have been using Alliant Power Pistol for about 12 years now. I love it. It meters well and has a satisfying flash/bang when ignited. Very reliable and readily available.