Need 9mm 115/124 Grain Powder Recommendation

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fmnnc

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Getting ready to load some 9mm for the first time. Lots of powder choices but would like some input from the group for the above specified bullets. I've been happy with Hodgdon powders thus far with my rifle but am open to any suggestions for pistol. Loads will be used for target shooting.

Thanks
 
My favorite powder for 9mm is Green Dot. When I ran out, I switched to Promo because I had 8 pounds of it. Promo works almost as well as Green Dot. Red Dot is pretty much identical to Promo but it costs a little more -- but you don't have to buy 8 pounds at a time.
 
I think you'll get as many choices as you get answers, but I like AA #7.
 
every time i see someone looking for load data i always post the same thing. The link is really good. This guy actually did his home work. Looked a lot of load data and has it readily available. I have used his information a lot myself. The load data is really good. I always refer to it. so without further delay here you go.
http://www.reloadammo.com/reload.htm



(WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter,
HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose, FMC= Full Metal Case, FMJ= Full Metal Jacket
JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet)

Loads for 9 MM Luger:
(Note: These are near maximum loads, you should use 10% less to start.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.)
Bullet size is .355" (jacketed) in diameter. Cast bullets for 9mm (like Lead RN) are often .356" diameter.
Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start 10% under these charges and work up.
THESE ARE MAXIMUM LOADS! - NOTE, powder companies have reduced some of these hot and maximum loads after these figures were posted. You might check current loads from powder company before loading maximum loads.


----------------------------------------
90 grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)
Bullseye 5.0 gr. 1,250 FPS
Unique 6.1 gr. 1,341
HP38 5.8 gr. 1,349
HS-6 8.1 gr. 1,380
No. 2 4.8 gr. 1,331
No. 5 6.8 gr. 1,343
231 5.1 gr. 1,305
----------------------------------------
100 grain JHP or FMC (Jacketed Hollow Point)
Bullseye 4.9 gr. 1,182 FPS
Unique 6.0 gr. 1,248
HP38 5.5 gr. 1,282
HS-6 7.5 gr. 1,313
No. 2 5.2 gr. 1,190
No. 5 6.8 gr. 1,200
No. 7 9.0 gr. 1,230
231 5.1 gr. 1,235
WAP 6.0 gr. 1,155
VV N350 6.0 gr. 1,180
-----------------------------------------
115 grain FMC
Bullseye 4.3 gr. 1,180 FPS
Unique 6.1 gr. 1,185
Universal 5.0 gr. 1,149
Clays 3.9 gr. 1,095
HP38 5.1 gr. 1,167
No. 2 4.4 gr. 1,092
No. 5 7.0 gr. 1,192
231 4.2 gr. 1,135
WSL 4.5 gr. 1,105
WSF 5.7 gr. 1,165
WAP 6.0 gr. 1,162
VV N350 6.0 gr. 1,130
-----------------------------------------
125 grain Lead RN (.356" dia)
Bullseye 4.7 gr. 1,105 FPS
Unique 6.0 gr. 1,165
No. 2 4.2 gr. 1,002
No. 5 6.2 gr. 1,133
231 4.0 gr. 1,035 updated 9-15-03 to lower 4.0 instead of 5.1
WSL 3.8 gr. 985
WSF 4.7 gr. 1,055
-----------------------------------------
125 grain FMC or JHP
Bullseye 4.2 gr. 1,155 FPS
Unique 6.0 gr. 1,150
Universal 4.9 gr. 1,118
Clays 3.7 gr. 1,056
HP38 4.8 gr. 1,088
No. 2 4.1 gr. 1,057
No. 5 6.4 gr. 1,200
231 4.1 gr. 1,095
WSL 4.1 gr. 1,025
WSF 5.3 gr. 1,115
VV 3N37 6.3 gr. 1,165
-----------------------------------------
145 grain Lead RN (Round Nose)
Bullseye 3.5 gr. 942 FPS
Unique 3.8 gr. 1,108
HS6 5.0 gr. 968
No. 2 3.7 gr. 893
No. 5 5.1 gr. 984
No. 7 7.2 gr. 1,052
WSF 3.9 gr. 961
-----------------------------------------
147 grain FMJ or JHP
Bullseye 4.2 gr. 1,010 FPS
Unique 4.4 gr. 1,010
Universal 3.7 gr. 851
HS6 6.0 gr. 973
No. 2 4.0 gr. 888
No. 5 5.3 gr. 991
WSF 4.3 gr. 935
WAP 4.7 gr. 964
HP-38 3.5 grs. 818 to 825 fps (contributed by a friend)
-----------------------------------------

Discussion: Bullseye is a fast burning powder and perhaps better suited to the small cases like the 9mm. It burns completely and fast. Unique is a very consistent burning powder and it is almost a tossup with the heavier bullets. Universal, Clays and HS6 are from Hodgdon and similar to Bullseye and Unique. HS6 is slowest of the group (Similar to 2400) and takes quite a bit more powder. Respectively are No.2 and No.5 from Accurate.
As you move up in loads, you at least need the gas check on the bottom of the bullet to prevent gas melting the lead and fouling the barrel. For any loads over 900 FPS, I suggest using a jacketed or plated bullet. Jacketed bullets create a bit more wear on the rifling, but it's better than trying to wire brush out a bunch of lead build up. Just depends on what kinds of loads you plan to shoot. A bullet with a copper gas check or copper plating is best for INDOOR ranges to keep lead vapors out of the air.




*
Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders.
Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders.
IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company.
No. 2, No. 5, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company
WMR, WSF, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div.


References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet - - Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders' Guide (1995) - - Hodgdon's Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) - - Speer Reloading Manual, #12 - - Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition - - Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. - - VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) - - Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted.

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HS-6 meters beautifully. Is accurate (124 gr.) out of my pistols. Best at upper end velocities. For a "target" load, hard to beat Win. 231.
 
My favorite 9mm load is 4.1 grs of Bullseye on a 124gr FMJ. For cast lead I like a 124gr flat point on 3.8 grs of Bullseye. Both are super accurate in my guns, especially the cast bullet.
 
Another vote for HS-6 with 124gr projectile, and yes it's best at the higher end velocities. I have also tested and enjoyed 231, Power Pistol, AA#7, WSF and American Select. I'm about to start working up loads for Hodgdon Universal Clays and Titegroup. 9mm is such a versatile caliber.
 
Almost all of my practice loads are with 125 gr cast bullets. HS6, AA5 and AA7 are the powders I use most. They work very well with jacketed bullets too.
 
+1 to Unique in 9mm. Burns much cleaner in high pressure rounds like 9mm and .40S&W than it does in .45ACP or .38Special.

The loads published by Scrat are hot. I use 3.7gr Unique witth a 147gr hard cast lead TCFP from Bushwacker and when mixed in with 147 grain Winchester Ranger SXT in a "Dutch load" magazine they feel about the same and are a great practice analog for the much more expensive JHP round. I've shot many thousands of these in a wide variety of pistols and while pretty hot they are certainly safe.

If you screw up and double charge it'll overflow the case so you can't miss it. I did run my powder measure dry once and produced some super light loads and squibs, if you are paying attension when shooting you'll cleary note the reduced recoil and report and hopefully note the fact that gun might not fully cycle.

When shooting reloads, "tap-rack-bang" drills should be off the adjenda should you have a failure.

I'd be concerned that his 125gr lead round nose load with 6.0 gr unique might be a misprint! I stopped at 5.2 grs with this bullet and find a 124 gr hard cast lead TCFP (the longer bearing surface maxes out with less powder!) with 4.7gr Unique shoots about like 124gr factory +P.

So big +1 to use these as a guide and start 10% below what he's listed!

--wally.
 
This is some great information gentlemen. Comments about burning clean, dirty, meters well, and etc. were just what I was looking for! Scrat went above and beyond...thank you sir...some great info and is very much appreciated. 10-4 on the "hot"!

Again...is this a great group or what. Hats off to the person or persons that started THG!

:)
 
Titegroup and HS-6 are my two favorite powders. I have been hearing some great things about WSF and am going to try some the next time I need powder.
Rusty
 
Hodgdon Universal Clays is my favorite 9mm powder. It meters well, burns cleanly, accurate, produces good velocities, and is a good fit. It's also very versatile. I use it in warm (not hot) .357 and .45 Colt. Great powder for 20 and 28 ga.
 
W-231 - very accurate (good target loads)
Longshot - very accurate (great for high speed jacketed bullets)
Powder Pistol - accurate (not as much velocity as Longshot)
HS-6 (good all around 9mm powder but the above 3 are better)
 
AA #5 is all around hard to beat for a combo of good accuracy, velocity, and cleanliness.

Others will give more velocity, if that is what you are after.
 
124g bullets and Unique. I like Unique since it works well for all the calibers I load for.
 
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