need powder advice/ suggestions

[Detritus]

Ok, here's the deal i am gathering all the components and remaining "reloading gadgets" that i need to be able to start loading 9mm. thing is that the last time i reloaded pistol ammo was 8-10 years ago and I wasn't the one picking what components to use. nor can i remember what did or did not work well for my dad and I.

So i am asking advice from the forum as to what powder to try.

here are my criteria

the load will be 115gr bullet hopefully loaded to somewhere near the velocity of WWB.

reduced chance of a double charge (not even sure of how likely a double is in 9mm)

But that in addition to the above I want a powder that will meter consistently in a LEE Auto Disk powder measure. Since i intend to switch to a turret press in the near future for my pistol loads , so as to be more able to keep up with my anticipated, high usage of pistol ammo (both wife and i shooting 9mm every trip).

well i'm open to suggestions guys

thanks in advance for your suggestions and help.

 

[RustyFN]

If you are going to buy a turret then I would suggest the Lee Classic Turret and the Pro Auto Disk. There is a big difference between the Classic kit and the Deluxe kit but they are close in price. For 9mm I have used Bullseye, HS-6and Titegroup. I think all three powders worked fine but I like TG best. Starting loads would be BE 4.2gr, TG 4.1gr and HS 6.7gr so there would be less of a chance to double charge with HS-6. On the other hand if you are paying attention the chance of a double is very slim. I think it is easier to end up with a squib so I added a light to my press so I can see the powder before I set the bullet on every round. All three seemed to meter fine until I tried to throw some very light loads and most of that problem was trying it with the charge bar and not using the disk. All of my loads feel lighter than WWB but are more accurate. I don't have a chrono so I don't know about velocity. I can tell you that I don't have any trouble knocking down steel plates and shooting through bowling pins. Hope this helps.
Rusty

 

[db_tanker]

HS-6 and 231/HP-38 would be my suggestions for 9mm.


Both are pretty flexible with different bullet weights and firearms.


HS-6 would be the easiest to spot for a double charge, though...


D

 

[JDGray]

I like HS6, also. No chance on a double charge, meters great, good velocity at a low pressure(comparitivly speeking) I load 115gr fmj with 6.5gr HS6, still has move velocity than WWB, and thats a reduced load. 115gr fmj: 6.0gr HS6=1050fps, 6.5gr HS6=1190fps. Load safe!

 

[Detritus]

If you are going to buy a turret then I would suggest the Lee Classic Turret and the Pro Auto Disk. There is a big difference between the Classic kit and the Deluxe kit but they are close in price

Just to be clear, i already have the Deluxe turret kit (4-hole version), and the normal Auto Disk (probably upgrade soon). Just haven't had a chance, or since i haven;t been doing pistol ammo any reason, to mount the turret press yet. and probably won't till after i re-org the entire room to fix the total lack of orginization i am currently suffering from (5 almost 6 years i've been trying to get that space re-done. but everytime, we wind up buying stuff to fix-up a room with more "daily use") .

thanks for the advice so far guys, will take a look for HS-6, and the others when i hit the shops next week.

keep it coming, any and all info is appreciated.

 

[sansone]

+1 for Hodgdon HS6.. sphere-shaped powder meters great with the Lee Auto-disc (which can be finicky with flake powder)

 

[Walkalong]

AA# 5 and WSF are great for 9MM as well.

 

[SLM]

AA#7 is my current favorite in 9mm right now. I also load Titegroup but prefer the #7. It's a much slower burning powder than Titegroup and you use more but that helps alleviate the chance of a double or no charge. In my guns, it seems to be more accurate and cleaner too. I bought a pound of Blue Dot (just a little slower than AA#7) to try out next. It's a flake powder though so it might not be a very good choice in your Lee measure.

 

[The Bushmaster]

W-231 gets my vote and I don't worry about double charging a case as I pay attention to what I'm doing when I reload and I don't allow any outside distractions. If one occurs (outside distraction) it's ALL STOP. Then we re-evaluate and start again...

 

[byf43]

W-231 gets my vote and I don't worry about double charging a case as I pay attention to what I'm doing when I reload and I don't allow any outside distractions. If one occurs (outside distraction) it's ALL STOP. Then we re-evaluate and start again...

W-231 gets my vote as well. (GREAT powder in 9mm and .45 acp!)

The Bushmaster hit the nail on the head regarding distractions!!!!!!

 

[Detritus]

I don't worry about double charging a case as I pay attention to what I'm doing when I reload

actually to be quite honest i'm not all that worried about a Double charge. i just figure a powder bulky enough to limit the chances of a double would also make it easier to catch an Undercharged case as well.

for reasons relating to the first IDPA match i shot in, Sqib loads are one of the top things in my personal "bothers the heck outta me" list.