Need some advice on 9mm powder

[natgas]

I have been loading both 9 and 45 for about 6-7 months; I have stockpiled about 10,000 rounds in total but have loaded nothing but Clays for both on advice from my LGS. I load for mostly 1911's but also a glock 19 and an XDm.

I'm interested in trying another powder and would like some good advice for what I might try. I'm planning on a trip to Powder Valley next week and would appreciate any advice.

Thanks

 

[Walkalong]

Good news is the 9MM works well with many powders. N320, N330, N340, W-231, WSF, AA #5, HS-6, Silhouette, Unique, Universal Clays, True Blue, Power Pistol.....

What power level?

 

[natgas]

Nothing more than putting holes in paper and hitting steel at the range. I just want to know if there's something more accurate out there

 

[cfullgraf]

Everyone has their favorite powder and each favorite is more accurate than any one else's favorite.

The stock answer is you need to determine what works best in your handgun and situation.

Personally, I like True Blue and Unique in my 9x19s.

 

[zxcvbob]

Bullseye is very good in 9mm. If you want more oomph, use WSF or Power Pistol. The top performer is AA#7, but that one takes a *lot* of powder. All four measure wonderfully

 

[hvychev77]

i've been using w231 for a while now and i like it a lot. i haven't had much experience with a lot of other powders but, it seems to be a mainstay for a lot of reloaders. i think it shoots fairly clean and for me, since i'm a newbie to reloading, it fills the case up so it's obvious if you've overcharged a case.

 

[Cherokee]

Power Pistol, HS6, AA5, 231 all work fine in 9mm. Try several to find the one your gun likes with the bullets you use.

 

[armoredman]

I like AA#7, but AA#2 uses far less powder per shot, especially for a plinking load, especially for cast lead, if that's your main goal.

 

[rbernie]

Unique or Red Dot work OK in both chamberings and are my standard 'go-to' pistol powders; neither powder will give top velocities but both will work well and be reasonably economical for range loads.

 

[oldreloader]

I like Accurate #5 & #7, and HP 38 for both. Not that they are better, just my preference.

 

[UpTheIrons]

I use HP-38 (aka W-231) for both .45 and 9mm and have had good-to-very-good accuracy in both calibers.

 

[J_McLeod]

I like Win 231/HP-38 the best. HS-6 is also good. It's been very accurate with MBC 147gr for me.

 

[natgas]

Thanks for all the input; I might be making a trip to Powder Valley next week to check out some different powders as well as picking up primers and some bullets.

 

[zxcvbob]

Thanks for all the input; I might be making a trip to Powder Valley next week to check out some different powders as well as picking up primers and some bullets.

Get a jug of Alliant Promo while you're there. It's usable in anything (use Red Dot load data, by weight), it's cheap, and gives great accuracy. 8 pounds might be a lifetime supply though, even if you use it a lot -- charge weights are really low, but it's a bulky powder so it fills the cases pretty well.

 

[gamestalker]

I don't load 45 ACP but for the 9's and .40's I like HS6 and Longshot. Of the two, each has it's place according to the bullet weight I'm working with. It seems that Longshot is a better performer for the 124 gr. and up. And HS6 is my prefered powder for 90 gr. - 115 gr. bullets. Both are high performance powders that I feel are better suited for S.D., rather than paper punching. But in this aspect, I target practice with the same loads I carry.

 

[Clark]

I have experimented with;
Red Dot
Bullseye
Herter's 164
SR7625
Unique
AA#5
Power Pistol
HS-6
Blue Dot
2400
3N37
800-X
AA#7
N105
Long Shot
STEEL
Enforcer
AA#9
N110
H110
W296
LIL'GUN

3N37, HS6, and AA#5 have the speed-density product to get the average 9mm pistol [barrel with case support at .19" from breech] to get a case bulge, in a work up, with any brand 9mm brass [.16" web].

Power Pistol can make the most power.

 

[zxcvbob]

I've been intrigued by STEEL since it came out, mostly for use in magnum revolver cartridges. But I haven't tried it because I suspect it measures about like cornflakes. (Is that about right?) Does it perform well, or is it too "peaky" (or have other Blue Dot-like bad habits)

 

[AlliedArmory]

W231/HP-38 is my personal fav.

 

[sixgunner455]

I've been using Bullseye. It works very well, and uses very small charge weights, so is cost-effective.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

For lead in both calibers, I would use Unique. For plated or jacketed, I would use Power Pistol.

 

[Blue68f100]

The powder is the cheapest component in the reloading process, so saving $0.003 per round is mute point.

I like WST for the 45 and WSF for the 9mm. I have also used 231 for both. The WST is the best I have used in a 45. It produces a softer recoil and super clean burning besides being a high loft powder. These are a very fine ball powder and meter nicely. I use the WSF for bullets 124gr and 147gr it too produces a very soft recoil, for 115gr I use the 231.

I do not like ultra fast bring powders with high density (small vol/weight). With WSF & WST they fill the case nicely and a double charge will flow over. With the ultra fast burn powders you have a greater deviation when it comes to loads. And some are very sensitive to setback and have a narrow range to work in. A double charge is hard to detect since you can normally have 4 charges before it over fill the case.

Give the WST a try for the 45 and you may never go back.

 

[squarles67]

AA#5 works best in my CZ75 and HP38 is a close second

 

[MickKennedy29]

All of these suggestions are great, and you would be fine going with any of them. My 2 cents would be Longshot, American Select, N330, or HP-38 for 9mm. It all depends on what your priorities are. If you want speed go with slow burning like Longshot, if you want soft shooting try HP-38, and if you want accuracy then it depends on what works best with your guns. For me, my guns shoot straighter than I can no matter what powder I use so it doesn't matter much. I just like trying different powders; I have tried 15+ powders for 9mm. I do not load for 45ACP.

 

[natgas]

Thanks again for the suggestions. Like some of you, my guns shoot better than me; I'm not so much concerned with recoil or soft shooting as much as I am accuracy (although soft shooting is a plus).

I may try several different ones to see which I like best

 

[Walkalong]

Soft shooting and accurate? N320 or N330 with a 115 or 124/5 Gr bullet.