NEWBIE question on 9mm powder for reloading

[dwilliams6401]

Hi everyone, just joined and I have my first question and it's a real newbie question.

I'm trying to find powder online and so far can only find CFE available. I've looked for Power Pistol but it's out of stock on every website I've visited. If you know where some is available I'd be very appreciative.

I'll be loading X-TREME 9 mm RN 115 grain bullets.

I saw a thread which talked about the load difference for plated bullets and most said to pick between lead and FMJ.

When I looked on the X-TREME website their load data was pretty slim. Mostly generalities.

Hodgdon's website only gives data for a 115 gr RN made by Hodgdon. Do I follow that load data or research somewhere else for an answer?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[guzzi]

The powder and the bullet you mentioned is exactly what my wife and I use for IDPA.

It's perfect in CZ's, M&P's, XM/XD(m) and Glock.

Good luck.

 

[Drop45]

Pick the weight and profile that match your bullets on hand and load them up. Your gun won't know which company's bullet your shooting. Use the lead data as a starting point and work your way up slowly from minimum charges.

 

[mongoose33]

Where are you looking for powder? Powder Valley has all sorts in stock, Recobs has some, and there are others.

Nothing wrong with CFE, just I'm a little surprised you can't find any.

 

[kcofohio]

CFE Pistol, Silhouette, and AA #5 are plenty in stock at most places. All have been good in reloading the 9mm for me.

Start low and work up. I worked up loads for Berry's 115 gr. RN using CFE Pistol. With a COAL of 1.140", I started at 5.0 gr. and worked up to 5.6 gr. (5.6 gr. chrono'd at 1134 fps on average) which was getting very close to max for me.

I don't know of the difference in profiles between Xtreme and Berry's. So I don't know what your COAL should be.

BTW, welcome to THR!

 

[PapaG]

I tend toward the heavier bullets and use Herco first, Unique second. I don't care about "dirty", the next shot cleans the last one out and I clean when I'm done.

 

[Walkalong]

I haven't used CFE, but Silhouette and AA #5 will work well. I have loaded various 115 Gr RN bullets at 1.130 to 1.135 OAL with good success.

Check the load data PDF on Accurate's website as well as Vihtavuori's for some plated data. I believe Hodgdon's online data has some as well.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=10068925&postcount=8

Welcome to THR

 

[Dudedog]

Welcome to THR.
Some other places for powder on line
3rd Generation Shooting, Brownells, Graf and Sons, Midsouth Shooters, Natchez Reloading, Recobs Target Shop and Widners (Midway USA and Cabelas sometimes have powder)
Most places can ship primers and powder together for one HAZMAT fee.
Cabelas ships powder and primers from 2 places so if you order both you can end up with two HAZMAT charges.
There are more places on line for powder but I have ordered from all of the above.

CFE-Pistol has worked well for me. Make sure you order CFE pistol as there is a a CFE 223 powder for rifle-different stuff. I prefer CFE-Pistol to Powder Pistol less muzzle flash. Since you are just starting reloading and are not after MAX power loads my two suggestions would be HP38 (Win231 is the same powder) or Universal. Both work great for me in 9mm and meter well.
Both are bulkier (take up more space in the case) than CFE-Pistol, Universal is bulkier than HP38. Being bulkier makes it much easier to spot an accidental double charge.

Power pistol shoots well but has a large muzzle flash, Unique shoots well but meters poorly, for Allaint powders in that burn speed range I would also condsider BE86.

That is one nice thing about loading 9mm lots of powders will work.
Out of all the ones I have tried so far my favorites are
1. Universal and WSF (tie for first)
2 HP38/Win231 (same powder two names)
3. Various ones tie here, depending on use.

and there are quite a few I haven't tried yet.


Since you are just starting if you let us know what if any powders are available to you locally (no shipping and hazmat) I am sure we would all be happy to let you know if they have worked for us.
Oh the HAZMAT, if you haven't ordered powder or primers before be aware that in addition to the other shipping charges you need to pay an additional (about) $25-$28 for HAZMAT fee.
This is fixed and is good for one lb to lots of powder. (40lbs??? don't remember, never ordered that more than 8lbs at once)

 

[dwilliams6401]

WOW! Thanks everyone

Awesome answers from all. Thanks, I'll use the above advice and wisely return to this forum for anything else to keep me on the right reloading path.

Thanks again!

 

[horseman1]

Start low and work up. I worked up loads for Berry's 115 gr. RN using CFE Pistol. With a COAL of 1.140", I started at 5.0 gr. and worked up to 5.6 gr. (5.6 gr. chrono'd at 1134 fps on average) which was getting very close to max for me.

I don't know of the difference in profiles between Xtreme and Berry's. So I don't know what your COAL should be.

BTW, welcome to THR!

This is very similar to what I did with CFE Pistol and those same bullets from Berrys . My OAL was 1.125 and I stopped at 5.5gr.

As the others have said, welcome to THR!

H1

 

[RPegram]

CFE Pistol is a great powder for 9mm. It has performed extremely well with straight lead, coated lead and anything else I've put it under. Meters like water and shoots clean. My personal favorite load is 5.0 gr under a coated 124 LRN. I seat the bullet very shallow, 1.150" COL, so even though this is a max charge, no signs of over pressure. I've also used it in 38 special with excellent results also. It has no position sensitivities like some other powders I've tried. It also works good in 45 ACP. Because it is so versatile, let's say I'm well stocked on this powder.