Old Reloader ... New to 9x19

Status
Not open for further replies.
Legionnaire

Legionnaire

Contributing Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
8,631
Location
Texas
I've been a reloader for years, loading regularly for my revolver and bottlenecked rifle cartridges. Never loaded 9mm because it was cheap to purchase in bulk. Times have changed and I want to start reloading 9x19.

I'll be using my own once-fired brass and some 115 grain Armscor FMJs to start with, as well as some Hornady 124 grain XTPs. I'm well stocked with primers.

My question relates to powders. Here's what I already have on hand for which I've found load data: Titegroup, Longshot, Unique, and Green Dot. Interestingly, the 2004 Alliant guide includes GD (4.7 gr @ 1150) but the 2008 guide does not.

I'm interested to hear from those who have used any or all of these powders. What's worked for you?

Additionally, what's your favorite powder for 9x19? I might pick some up if/when the opportunity presents itself.

Thanks.
 
I like Titegroup for 9mm as it produces greater accuracy than W231/HP-38, which is my reference power.

While Unique produced good accuracy for me, during the "Great Component Shortage", I tested Green Dot to find that it produced OK accuracy while using comparable powder charges to my W231/HP-38 loads (And depending on 9mm/40S&W/45ACP and bullet weight, required .2-.3 gr more).

My favorite powders for 9mm?

Here are few of mine - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...mm-45-acp-308-223.872586/page-2#post-11591867
 
Thanks for the link. I scanned that whole thread. Looks like Titegroup shows up fairly frequently.
 
My favorite powder for 9mm is Vihtavuori N320, but availability has me shooting more HP-38 and Universal. I've never tried any of the powders you have on hand. Other powders I've used are Silhouette, VV 3N37, and CFE-Pistol. Current scenario has us all trying new things, and I've recently picked up a jug of Hi-Skor 700-X and a bottle of BE-86. But all things being equal, I'd stick with VV N320 if I could get it and afford it.
 
My wife is the 9mm shooter in the house, and of your choices, she prefers Unique above everything else in the powder locker.

Over the years she has gone from HS6 to Blue Dot and now Unique. I think I made her some with WST also, but she still likes Unique.
 
I don't like TiteGroup, but I'll readily admit it works well in 9mm. I bought 2# of it during the Dark Ages, I didn't like anything I loaded with it... except 9mm. It burns pretty hot (high nitro content) but, again, works well enough in 9mm. Do NOT leave it in your plastic powder hopper overnight. It is also a peaky powder... mind your OAL in 9mm, and watch for pressure signs.

The only other powder you list that I have worked with is Unique, which also works well in 9mm, but I have had inconsistencies in powder drop weights with small charges; normally that isn't a problem, but it can be in the small 9mm case.
 
markr6754 said:
My favorite powder for 9mm is Vihtavuori N320, but availability has me shooting more HP-38 and Universal
Click to expand...
If you like N320, try Sport Pistol. I picked up N320/N340 to do comparison test with Sport Pistol/W244/BE-86 so stay tuned.

Paul Toms said:
wife is the 9mm shooter ... she prefers Unique ... she has gone from HS6 to Blue Dot and now Unique. I think I made her some with WST also, but she still likes Unique.
Click to expand...
If she likes Unique, she should try BE-86.

And while WST produced smallest groups for me, IMR Target has produced very promising small groups as well.

BTW, here's WST dedicated to 9mm with published load data thread for those interested - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...er-target-published-load-data-for-9mm.870180/
 
I have used Titegroup & CFE Pistol in reloading 9mm Lugar.
The only warning I could give is while using Titegroup powder you have to be very alert to possible double loads because it is hard to tell if you are not watching carefully.
Both powders give good results.
 
Unique has great "case fill" in 9mm, but generally ends up running sooty. Of those on your list, that's the best choice, but still not a great choice.

Then things clear up, try Alliant Sport Pistol.
 
Another vote for Unique out of the powders you listed. Yes it is a little dirty/sooty just like Hodgdon Universal is. While Unique and Universal are not the best at one pistol caliber, they both are good all around powders if you decide to start reloading multiple calibers of pistol and revolver ammo.
 
LiveLife said:
If you like N320, try Sport Pistol. I picked up N320/N340 to do comparison test with Sport Pistol/W244/BE-86 so stay tuned.
Click to expand...
Actually, BE-86, as yet untested, was the first Alliant powder I've acquired, and that was just a couple months ago. Haven't even opened it yet. But I did pick up 2 new bottles of VV N320, and back in January I added VV N330 to my shelf. According to Natoreloading.com, N330 is a great all around 9mm powder, but not great at any one thing.

"Vihtavuori N330
This is somewhat bulky extruded powder. If you want to mirror any normal commercial standard pressure or +P load, this is a good powder to start with. It can probably mirror the velocity you want and be more accurate. People complain about the price of Vihtavuori powder. Its probably $50 more per 8 lbs on average. That is valid.
This powder uses lower, more economical loads to achieve good results. Its a great balance between case capacity and pressure stability.
We find that this powder cannot do anything specifically "the best", but it has no weakness. Its just fine at everything. It can be used from 65 grain bullets to 147 grain with good velocity and accuracy, in a clean burning package. There is really nothing more you could ever need from a powder, besides a cheaper price tag."

It's a pretty decent site....but his loads are way over the top. Use with extreme caution.
 
Might check Rocky Mountain Reloading for bullets.
Both the MPRs and the Match winner 124s shoot really well for me.
RMR is like everybody else at the moment, behind on shipping.

Titegroup, Longshot, Unique, and Green Dot
Click to expand...

Titegroup seems to shoot well for a lot of people in 9mm, I don't care for it but lots of people like it.
Unique shoots well, but the best I could get with my measure was .1-.2 swings, I just loaded for a +.2 swing
Never used Green Dot but that burn speed should work well.
Longshot works well on the high side of it's charge range. (but sure is loud!)

My favorite powder for 9mm is WSF, works well across it's charge range, good case fill.
If you need some brass PM me, I can spare some and some RMR 124gr MPRs for you to try.

Lots of powders work well in 9mm
 
Thanks, all. I have a plan of action.

I'll do a few loads each with Titegroup and Unique and see which I like better.
I may also do a few with Green Dot as I don't have any other plans for that powder; can't even remember why I picked up a pound. If it works for plinking, could be a good way to use it up.

@Dudedog, very generous offer. I'll send you a PM.
 
I am interested in the replies since, like you, I came to the 9mm cartridge late in my reloading "career".

During the recent "component drought", I could only get HP-38 and have developed a number of respectable loads using it along with 115 grain bullets.

Still, I'm always interested in finding a more efficient powder.
 
I’m a novice reloader but my focus has been on 9mm I’m sure the numerous replies have covered exactly what I’m about to say, but here goes

I have reloaded a lot of unique. I have tried as low as 4.4gr under 115 ball As well as 124gr all the way up to 5.4 grains under the same. My final resting place for unique in target ammo is 5.0gr I like unique because it seems versatile Across a few weights, additionally i like its “margin for error” so to speak. I really like that double charging a case is basically non existent because 5 grains basically fills up the case. It also has a much higher max charge of like 6 (don’t quote me on that) so even if your scale is off or you get a little more in the cartridge you’re likely not gonna wreak havoc.

I am currently loading with titegroup. I got into titegroup simply because I had some 147gr pills I wanted to load and unique didn’t offer load data for 147gr. Here are some observations: people either love it or stay away from it. Apparently it has a preferable name among the competition shooting community. I cannot tell if it is more accurate or if I’m just getting more accurate due to more shooting but I definitely bang more steel with titegroup. I wouldn’t take that as gospel because there are too many factors surrounding that. What I can tell you about titegroup is that it does have a very narrow window of efficacy. Something to the tune of 3.2 start load -3.6 max load. Additionally it’s a very fine powder that meters down to nothing you could easily double charge or even triple charge a case if you aren’t careful. I have shot 3.2-3.4gr of titegroup (147gr) with no issues. I have also seen people back down to 2.9gr. That said I have settled on 3 grains under my 147gr bullets and it goes bang everytime, accurately, ejects appropriately etc.


unique pros: cheap, bulkier powder with more room for error and seems to work great on the 1k or so I shot

Titegroup pros: last forever because you’re basically sneezing into the case and calling it done. It seems to be very accurate,

Titegroup cons: narrow margin for error, easy to double charge.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
Considering reloading 9x19
Replies
19
Views
1K
evan price
evan price
R
  • Locked
Lead cast reloads and chronograph velocities for 9x19, 380 acp and 38 spl/357 mag
Replies
10
Views
649
Tcruse
T
powwowell
  • Locked
115 or 124 grainers in 9mm?
2
Replies
42
Views
7K
Josh45
J
M
  • Locked
conflict btwn bullet mfr & powder manual guidance
Replies
14
Views
784
Mini30
M
powwowell
  • Locked
Titegroup User Questions?
Replies
16
Views
2K
evan price
evan price
Back
Top