Powder for 380/9mm

[jdownj]

So being relatively new to the hobby, I am having some success so far. I have loaded 9mm and 380 with AA #5, and have been fairly pleased with the results. I know that many loads listed in the books are not optimal, more for people who want to use one powder for many calibers. What would the community consider optimal powders for 9mm and 380? I am pretty partial to AA powders so far. Is the #5 pretty good? Or is there a better option? My loads so far:

9MM/FMJ:
Wolf Small Pistol Primer
.34cc AA #5(Lee Pro Auto-Disk)
Winchester 115g FMJ

9MM/Cast:
Wolf Small Pistol Primer
.32cc AA #5(Lee Pro Auto-Disk)
Missouri Bullet Company 115g RN

380/FMJ:
Wolf Small Pistol Primer
.27cc AA #5(Lee Pro Auto-Disk)
No-Name 100g FMJ

 

[1KPerDay]

You're going to get a lot of people recommending W231 for universal use in non-magnum handgun loads.


I like Red Dot, myself.

 

[Bud0505]

Let me be the first to recommend W231. Been using in for years with great results. I also like Unique for 9mm.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Red Dot'll do ya.

 

[J_McLeod]

One more for Win 231/HP-38. I also really like HS-6, but it's a bit slow for .380. There is load data, but hard to find.

 

[Josh45]

Another for W-231
Or Power Pistol. I say this in regard to loading 9mm, Not .380 as I do not reload .380 so I wouldn't know much about that.
Personally, I like 124 Gr bullets in my 9mm with some Universal. Gave me good accuracy out of my Stoeger Cougar 8000F.

 

[Uniquedot]

I've used Acc #5, Unique, Red Dot, Green dot, Universal and probably another or two that doesn't come to mind in the .380 and 9mm. My preference is Acc #5 when using my progressive press, but otherwise i would just use Unique. Win 231 won't do a thing for you that #5 wont.

 

[gamestalker]

I don't load for the .380, but HS6 and Longshot work quite well for the 9mm. Thats for jacketed bullets though. I don't know anything about loading with non jacketed bullets.
GS

 

[777TRUTH]

I like HP-38, AA#5 & Power Pistol in those calibers under FMJ and plated.

For 124r gr LRN I like HP-38 best but AA#5 is a close second.

 

[DanTheFarmer]

Hi All,

I'm having good luck with both Bullseye and Power Pistol for both the 380 and 9mm.

I'm using Lee disk system as well but please be sure to cross check the weight thrown, not just the volume. The conversion chart for volume to weight isn't always correct depending on your lot of powder and other factors.

Good Luck.

Dan

 

[Walkalong]

Another W-231 vote. Great stater powder which will do well in many calibers, meters great, is forgiving, and easy to find good loads with.

Yes, AA #5 is very good in 9MM. Dunno about .380.

 

[wingman]

I've used a number of powders in 380 and 9mm but prefer the one you use AA5.

 

[zxcvbob]

Unique is very good for .380 max loads.
Bullseye is very good for 9mm.

AA#5 should be good for both too but I haven't tried it.

 

[GCBurner]

I use Red Dot for practice loads with both .380 and 9mm, mostly because it's pretty inexpensive compared to some other powders, and I get a lot of loads per pound.

 

[Timmypage16]

I have been using w231 in my .380 but I have been thinking of trying some other powders. On the line with AA powder, would you guys recommend #2 or #5 for a 3" barrel .380? I was thinking #2 would be best for my application but #5 is getting some good feedback in this thread for the .380.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Can't comment much on a .380, but if I had one I'd use No. 5 to load for it as well. I use No. 5 in a whole lot of what I shoot, and it's among my favorite in 9mm for a paper target/range use load. If I'm going to shoot a match that I need to knock steel down with, I bump up to a 124 gr bullet, or a 147 gr bullet under VV 3N37. And since any IDPA match can have steel in it, I load a lot more of that heavy stuff than pure paper-only 9mm loads.

Anyway, I really do like No. 5. I've used it for 40 S&W, 45 ACP, 38 Special and 9mm. Been through maybe 18 pounds of it so far in my short lifetime.

 

[jdownj]

I'm glad to hear that AA5 is well liked and reasonably appropriate for these applications. I really like how well it meters, it seems to be fine for use with the auto-disk(I do check it), As you can see the loads I posted are basicly book starting loads. I have already realized that reloading won't save me any money... I just shoot more

 

[dragon813gt]

W231/HP-38. I use those and Universal for all my handguns as I don't have any magnums. I know a lot of people like to have a variety of powders to use. I prefer to keep things simple.


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[MTHanded]

I'm using Unique for 9mm and Bullseye for 380. So far they have both worked well. For the 380 though, I use the Lee "scoop" because it's just too small of a load to get the wrong amount of powder in every time with the disc.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have to agree W231/HP-38 for both. If you want something really hot in the 9mm give HS-6 or Longshot a try.

 

[LiveLife]

Another vote for W231/HP-38, just about the best metering powder in my Pro Auto Disk for target loads.

For full-power loads that also meter well in Pro Auto Disk, WSF or AutoComp.

 

[Jim Watson]

231 and get a powder scale.
Those Lee measure charts have very little to do with the amount of powder actually delivered.

 

[2zulu1]

Scale and W231/HP-38 for practice. If you want to go hot, 147/3N38 will put you into the mid 1100s, good idea to have a scale. Did I mention it's a good idea to reload with a scale???

 

[4895]

Buy a pound of W-231 and don't look back. It works just fine for what it's intended. Burns clean, meters well, and develops nicely in most autoloaders and revolvers. It's hard to find a load that it doesn't shoot well.

 

[Bullseye25]

HP38/231 has been really smokey for me in 9mm. Unique shoots better for me and much cleaner