Powder for 9mm reloading

[putteral]

Any suggestions on the best powder for reloading 9mm

 

[Ozark Tracker]

been loading titegroup, meters good, powder goes a long way, shoots good, shoots clean. what more could ya want.

 

[LotI]

A second vote for Titegroup for plinking loads.

For hotter loads move to Power Pistol. I routinely get deviations in the single digits.

A better place to ask would be the reloading forum...

 

[mactex]

Best is relative to any number of variables like bullet weight, barrel length and other calibers being reloaded that the powder would work well for.

For target shooting, I use 6.0gr of Power Pistol with 115gr bullets in my Ruger P89. One of the reasons I use Power Pistol is that it also works well for my .380 reloads.

 

[MCgunner]

Unique for +P and Bullseye for standard loads works for me. I also use 'em in .380 ACP, .38 special, .45 ACP and Unique for light loads in .45 Colt. I have standardized on three Alliant powders, Bullseye, Unique, and 2400. I also like AA#9 in .357 magnum, though. I'll be screwed if and when Alliant goes out of business.

 

[bannockburn]

For 115 and 124 grain bullets, I've used primarily Blue Dot with very good results. Sometimes for 115 grs., I'll also load Win 231.

 

[orionengnr]

Take this for exactly what it's worth, which may not be much.

I'm doing a lot of reading, a little bit of buying (components) and absolutely no actual reloading (yet).

But I'm planning on using 231 for the following reasons:

--There are 231 loads for 9mm, 38, 357 and 45 acp...which are all the rounds I want to load. Not necessarily true of Unique, or any of the other listed powders.
--231 meters more smoothly than Unique (from what I've read on this forum)
--231 is relatively available in my neck of the woods

I am open to feedback on this subject. As I say, I have yet to actually load my first round.

 

[baz]

I would have expected to see this question posted in the reloading forum.

For me, the answer, right now, is AA #7.

 

[Buzz]

I use Unique. I use Unique for all my 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .38 Special, and mid range .44 Magnum loads. It's a little dirty, but it gives me good results in the above rounds and it's very easy to get at just about any place that sells powders. That way I don't have to keep as many powders on hand. That and the fact I just picked up an 8lb jug of it for $90, I won't have to buy anymore for a long time.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

Been using bullseye for years in the 9mm.

 

[armoredman]

AA#7 works great for me, AA#5 if OK, too.

 

[Fisherman_48768]

My preference for the 9mm is HP38, meters good, burns clean.

 

[P. Plainsman]

On the more boutique side, Handloader magazine had a recent article reporting very impressive results in the 9mm from Vihtavuori 3N37. 124 gr JHP @ 1250 fps or thereabouts, high uniformity, etc. Sounded great if you like the more powerful loadings. I get top factory accuracy in 9mm from +P level loads with 124 grain bullets (Black Hills 124 gr +P with Hornady XTP).

Just reporting what I read.

And yeah, this thread probably belongs in Handloading/Reloading.

 

[ugaarguy]

been loading titegroup, meters good, powder goes a long way, shoots good, shoots clean. what more could ya want

Sounds exactly like my experiences with Titegroup. With typical 9mm powder charges in around 3.8 grains it definetly stretches the budget since you're using about 1/3 less powder than you would with many others. Remember thare are 7000 grains to the pound, so you can load a bunch of 9mm from a little one pound can.

I've also used HP-38 and AA7 in some other handgun loads with very good results. It never hurts to work up loads with a few common powders, primers, and bullet types/weights so you'll have alternate recipes if a favorite component isn't available.

 

[jungleroy]

Over the years I have used alot of Bluedot to load 9mm.
I like how I can see it almost up to the case mouth before pulling the ram arm for the belling die. Helps with my quality control, I don't want any squib loads.

 

[KI.W.]

Handloader Magazine makes it correctly.

I have used VihtaVuori powders many years.

 

[evan price]

I load a 125-gr Rainier hp on top of 4.0 grains of Titegroup; Good blasting ammo.

 

[Brian Williams]

When I reload 9mm, I use 231.

 

[BeJaRa]

orionengnr said:

But I'm planning on using 231 for the following reasons:

--There are 231 loads for 9mm, 38, 357 and 45 acp...which are all the rounds I want to load. Not necessarily true of Unique, or any of the other listed powders.
--231 meters more smoothly than Unique (from what I've read on this forum)
--231 is relatively available in my neck of the woods

Now 231 is a great powder and I have switched to w231 for 45acp but there is alot of load data for 9mm, 38, 357 and 45acp for unique. Unique is one of the most versitile handgun powders out on the market. Granted there are alot of better powders for specific apps, but you will be able to find unique load data for probably just about any handgun cartridge. While my lee powder measure meters Unique very well, w231 does meter a lot better. But I wouln't worry too much about how it meters, it is not like trying to throw extruded powder. I like 231 alot better for lower pressure loads like the 45 as Unique is very dirty for me in 45acp but is very very clean for me in a higher pressure load like 40sw.

 

[davinci]

Get a powder that has the lowest charge weight. I go with clays or titegroup or Red Dot.... I get more per pound of powder.

You're not going to notice that any of these are dirtier than the others. I've never used 231 because some old fella told me that it was extremely dirty and 'after a couple shots, you could see all the crap build up on your feedramp and in your barrel.' He wasn't the smartest guy, but hey....he sold powder pretty cheap.

 

[Rod B]

I have very good results using Unique.

 

[Walkalong]

Wsf, Aa #5

 

[Jake in TX]

I've been using 4.5 gr Red Dot for over 30 years, with 124 gr bullets.

Jake in TX

 

[RustyFN]

I like Titegroup for 115 and 124 grain. I use HS-6 for 147 grain.
Rusty