Question on powder and velocities

[Bayou1535]

I have settled on two powders one of which I will purchase to start with to see if I like it. They will be HP38 and titegroup for my new endeavor in 9mm. The reason I picked these two powders is that there starting grain weight max are where I would like to be and they are similar in charge weights. I've read that HP38/231 is sooty or dirty when at its lower level starting suggestions 3.9 960 velocity for HP38 versus its max level of 4.4 1043 velocity for a 125 gr. jacketed. How hy of a charge of the HP38 would I need before it's clean. Would like to to be around the velocity of 1000 (for range loads for one pistol and also for sub loads in another rifle/pistol caliber down the road since a can add 50 to the velocity) never reloaded and my words/phrasing may be off.

 

[243winxb]

I've read that HP38/231 is sooty or dirty when at its lower level starting suggestions 3.9 960 velocity for HP38 versus its max level of 4.4 1043 velocity for a 125 gr. jacketed.

Hodgdon's website gives different data as not all components produce the same pressure. I would suggest you use the starting load and work up the powder charge till your happy with accuracy & how clean it burns. To know what velocity your at , you will need a Chronograph.

 

[frankge]

124g CMJ 4.5 HP-38 gives me ~1100 out of my G34 and burns good. I run 4.1 TG and get around the same results.

 

[Bayou1535]

I got the above ranges from 49th Lyman edition and wouldn't 4.5 be over there suggested max by .1?

 

[gamestalker]

I prefer the slower burning powders because they offer a larger range of powder charge options, and velocity range is greater too. they are also easier to keep a handle on pressures while wroking up, becasue they aren't as reactive to small increments of powder weights.
AA#7 has a load range from 6.2 - 7.9 grs. with a 124 gr. jacketed bullet. The velocity range is from 900 fps - 1150 fps with a Hornady 124 gr. bullet. Blue Dot, HS7, Power Pistol and a couple other's also offer some good load ranges. Different bullets of course may have a slightly different powder charge recomendation, but still it is going to be a very broad load spectrum in comparison to HP38 or 231.

 

[Fishslayer]

I got the above ranges from 49th Lyman edition and wouldn't 4.5 be over there suggested max by .1?

It's not unusual for different manuals to vary a bit. Naturally you'll be starting low & working up...

 

[1SOW]

Using a SIG with a 3.6" bbl and a CZ with a 4.72" bbl, a 124/125 jacketed bullet at 1000'/sec using Win231 will shoot fine and be very "sooty". With 50 rds fired, the feed ramp and much of the internals will be black. It comes off fairly easy with a rag if you don't let it accumulate .

FWIW: I have a chrono and have loaded thousands of these weight bullets with several powders including Win 231. A little more speed and 231 shoots very well and much cleaner. Increased pressure in the case will cause better combustion of the 231 powder.

This is true of most powders. Below a certain pressure level, combustion becomes less efficient. EG. True Blue is a slower powder. If you load it to this speed with these bullets, you'll have combustion residue throughout the pistol along with smoke/residue out the muzzle. Vihtavuori n320 is a single-base powder that will burn cleaner at this speed and runs at higher pressures. Its max load range is under 1100'/sec with a 125gr JHP.

YMMV

 

[Bayou1535]

1SOW, Then what would you recomend for a powder that would be clean at around 1000 fps. Or am I just gonna have to use 147's for subsonic/suppressor use. I'm fine with 231/HP38 for regular plinkin was just wanting a powder that had a low fps and was clean with 115's or 124's.

 

[1SOW]

I use Vihtavuori n320 at 1050/1040'/sec with 124/125gr JHPs. It's a single base powder that burns fairly clean at these speeds. it's also soft shooting in these ranges.
Max load for this powder using 124/125 gr jacketed bullets is about 1090'/sec. Even this powder will get a little dirty at 1000'/sec, but cleaner than 231.

n310 MIGHT be better at 1000'/sec, but I can't vouch for that. It's near the top on the fast-burning powder list.

 

[Bayou1535]

Was looking for a powder that was cheaper, might just have to use 2 different grn bullets or put up with the dirt.