Slow burn, fast burn powders / 9mm

[rodex]

Hello fellow reloaders.
I figured hp38 is a slower burning powder than bullseye. The result is more recoil and less acuracy. Both on glock 19 and this scam artist's 92g i bought for 1100. If the recoil is a function of muzzle velocity, can i put less hp38 in my loads? For instance, 3.5gr vs 4.6gr as prescribed for 9 mm loads?

thanks

 

[WeekendReloader]

I've downloaded HP38/Win231 for low power plinking loads. I've taken it down to where it does not operate the slide, resulting in misfeeds and failure to eject. HP38 is easy to work with.

With really low charges, the brass didn't expand fully to seal the chamber and I got more carbon on the outside of the cases. As a minimum, I make sure the powder charge is enough to fully expand the case to get a clean burn and to keep the gun's action clean.

Between Bullseye and HP38/Win231, I prefer HP38 in 9mm. It burned cleaner and gave me a better felt recoil. My plinking load ended up in the middle of Hodgdon's suggested loading data using Berry's 115gn plated.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Hello fellow reloaders.
I figured hp38 is a slower burning powder than bullseye. The result is more recoil and less acuracy. Both on glock 19 and this scam artist's 92g i bought for 1100. If the recoil is a function of muzzle velocity, can i put less hp38 in my loads? For instance, 3.5gr vs 4.6gr as prescribed for 9 mm loads?

thanks

What weight and profile bullet? Take a look at some of the older data in the Lymans manuals and you'll see they used Unique and Red Dot down to some pretty low velocities for 9mm. Lyman 44th lists 124gr. jacketed with 3.5gr. of Red Dot for 877fps. Red Dot is just a touch slower than HP38. If you have a chrono, now would be a good time to get it out.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Hello fellow reloaders.
I figured hp38 is a slower burning powder than bullseye. The result is more recoil and less acuracy. Both on glock 19 and this scam artist's 92g i bought for 1100. If the recoil is a function of muzzle velocity, can i put less hp38 in my loads? For instance, 3.5gr vs 4.6gr as prescribed for 9 mm loads?

thanks

It would be very helpful if you’d provide the bullet weight you’re loading and the OAL that you’re seating to.

I prefer HP-38 to Bullseye because it seems to meter better for me.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I like bulls eye 4.0 grains for 125 grain cast in 9mm.

 

[n2omike]

I use 3.8 grains of HP38 under a 147 grain bullet. (Berrys 147 plated round nose and RMJ 147 FMJ round nose) Functions well, accuracy seems good and is comfortable to shoot in my Canik METE SFX. I believe the book had a range of 3.5 to 4.1 grains with a 147 grain bullet. 3.5 would not reliably cycle this gun (European guns tend to have stiffer recoil springs) but 3.8 works great in everything I've put it through.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I have a feeling this is going to turn into another "my favorite load is" thread and none of them will be what the OP is actually using - but we won't find that out until page 7 of the thread when the OP finally checks back...

Really need to know what weight and profile bullet's being loaded. We know it's for a G19 and Beretta 92G but nothing else.

 

[Pat Riot]

Here’s a handy burn rate chart.

 

[rodex]

I used
4.6 for 115 xtreme RN
4.2 for 124 xtreme HBCB

i shoot at 25 yards and with Bullseye i was able to get 25/50 into 4*6 inch zone. With hp38 on average i got 12-15/50.

 

[Blue68f100]

If you want to go low, do a reverse workup. Meaning start at min and work down in 0.1gr steps. You will find a point in which your gun fails to operate properly. Then bump up 0.2gr for there and go. Once you think you have found the min, do a powder forward/back test. You may find that it does not work well with the powder forward and need to bump it up. This is why BE shooters use BE, WST, TG and other very fast powders. These are not as sensitive to position.

 

[bullseye308]

Hello fellow reloaders.
I figured hp38 is a slower burning powder than bullseye. The result is more recoil and less acuracy. Both on glock 19 and this scam artist's 92g i bought for 1100. If the recoil is a function of muzzle velocity, can i put less hp38 in my loads? For instance, 3.5gr vs 4.6gr as prescribed for 9 mm loads?

thanks

Here is what I would do. With the extreme being plated you use lead data or midrange jacketed. Load 5 at the minimum charge, and going up .2 grains at a time, load groups of 5 at each charge. Pay real close attention while testing them and take good notes, don’t rush your shooting. Once you find a load you like you can adjust the oal a little and maybe make it better or possibly worse.

Personally I was a big fan of bullseye in 9 till I discovered be-86, but you may not be able to find any right now. Many millions of rounds of 9mm have been fired with bullseye and it is a great powder for it. I have very minimal experience with hp38 so I’ll not comment on it. I myself have fired a couple hundred thousand rounds loaded with bullseye in 9mm and found it to do the job very well.

You mentioned how your loads shoot, how do they compare to shooting quality factory? What kind of accuracy are you used to getting out of those two pistols with factory ammo?

 

[bluetopper]

Yes you can put less powder until it won't lock the slide back after the last round or fail to load the next round. Many, many pistol powders work very well in 9mm. Experiment to get a nice shooting load for the powder you have. That's the fun in reloading. You only have problems if you make them.

 

[lordpaxman]

The result is more recoil and less acuracy.

I may agree with the former but not with the latter.
If you want the least recoil, the lightest bullet with the fastest powder that won’t squib is the direction I head in. Good luck.

 

[rodex]

Thank you for your replies.