Time to change powders

[NoHarmNoFAL]

I’m looking for a 9mm and 40 S&W load for my G-17 and G-35 respectively. I am currently shooting Bullseye powder in both calibers. I have been happy with the performance of Bullseye as far as velocity and cleanliness but as I understand it, Bullseye is not really suited for these calibers. I purchased some Tight Group and Power Pistol. My goal is to find an economical and clean powder that I can make 165 PF in the 40 S&W with a Berry’s 135 gr. RS and a 155 gr. RS. In 9mm I would like just 125 PF. I had read that in 9mm 125PF with Tight Group could be a little dirty. I finally used up the 10 lb of Bullseye and now I’m looking for a new load. I’m not really interested in VV or any other expensive or hard to get powders. What do you all think?

 

[ocabj]

Stick with Titegroup. It's pretty easy to come by, cheaper than most other powders, and works well for the calibers you're shooting. I use Titegroup for 9mm 124 and 147. Dirty? I guess. But that's what cleaning is for.

 

[halvey]

9mm is suited for bullseye just fine. .40 I don't know, as I never found the point of a .40.

So your happy with performance yet are changing? :banghead: I'd stick with whats working.

 

[Zak Smith]

In 9x19, my favorite practice load is as 124gr plated RN at 1.130" nominal with 4.2gr Titegroup. This is right around 130PF in my full size 9's.

I have a 40SW load, but it is loaded long (1.230") for my SV and would need adjustment for a Glock. It's a 180gr Montana Gold JHP with Titegroup.

 

[HSMITH]

Both powders you bought will work well, better than Bullseye in my experience. I LOVE Power Pistol, the only downside is muzzle flash. Tite-Group is OK too, but I like PP and Universal better.

 

[NoHarmNoFAL]

I thought about trying Universal but I haven't picked any up yet. I think this may take some experimenting.

 

[larryf1952]

IMHO, Bullseye is too fast for 9mm and .40. Both are high pressure calibers, and Bullseye peaks out too quick for them, unless you're interested in shooting very light loads. I reserve Bullseye for .380, .38 Spl. and .45ACP loads...all calibers with max pressures in the 18,000psi range.

Power Pistol would be an excellent powder for both 9mm and .40. I have used it extensively, along with WSF, HS6 and AA #5. I have not tried Tite Group, so I can't comment on it's versatility. I load and practice with what would be considered normal "combat" loads, on the order of Hydra Shoks and Golden Sabre velocities, and the powders I've mentioned are excellent at providing that level of performance, and they do it very safely and consistently.

I have chrono'd loads with all of these powders, but I've never shot competition, so I have no idea what power factors they make.

 

[Kamicosmos]

I also vote for PowerPistol. I use it in 40 and 45, and have started experimenting with it in .357 Mag too.

I like it so much I bought the company!
Okay, I lied. But, I did buy a 4 pound keg of it.

 

[NoHarmNoFAL]

I had some Power Pistol laying around so I mad up some loads with it last night and went to the range. I loaded up 8.0 gr under a Berry's 155 RS. I actually started out at 6.0 then 7.0 but the Speer 13 book said that 8.0 was the min. load at ~ 1112 fps (172 PF). The 6.0 load was very accurate and soft but I knew something was up when the target caught on fire LOL. This stuff is flashy and has a bark. If the 8.0 load makes PF as it should I think I may stick with it. I'm out of 135's right now but I'll have more in a week or two, the 135 is what I'll shot in IPSC matches. With all the flash it should work my KKM comp when I get that. I'll probably throw some charges of Blue Dot and see how they feel seeing as how I have a 4lb keg. The Power Pistol was more of a push than a snap and at 30 ft. I could keep the dot in the C zone. I have 4lb of Tight Group and I'll probably use it for 9mm now.

 

[C. H. Luke]

3.8 of TG at 1.115 OAL with 124 Berry's RN & FED primers pulls ca. 1,060 fps out of my G34 with KKM bbl.

 

[Deavis]

I've used many powders in those calibers, from VV350 to Green Dot to Power Pistol to AA9 to Unique. The powder I keep coming back to is Winchester 231 underneath a MGB JHP (115 or 180). I really like the way it feels and the accuracy has always been great. I would have to say that Power Pistol is probably my second favorite and then the Vitavouri powders (340 and 350) are next. Last on my list is 800-X, unless I'm trying to make fireballs!