Titegroup or BE-86 for cast 9mm?

[Fatelvis]

I have never tried loading for 9mm and wanted to start with these two powders. For loading a 9mm 125 cast (non-gas checked) bullet, which powder would you you use? I'll be firing them from a 3" barreled XD Mod2, if that matters. Care to share some recipes?

 

[IraqVet1982]

I use Titegroup for 9 and 40 cast and it works fine. It's good for plinking.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I have used w231/hp38, AA#7, Titegroup, N320 and now Titewad for the 9mm. All work fine. I had some FTE with the AA#7, but that could have been me.

 

[z7]

i have only shot one cast bullet (MBC Small ball) and only used BE-86 in 9mm, BUT. . .
it was the most accurate handgun load i have used and in two different guns. i shot one hundred rounds through one barrel without cleaning and there was visible lead streaks, accuracy remained very high and a little hops #9 and a brush and they were gone.

I like BE86, i can see the charge, a double charge would overflow or be near overflowing in 9mm or 40sw, it meters well, cleans up like i'd expect and produces good ammo

BUT I have only tried a few powders and not that many different bullets. i have loaded about 3k 40sw and 500 9mm rounds, 2k of the 40 was with BE86, the other was Autocomp and i have 200 low recoil 40sw rounds made with bullseye

i'd say you can't go wrong with either powder though. i just wanted to share my limited experience.

 

[Hondo 60]

I've used Titegroup in 9mm for years.
Works great, but burns hot.

So if you unload several mags in a short period, be aware that the gun will get very warm.

Otherwise, accuracy & reliability are perfect.

 

[Frankl03]

Tight Group is great! But smokes allot with lead. I wouldn't even shoot it indoors (too smoky).

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I have used Titegroup with lead bullets and it just burns to hot for lead if you load to hotter loads, and that helps cause leading of your barrel. Mine leaded something fierce.

Be-86 is a much better choice for lead bullets than Titegroup. Any slower, cooler powder is in my opinion.

 

[Oldman1151]

I use Titegroup with 115 gr. lead bullets and do not have leading problems. I am changing to coated bullets to avoid dealing with handling of lead.

 

[Dudedog]

I have liked 3.7gr of Titegroup with MBC 125gr lead cones. (around 1020fps for me)
I didn't have any issues using Titegroup with lead but it does burn hot and
it is dense so it does not take up a lot of space in the case.
This is not a problem, but it does make it possibly easier for a double charge to go unnoticed. BE86 is bulkier so a double charge fills or overflows the case.

I have also used 4.4 and 4.7 of BE86 with the 125gr lead cones. 4.7 shot a bit better for me. If you use BE86 I would start at 4.4 ( about 1000fps for me) and work up. I think Alliants data for that powder in 9mm runs on the hot side. (at least in my pistols) They list 5.7 as a MAX charge so 5.7 =- 10% to start is 5.2gr. For me 4.7gr was giving about 1050-1060 with a 125gr lead bullet so I wouldn't want to start at 5.2.

 

[z7]

Dudedog, wish I had a chrono. . . maybe next year. I am running 5g of be86 with a 125 mbc small ball, shoots great. I am surprised by the velocity you are getting, makes me wonder how hot mine are. . .

 

[LiveLife]

I have also used 4.4 and 4.7 of BE86 with the 125gr lead cones. 4.7 shot a bit better for me. If you use BE86 I would start at 4.4 ( about 1000fps for me) and work up. I think Alliants data for that powder in 9mm runs on the hot side. (at least in my pistols) They list 5.7 as a MAX charge so 5.7 =- 10% to start is 5.2gr. For me 4.7gr was giving about 1050-1060 with a 125gr lead bullet so I wouldn't want to start at 5.2.

I would agree. When I did my load development with RMR 124 gr HM RN, 5.2 gr was max case fill using longer 1.160" OAL - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9655361#post9655361

I ended up using working OAL of 1.160" with RMR HM RN bullets to prevent powder compression and the load worked well to produce accuracy. But for lead RN, I typically use 1.125" working OAL for stepped RN (for my barrels with quicker start of rifling) and I would work up from lower powder charges like 4.4 gr to max case fill for deeper bullet seating depth to prevent powder compression.

You can determine the max case fill by:

1) Subtract bullet length from OAL to determine bullet seating depth
2) Subtract bullet seating depth from average resized case length (I use shorter lengths) and measure this distance from top of the case mouth down using the end of the calipers.
3) Mark inside the case and fill powder to this mark
4) Weigh powder charge

 

[Dudedog]

Here are some numbers for 4.4gr BE86 with a MBC 125 HI-TEK coated lead cone at different OALs
S+B SP, Mixed range brass
Taraus PT99 5"
Temp about 80F

4.4 BE86
MBC 125 Coated Cone
OAL 1.14 1023 999 1012 1030 1010 1003
Avg 1013.00 ES 31 SD 11.79 PF 126.63
OAL 1.12 1024 1032 1030 1026 1014 1028
Avg 1025.67 ES 18 SD 6.38 PF 128.21
OAL 1.10 1017 1014 1020 1023 1035 1029
Avg 1023.00 ES 21 SD 7.82 PF 127.88
OAL 1.08 1049 1053 1039 1054 1048 1055
Avg 1049.67 ES 16 SD 5.92 PF 131.21