What should my next powder purchase be?

[topspin25]

I load only for 9mm. I have VV N3320. I will be shooting target and steel challenge. What should my next powder buy be?

 

[mjsdwash]

I switched to bullseye. Extremely accurate, excellent metering, 1400 rounds/pound, and light to normal loads fill the case about 60%, so no double charge worry. I get 115grain bullets to 1300 in my 5" 1911 with a max load, so its not "too fast for 9mm". Starting loads run just under 1200fps.

 

[milsurpguy]

Unique and hp38 are also pretty good in 9.
If you want cheap get some general dynamics cbi, you get about 1,200 shots per pound, it fills the case all the way up but it really only works well with 115gr.
And it's half the price of bullseye.

 

[Blue68f100]

WSF has always been my go to for 9mm. 231/HP38 also works well. All these powders meter very good since they are ball powders.

 

[LeftyRed]

I picked up some CFE Pistol. Hope is does good in my 38s and 9mm cause they have the 8pound jugs in stock. Want to stock up. Seems like a pretty versatile powder, for my calibers.

Can’t beat 232/hp38! Not the highest velocity, but very versatile. I have used it in 45LC to 32ACP.

Lefty

 

[Charlie98]

These days, it's what you can find on the shelf. Review some load data and look for a powder that is available to you.

Generically speaking... Unique is decent, and TiteGroup (although I don't like how TG works, it's still a very good 9mm powder.) I've also used W244. If I was hunting for a new 9mm powder, I'd probably try WSF, as was suggested.

 

[rfwobbly]

• VV N320 is what a lot of pro shooters use. That's really the best competition powder you can get, especially if you load down in the lower PF range. Being a single-base powder, it runs cool and clean, which the powders mentioned above most definitely do not. Single-base powders can be expensive, but they retard barrel erosion which can offset offset the price for high volume shooters.
• The very best equivalent is IMR 7625, which is also single-base.... but is now discontinued.
• IMHO, the next closest current production, competition grade powder is Alliant Sport Pistol. It is a double-base powder, and can be hard to find right now, but is well worth your effort.

 

[Charlie98]

Being a single-base powder, it runs cool and clean, which the powders mentioned above most definitely do not.

That would be my biggest criticism of TiteGroup... it's a hot powder.

competition grade powder is Alliant Sport Pistol.

I tested SP with 9mm... it's OK, I didn't see where it was any better than, say, Unique, but maybe I'm not doing it right.

EDIT for data:

4.5grn SportPistol and a 115grn Hornady FMJ gave me 1050fps out of my 3.6" Kahr, as did 4.5grn W244. It took 5grn Unique to break 1000fps.

 

[Walkalong]

Assuming you mean another powder for 9mm, what power level?

 

[EMC45]

Bullseye.

 

[milsurpguy]

General dynamics cbi is single base too.
Burns at least above average clean.

 

[lightman]

I would be looking for Bullseye, 231 or maybe Unique.

 

[GoldieMI]

I load only for 9mm. I have VV N3320. I will be shooting target and steel challenge. What should my next powder buy be?

are you using a powder measure that's know to be good with the super fine ball powders?
steel challenge has no PF that I know of...how far are you thinking for your target range?

 

[nofendertom]

Unique---Jacketed bullets.
Bullseye---Lead bullets.

 

[ParallelCode]

Alliant Power Pistol has worked well for me. That said, I'm looking to try Ramshot True Blue in the near future.

 

[Average Joe]

BE86 or Power Pistol for 9mm

 

[AgPilot]

I load only for 9mm. I have VV N3320. I will be shooting target and steel challenge. What should my next powder buy be?

I’ve been playing with the VV powder too on 9mm. What loads are you doing?
Unique is great too.

 

[NMexJim]

I found this site a-ways back and haven’t found fault with what he writes. suggest you spend some time there.

.http://www.natoreloading.com/9mm/

BTW, the Alliant Powder manual is available as a free download

https://www.alliantpowder.com/resources/catalog.aspx

They make quite a few powders besides Bullseye that are good for 9mm, Sport Pistol being one. I’ve shot a lot of Unique over the years and wouldn’t be caught without a few pounds on hand, however I don’t care what Alliant says about the modern version being cleaner, it’s still sooty. Nothing wrong w/ sooty - if you don’t mind being covered in GSR from head to foot.

 

[topspin25]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I think I'll try Bullseye next, then PP or 231. Will test with 115 and 126 JHP bullets and see.

 

[RashQuestion]

I found this site a-ways back and haven’t found fault with what he writes. suggest you spend some time there.

.http://www.natoreloading.com/9mm/

Yes try that site!!! They have a lot of good info regarding 9mm powder.
I agree with NMexJim's comment above.

Good Luck, Safe Shooting & God Bless!!!

 

[Walkalong]

suggest you spend some time there.

Suggest you be careful there.

 

[santacruzdave]

natoreloading.com has a lot of way over max loads. On the other hand they have good info on the characteristics of a lot of popular powders.

 

[Airborne Falcon]

I load only for 9mm. I have VV N3320. I will be shooting target and steel challenge. What should my next powder buy be?

If you've got VV N320, Unique and Bullseye then you are golden. You can work-up just about anything you want especially in the 115 weight range.

I've got a lot of each and I shoot a lot of 115 gr stuff in 9mm and it's all about playing around and finding what load works best for you.

For me 5.5 grains of Unique is just about perfect under a Sierra 115 TMJ or a Berry plated 115.

Never been a big fan of Bullseye for 9mm but some people love it.

I go through a lot of N320 and N330. There are all kinds of great loads for 9mm with those two for everything from 115-135 and even some 147.

 

[JO JO]

Ramshot Silhouette Is worth a look

 

[AJC1]

Ramshot Silhouette Is worth a look

I like it. Still testing currently but now with my hand loads not stuff provide by my dad. The fact they provide a full free manual for download is very nice.