W231 not achieving slidelock w/147-gr. lead - what's your favorite powder?

I have been using HS-6 with 147 gr. cast & coated truncated cone bullets (sold as a r.n. flat point). Great accuracy and fairly clean burning. I use 5.0 grains, max listed is 5.3, lighter charges were dirty due to low pressure but cleaned up nicely at 5.0 grains. Velocity is 910 out of 4.5" barrel. I would expect around 950 out of the max load given same barrel length. 100% reliable function & good slide lock. YMMV
Jim

For more velocity I think you would want a slower burning powder than W231.
I use WSF, CFE-P and BE86 with 147s but I shoot a lot more 124/125gr in 9mm.
I would say WSF is better than the latter two for mid range loads, CFE-P and BE86 a bit better on top but not by a lot over WSF.
Can't find my notes about it but I remember you could push them pretty good with Longshot, probably the better velocity than the three above, so if you feel like being fast, loud and flashy- Longshot. (since you have a suppressor Longshot might not be Loudshot)
otherwise one of the other three is probably a better choice.

I haven't tried 147s with Silhouette yet but I have a feeling it might work well.
Lyman lists a MAX charge of AA#7 at 1061fps with a lead 147 so it might be worth looking at.
VV lists smoking #s in 9mm with a jacketed 147 and 3N38 but I have never used it so I don't know if they are true or not. At listed MAX charge 1207fps with a 147XTP. but no listed data for 3N38 and lead from VV.

Since you're a Winchester powder fan give W572 a try. It's slower burning and will deliver higher velocity.

I just worked up some 147 grain loads with Zip and Silhouette.

RMR fmj flat nose matchwinner. OAL 1.10"
Winchester primers
Mixed brass
Kahr CM9 firearm

Zip 7 shot velocity averages:
3.4gr=823fps
3.5gr=829fps
3.6gr=835fps
3.7gr=838fps
3.8gr=862fps
3.9gr=878fps

Silhouette 7 shot velocity averages
4.4gr=849fps
4.5gr=869fps
4.6gr=880fps
4.7gr=887fps
4.8gr=900fps
4.9gr=929fps

All cycled action and locked slide properly. Zip had overall extreme spread of 38-48 compared to Silhouette's 31-58. Both were cleaner burning than my usual Longshot loads.

I chose not to try win 231 with these bullets because of expected velocity (755-845 in my manuals) being too low to make IDPA power factor.

Maybe 231 just can't give enough oomph to lock the slide back on your gun, but it has just enough to eject the case?

I use 3.5 231/HP38 in five 9mm pistols and a Colt AR6951 9mm without a problem, using plated, coated and plain old cast/lubed all function fine.

When I want to step up velocity I now go to Long Shot, it gets some decent MVs in both 9mm and 357S before coming close to maximum.

I like N310 with 147’s but you can get 231 to work fine. Just work up a bit, your almost there with the gun running.

I don’t go for max speed with 147’s but slower powders are better for this. HS-7 and 3N37 being good ones for 9mm, with them I have pushed 147’s around 1150fps.

All of my lead 147's (actually weigh about 154 lubed) run 3.8 grns of 231 for about 950-980 depending on barrel length. Absolutely no problems with that powder level and it's pretty much a full power loading that matches factory 147 performance.

I've loaded thousands of 9mm 147gr using VV 3N37 with zero problems.

My main powder of choice is Bulleye,
147 gr. @ 135 gr. 3.4 to 3.5 runs excellent in my glock17 gen 4

Hey Chuck R, nice to see someone else with a Colt 6951. Everyone seems to be shooting frankenguns these days. I've had mine for over 2 years now and it works just as good as new.

To op. I've used 231 with 124gr bullets at 4.2 and they work pretty good. Can't help with the 147's though.

egd said:

Hey Chuck R, nice to see someone else with a Colt 6951. Everyone seems to be shooting frankenguns these days. I've had mine for over 2 years now and it works just as good as new.

To op. I've used 231 with 124gr bullets at 4.2 and they work pretty good. Can't help with the 147's though.

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PIC or it doesn't exist!!



One of my favorite range toys....

and to stay on topic, those are coated 147s over 3.5 of HP38.....in the mags.

I use Longshot for all my 9mm loading because it has worked well for me at all bullet weights but it really shines in my 147gr coated FP load. I used XTP data and worked up slowly but it was most accurate near max in several pistols and always locks the slide back

Unique isn't my favorite powder in the 9mm, but it gets the job done, particularly with 147grn bullets.

I had the same problem with W231 in my 9mm, I wasn't happy with the velocity or reliability without redlining the load, and at the end of the day I don't think heavy for caliber bullets is where W231 wants to be.

Power pistol or be-86 would be my frist choice I've gotten good accuracy with both powders using 115gr/124gr pills. Have not tried them with 147 jacketed bullets yet but for top end loads they should work great.

Dwb1957 said:

Power pistol or be-86 would be my frist choice I've gotten good accuracy with both powders using 115gr/124gr pills. Have not tried them with 147 jacketed bullets yet but for top end loads they should work great.

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That is how I went about it, albeit for a slightly lighter bullet, in my Beretta M9

5 grains Power Pistol - 140 grain Mastercast TC sized .3575” - CCI 500 - OAL 1.090”
1066 1072 1067 1048 1061 AV 1062 ES 24 SD 9

Hits hard, and is very accurate.

When I want 16 shots on tap of "The FBI Load", I stoke up Speer 158 grain LSWC-HP's with Unique to a 900 fps avg. Accurate, with very good expansion. Both of these loads cycle like M882 hardball; that is flawlessly - but it is a Beretta after all.

When I first started reloading for a new 3" Colt 1911 using hardball 230 gr. FMJ bullets . Powder is W231 as always started out low , recoil springs brand new . Started with 4.5 gr would cycle 60% of the time went to 4.6 worked 100% went to 4.7 to break in an dropped back down to 4.6 with no issues. I know it's a different bullet but testing low and working up you will find a charge that is just right , doesn't take much ,231 is petty popular for 45acp. Keep your pistol clean an lubed . Hope I Helped

Chris