Best powder for 9 mm PCC?

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Buck13

Buck13

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Do any powders excel in the 9 mm with 16" barrels? I'm planning to get a PCC ASAP, and could be on the lookout for a new powder should one become available, against all odds.

Hodgdon's +P data all show pretty small differences for their various loads, but that's in a 4" barrel, according to the data table. I'd guess that in a longer barrel, the heavier charges of, say, AA#7 would start to pay off relative to the faster powders. Or is the case just so short that the difference is insignificant?
 
My Ruger PCC utilizes a blow-back action, so ~slower~ burning powders don't offer as much as they might if they were used in a breech-lock carbine.
BE-86 and Sport Pistol are my choice of powders
 
BE86, Bullseye, Power Pistol, W231, CFE Pistol mid-range loads with 115 or 124 FMJs all run my Foxtrot Mike Products (blow back action) flawlessly. At 15 yards and on a rest, I can put 5 in a dime size space. I've take all out to 100 yards in 16-inch and 10.5-inch uppers and can hit 8-inch steel continuously. I am hoping for an opportunity this spring/summer to use paper targets at 100 yards to gauge accuracy,
 
BE-86 or Power Pistol would be my suggestions. BE-86 being the one I use in my 9mm carbine. I think BE-86 is the best 9mm powder available. Great accuracy and velocity from a 16" carbine.
Expect between 150 and 200 fps velocity increase over your handguns.
 
What I've seen is generally a 100 to 150fps gain in heavier bullets and lighter bullets up to to 250fps gain for the same load in my Pcc vs my pistol.
So far I've used HS-6 and Tight Group and CFE-P and the results have been about the same with each of those.
I also used some vintage Red Dot and the highest Ve gains were with that powder., IE, a 115gr RN load that gave 1100fps in pistol was 1350 in my pcc, so you may be correct that the slower powders might have an edge in the Pcc.
 
I talked to several top PPC shooters locally to see what I was getting into before going down that road. The big constant, after trying to run their pistol round in their PPC, was to move away from the 147gr bullets they were using…mostly to 115gr, some to 125gr…and moving away from Titegroup powder.

Folks were having very good luck using VV N320 and Shooter’s World Clean Shot. N320 is a bit more versatile , Clean Shot is a bit less pricy.
 
Lee Q. Loader said:
BE-86 or Power Pistol would be my suggestions. BE-86 being the one I use in my 9mm carbine. I think BE-86 is the best 9mm powder available. Great accuracy and velocity from a 16" carbine.
Expect between 150 and 200 fps velocity increase over your handguns.
Click to expand...
.
I agree. Really like BE-86 unfortunately been unable to find any for a couple years. I have been using Longshot a bunch though. I has proven to be a good performer. Good accuracy in my PCC but haven't chronographed it yet though. Something I need to put on the "to do" list. I've been wanting to try Winchester 572 also.
 
Walkalong said:
My 124 Gr N-320 9MM gains no speed from a 5” to a 16” barrel. My AA#5/HS-6/WSF/True Blue/similar burn speed loads gain up to 150ish FPS.
Click to expand...
I’ll try something slower next time. The recommendation to use N320 or Clean Shot came from the guy who sold me my PCC.

I might have some WSF around somewhere. I’m sure I have some left over BE-86
 
The N-320 load leaves cleaner/less scorched brass than the slower powders, but all 9MM loads in my blow back AR scorch cases more than in a locked breech pistol.
 
Since I'm shooting multi-gun matches my pistol recipe is the same for PCC.
135 grain, 9mm RNFP @ 1050 fps velocity using AutoComp!. Slamming 8" steel at 100 yards isn't even a challenge.
Your barrel with let you know what it likes.

Smiles,
 
JJFitch said:
Since I'm shooting multi-gun matches my pistol recipe is the same for PCC.
135 grain, 9mm RNFP @ 1050 fps velocity using AutoComp!. Slamming 8" steel at 100 yards isn't even a challenge.
Your barrel with let you know what it likes.

Smiles,
Click to expand...
Yes, but you are not implying that the powder charge which gives you 1050fps is the same for PCC and pistol are you?
 
I use the same ammo in my Ruger PC7 as I do in all my 9mm pistols. I have various loadings from mild to hot. I get added velocity from the longer barrel length of the PC7 and that works for me. I don't see any reason to confuse things. Best wishes
 
My opinion from what I’ve used in pistols, I would try Longshot or Blue Dot. A full power load of 8.3grs Blue Dot with a 115gr bullet blows A LOT of usable gas and fire out of the barrel of a pistol. Longshot should be similar. This is just my opinion. One day when I finally get a PCC, these are the powders I’ll test first. HS-6 will be third in line. (but wouldn’t surprise me to be the best of the three)
 
What were you after for the PCC load?
A 125 PF PCC load for matches, of best vels you can get from the PCC?
I haven't worked up a match load for my Ruger (conserving primers) but it likes my pistol match loads. (using WSF) They are picking up vel so could be backed off a bit for the PCC and still make PF.
For full power stuff I think BE86 or Longshot would be your friend. (or something in that speed range).
WSF gives decent vels on top and is much happier at low to mid, but BE86 or Longshot will give you more than WSF on top.
With faster powders you might not see much difference with the longer barrel, mid to slower powders you should pick up velocity.
 
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I set a goal to get classified in Limited in 2022 and you guys are enablers…. I need to get a PCC. Do you even aim at close targets?
 
As others have said yes powder makes a difference in carbines as far as velocities go.

I posted a test i did some years ago on slow vs fast powders and the increase in velocities from a pistol to a carbine.

With lighter projectiles in the test (115-120) using fast powders to slow powders the velocity increased in a 16” carbine anywhere from a smidge over 100fps with the fastest powder to a little under 400fps with the slow powders.

However ( as i mentioned in another post a few minutes ago) what is that higher velocity good for? If your talking HP and SD purposes then you don't want velocities too high because you Mitigate the design of the hollowpoint which is designed to expand and penetrate optimally between certain velocities. At least with the common pistol caliber bullets.

Its known fact that if you drive a 9mm bullet for example faster than designed it will expand way too early and dump energy quicker as well as penetrate less than a slower bullet within the design velocity range.

if its just plinking and fun by all means drive it faster and have fun at it. If not consider the bullets intended design.
 
JJFitch said:
No, 1050FPS out of a 5" 1911. Add 11 inches will add velocity. There is a formula to figure velocity when changing barrel length. Smiles,
Click to expand...
Actually, not with all powders. My N-320 1050 fps from a 5” 1911 gains nothing from the 16” barrel. I am sure it’s faster somewhere in the barrel, but not after 16”. It takes a slower powder to gain velocity from the 16” tube.
 
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