115 gr Boolit 9mm Powder Choice

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Catpop

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Thought I’d asked of those that regularly reload 9mm what is their top powder choice for conventionally lubed 115 gr lead round nosed boolits.
I’ve been using Win231. Just curious what others are using.
Thanks for your input.
 
I always liked Universal Clays for lubed lead 124s in 9mm, worked well for me.
But I don't know how it would be with 115s. Right about the same burn speed as W231.
It seemed more accurate for me at least than W231 was with 124s.
 
PS Meters decent (better than Unique) and burns fairly clean IMO.
PS? Oh I got it, not a powder but——“Post Script:Universal meters decent (better than Unique) and burns fairly clean IMO”
You had me going trying to find the powder PS:rofl:
Universal is one of my favorite powders too!
Thanks, Catpop
 
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Sport Pistol ( light loads) or BE-86 (medium to hot loads )regardless whether the bullet is lead, plated, or jacketed. They both burn clean and shoot extremely accurate.

I have found that I load Sport Pistol with almost the same load data as I did with W231 but it burns much cleaner,

Here's a link to Alliants website showing recipes for sport pistol in 9mm:

https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloa...wderlist.aspx&type=1&powderid=42&cartridge=23
 
I haven’t experimented much but I use Universal simply because I use it for .45 Colt and my light to lower end .44mag loads, I have no complaints and like the flexibility of the powder. I only have two different powders on hand, the other is H110 for full throttle heavy hitters.
 
• If you like the burn rate of W231 (aka Hodgdon HP-38), then you're sure to like the added benefits of Alliant Sport Pistol. It's right in that same zone with other 9mm powders, but Alliant has added compounds to help it deal with the newer types of coated lead bullet like you're using. For me it just seems to do everything right.

• If you'd like try a slightly slower speed powder for cooler running or more bullet velocity, then try the new Alliant BE-86.


► I'm in no way associated with Alliant powder at all. But in my capacity of testing maybe 20 pistol powders for another forum, these people have really impressed me with their latest product offerings.
 
Since I load on a AP I prefer powders that meter accurately through my dispenser. My 1st choice is WSF followed by W231. WSF will give you more of a push recoil, not quite as snappy as the W231. I prefer shooting the 124gr bullets over the 115gr.
 
Off the top of my head, right now, we have in the powder locker, HS6, Autocomp, CFE-P, Bullseye, BE-86, Power Pistol Accurate #s 2 & 9, Unique, Blue Dot and I'm sure there are others...

Right now we have been having the most luck with heavy bullets & Unique powder or Bullseye.

Shoot safe.
 
I now have my pistol powders narrowed down to three. Accurate #2, Hodgdon HP-38 and Ramshot Silhouette. I am now using these three powders in 380, 9mm, 45acp and soon 38Spl. Bullet weights range from 95/104 for the 380, 115/125gr for 9mm and 185/230gr for the 45acp.

The 380 doesn't like the HP-38 with a 100gr plated bullet but is great with a 104gr cast lead. The 45acp looks like a fire breathing dragon with the HP. The 9mm thrives on the HP-38.
 
You had me going trying to find the powder PS

OOpss bad place to but PS:oops:


Not loading lead bullets any more (Blood lead issues in the past)
My 1st choice is WSF followed by W231. WSF will give you more of a push recoil, not quite as snappy as the W231. I prefer shooting the 124gr bullets over the 115gr.

WSF is my current favorite for 9mm. Good stuff, works well for me with plated and jacketed but have never used it with lubed lead bullets.

If you like Universal and have some I would try that first, I have used Sport Pistol and like it for the jacketed bullets I use (but I like WSF a hair better), so if Universal does not work out I would say both WSF and Sport Pistol would be worth trying.
 
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Thought I’d asked of those that regularly reload 9mm what is their top powder choice for conventionally lubed 115 gr lead round nosed boolits.
I’ve been using Win231. Just curious what others are using.
Thanks for your input.
I don’t run lubed lead anymore, in fact some gifted me a box recently and I was quick to regift them. But when I did, I started with Titegroup, switched to N320, then landed on WSF.
 
Catpop,
please let us know what you end up choosing.

So we can all laugh when it's something none of us suggested;)
 
First choice for 115 grain range loads is 3.9-4.0 grains of tight group at an oal of 1.090. Second choice is 5.4 grains of unique. The entire loading range of unique shoots well but the 5.4 is accurate and has decent power.
 
Catpop,
please let us know what you end up choosing.

So we can all laugh when it's something none of us suggested;)
Was busy diving on a barge thru weekend, so I missed getting back to my weekend reloading! But when I decide I will definitely let yawl know!
There is one 45 acp powder I really like that wasn’t mentioned—- Nitro 100. I used to get great accuracy in my Kimber full size.
Thanks for all the help!
 
My go-to powder is TiteGroup.
It was the only powder I could find during the obamanation scare.

Found an 8lb jug.

Great metering, very consistent drop to drop, economical (low charge weight) & VERY accurate

Same here...I've been loading Berry's 115g over TG and they run perfectly. I'm making a lighter charge, I've found my Dillon will throw it within +/- .1 grain consistently. TG shoots clean and produces some really accurate rounds.

With that siad, and I know it's not lead, with Hornady 115g HAP projectiles, I've seen really good results from Sport Pistol accuracy wise.
 
Here’s what yawl mentioned:
Universal Clays, Unique, Sport Pistol, BE 86, WST, WSF, BE, AA5, Tite Group, AA2, Ramshot Silhouette , Win 231, Universal

Of that list, here’s what I have in my stash!
Universal Clays, Unique, WSF, BE, AA5, Tite Group, Ramshot Silhouette, Win231, Universal

I tried RD a few years ago- OK but snappy and I just tried Win 231, OK

That leaves Universal Clays, Unique, WSF, BE, AA5, Tite Group, Ramshot Silhouette, Universal.

Which would you pick for next try?

By the way, I have the largest supply of Win 231/HP38, RD, Unique, BE, 2400, and Universal. But they may not be my best choice for this application. I also have a pound of Power Pistol, 700x, Nitro 100, HS-6, IMR 4227.

Note: Sport Pistol has not gotten to the redneck woods of rural eastern NC yet! I looked!
 
Of that list, here’s what I have in my stash!
Universal Clays, Unique, WSF, BE, AA5, Tite Group, Ramshot Silhouette, Win231, Universal

By the way, I have the largest supply of Win 231/HP38, RD, Unique, BE, 2400, and Universal. But they may not be my best choice for this application. I also have a pound of Power Pistol, 700x, Nitro 100, HS-6, IMR 4227.!

I can tell you this much, the Ramshot Silhouette and the AA#5 are very close to each other performance wise with the Ramshot being a little more economical to use. I could not see, feel or notice any change between the two so I went to using the Ramshot as it seems to shoot cleaner in the gun and doesn't smoke as much when shot indoors. The HP-38/W231 is the powder I use the most of for our 9mm with both 115gr and 124gr plated bullets and we are shooting this in 4 different 9mm. Have also started using AA#2 this past year and am very pleased with what I am seeing.

I haven't used Bullseye since it was Hercules Bullseye. All those powders will work well in the 9mm from all the reports I've read on all the reloading forums. Start loading up 5-10 test loads at starting levels and fire them for function. I usually load 2/3 in the mag to check for cycling, feed, ejection and if they will lock the slide back. If they all fire and fully cycle then load up 30 or so and fire for accuracy and consistency. Then do it again going a little hotter. You should quickly see which combinations work the best. Besides what else ya gonna do in the middle of winter?
 
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