115 gr Boolit 9mm Powder Choice

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Catpop said:
Sport Pistol has not gotten to the redneck woods of rural eastern NC yet! I looked!
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sport pistol is impossible to find in my area I did order some online and liked it a lot, many of the online stores especially the ones running free hazmat specials are sold out of sport pistol quickly
while it is a very good powder it would be nice to find something stocked local for sure to buy on line one needs to buy a fairly large amount to make it worth it IMO
 
kmw1954 said:
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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Unfortunately freeze my tush off in the cold water:rofl:
I’m leaning toward WSF even though I only have one pound.
 
I first tried WSF during the last shortage. (tried quite a few new powders then-not by choice, what can I get, OK does it have listed loads, ok, order/buy it,, shortage was a major pain, and I can't stock up much in CA)
Only thing available was a 4lb bottle, and I was worried as it didn't seem real popular, but it had listed loads for 9mm and it was all I could find at the time.
Turns out I really like it for 9mm, good stuff IMO.
 
Ok I decided to try WSF next!
Now I can’t find any 115 LRN data in any of my reloading books.
I found some data close, 120 gr, and tried five 3.5 WSF today. It Must be on the low side as cases were smutty. Function was fine, but accuracy sucked. Without data I’ll just have to work up slowly, but I’ve traveled that road many times before.
Can any of you point me to some published data?
 
Catpop said:
Can any of you point me to some published data?
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The Hodgdon online data has WSF for 124gr LRN. During the component shortage, I took the 115gr FMJ data and reduced it 10% for LRN. If you’re not comfortable with that, they do have Universal data for 115gr LRN. It’s a decent medium burn rate powder.
 
Think you are quite a bit on the low side
No data for 115 lead but here is some from a older Win pub. CaptureWin1.JPG
So 124 lead is 4.0 to 4.7 so one would think that you could go a bit higher than 4.7 with 115s. WSF right not WST?
Pure guess but maybe around .3 to .5gr less than a jacketed 115 for MAX hhmmm 5.3 ish
Might email Hodgdon/Win and ask if they have any, all they can say is no.
 
Thanks for all input.
I tied 4.0 today and got a 4” group, but cases still a mite smutty. I’ll try 4.2 tomorrow
I need to get those cases sealing up the chamber well.
I’m still using LC9 platform.
 
Rembrandt said:
Have been using VihtaVuori N330 based on a recommendation by IPSC competitor Brian Enos. Nice tight groups and a very clean burning powder.
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And VV claims N330 was designed for 9mm! I hadn’t brought up VV powders since they weren’t in the OP’s list but they do run well in a variety of calibers. They’re pricey compared to others but not prohibitive and if you like the “feel” you pay the price. I’d suggest trying N320 in addition to N330. Of course if you’re putting in that order to PV, throw some Sport Pistol on it as well.... Good luck!
 
4.4-4.5 WSF is my go to match load with 124 jacketed, gives about 1030fps in my 5" 1911.
So with 115s I would think the sweet spot for a light load would be somewhere between that and 5gr.

I liked N330 in 9mm but WSF shot just as well and is less $
 
I have had good luck using Hodgden Universal and plated bullets. It does fine for 115 and 124 gr 9mm bullets. I use Universal for all my pistol reloads; 380, 9mm, 9mm Largo, 40, and 45. I know there are better powders but Universal suits my needs for practice/range ammo.
 
Don't forget about Auto Comp. Keep the pressure down with lead bullets and Auto Comp and there is hardly any smoke. Raise it up to around max load and you'll have a smoke cloud the size of a small car. It is accurate also. I use it with lead 124 gr 9mms and like I said, with midrange or less loads there's hardly any smoke.

Now we have totally overdose you with suggestions so GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DECISION!
Your were probably better off before you asked.
 
Catpop said:
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.
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I used red dot years ago but have been loading hs6 with 125 gr lrn. My latest was 5.5 gr blazer brass and cci primers.

A clue powders you posted are too slow for 9mm. 2400 I used in full power 357 mag 158 xtp bullets. 4227 is a fast burn rifle powder I only used that in the 7.62x39.
 
Anyone else have a case smutting problem with WSF. I assume it is from cases not expanding enough to seal to chamber walls. With me it occurred between 3.5 and 4.2 gr of WSF. It stopped at 4.5 grains.
Is WSF considered a dirty powder?
 
Most all powders will be sooty if your below there optimum pressure range they are designed to work in. A you found out it clears up when the pressure gets up. I use WSF on all my 9mm loads but I mainly shoot 124gr bullets. Not looking at my notes your were running on the low side the reason for the soot. Your groups will tighten up once you get to a stabilized pressure, no soot.
 
Blue68f100 said:
Most all powders will be sooty if your below there optimum pressure range they are designed to work in. A you found out it clears up when the pressure gets up. I use WSF on all my 9mm loads but I mainly shoot 124gr bullets. Not looking at my notes your were running on the low side the reason for the soot. Your groups will tighten up once you get to a stabilized pressure, no soot.
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With no exact data, I am working up slowly. I’ve run into this same problem in 357 and 45 acp before.
The 4.5 has stopped the smutting so maybe the groups will soon improve.
Thanks
 
Still guessing you will find a sweet spot between 4.5 and 5, thanks for keeping us posted.
 
I’m at 4.8, but accuracy doesn’t seem to be improving—yet!
Recoil is now on par with WCC 1988 115 FMJ. But I have noticed a few primers slightly cratering, so I’m getting a little leery of continuing this quest.
Any comments?
 
Catpop said:
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.
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This us your original post asking for opinions.

Catpop said:
Anyone else have a case smutting problem with WSF. I assume it is from cases not expanding enough to seal to chamber walls. With me it occurred between 3.5 and 4.2 gr of WSF. It stopped at 4.5 grains.
Is WSF considered a dirty powder?
Click to expand...

We give our opinion and we have a "case smutting problem". We have no problem just different opinions.

By the way hogden lists 4.7 gr of wsf 124 lrn as Max charge. A 115 should be able to use 5 gr or so.
 
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