Clean burning powder for 9mm?

[Otto]

Of the 34 different pistol powders I have on hand, Solo 1000 is the cleanest by far.

 

[Walkalong]

Back in the day, W-231 was one of the cleaner ones, especially compared to Unique.

I haven't used Clean Shot, or e3, but N-320 and Sport Pistol are very clean, My N-320 124 Gr plinker load is about as clean as it gets.

 

[ballman6711]

Back in the day, W-231 was one of the cleaner ones, especially compared to Unique.

I haven't used Clean Shot, or e3, but N-320 and Sport Pistol are very clean, My N-320 124 Gr plinker load is about as clean as it gets.

I've also found W-231 to be very clean (especially compared to factory made target ammo), but N-320 was cleaner still and had a softer recoil impulse using a 185gr load.

chris

 

[WeekendReloader]

I also think N320 is cleaner than Win231 in my plinking rounds.

 

[Slamfire]

Almost no one shoots the 9mm in Bullseye pistol competition. One common compliant is that the recoil impluse is different from the 45 ACP and takes too long to learn.

However, because the 9mm has to be moving close to 1200 fps to be accurate at 50 yards, Power Pistol is the most commonly recommended powder. I did test Titegroup, shoots well.

  M92 FS Beretta Bar Sto Barrel 

115 Full Metal Case Master Factory Ammo  
 20-Jun-09 T = 90 °F  
 
Ave Vel = 1180    
Std Dev = 10.19   
ES = 33.27   
High = 1197   
Low = 1167   
Number rds = 8   

115 gr RMR Plated RN 6.0 grs Power Pistol lot 3-16 WSP OAL 1.150"  Mag Length
15-Sep-16 T = 94 °F  crimp 0.375" 

Ave Vel = 1175   
Std Dev = 22   
ES = 81   
Low = 1130   
High = 1211   
N = 20    
    
Very accurate   

115 gr FMJ Hornady 0.355" 6.0 grs Power Pistol lot 3-16 WSP OAL 1.15"
15-Sep-16 T = 95 °F  crimp 0.375"

Ave Vel = 1187     
Std Dev = 16     
ES = 58     
Low = 1157     
High = 1215     
N = 9    

v accurate.     


115 gr RMR Plated RN 4.2 grs Titegroup lot 4-16 WSP OAL 1.150"  Mag Length
15-Sep-16 T = 95 °F  crimp 0.375"
    
Ave Vel = 1092   
Std Dev = 20  
ES = 73  
Low = 1065  
High = 1138  
N = 16   

very accurate   

115 gr FMJ Hornady 0.355" 4.2 grs Titegroup lot 4-16 WSP OAL 1.15"
15-Sep-16 T = 95 °F  crimp 0.375" 

Ave Vel = 1108     
Std Dev = 26     
ES = 75     
Low = 1074     
High = 1149     
N = 9

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Has anyone tried W244 "WinClean®"? It's supposed to be the cleaner W231 alternative. I picked up a pound but haven't had a chance to try it yet. The lack of data is kind of a bummer.

 

[mdi]

I took a 2-day class, pre-pandemic, where I shot 600-700 rounds of 9mm 124gr, loaded over a charge of HP-38 ...I want to say 4.5grs..., through a Glock 34. By the end of the first day the chamber, slide, and magazines followers were filthy

Was your Glock still functioning? How was accuracy?

 

[markr6754]

My main criteria for buying pistol powders is...how many calibers can I load with it? How many published loads are there for it? Can I obtain the powder at a good price? Will I be able to buy more if I fall in love with it?
I've probably only bought "clean" burning powders as I can't recall any that made me quit using it due to its dirtiness. One reason I bought a FART was to ensure that I had clean and shiny cases to begin with, and honestly, the filthier they are going into the FART, the greater my joy in retrieving the shiny goodness afterwards. I have a decent stash of disposable gloves on hand if I have to go somewhere nice after a brass handling session.

In the end, I'll call all of my powders "clean burning" as my loads are generally cleaning after firing than most any factory ammo.
HP-38, 3N37, N320, N330, Universal, 700-X, Silhouette, BE-86, CFE-Pistol - I love 'em all....except Universal before I bought a FA Intellidropper. I lost a lot of hair trying to get it to drop a consistent charge. Now I don't bother...it always goes into the Intellidropper.

 

[Blue68f100]

Most powders burn clean(er) at the upper end of the load range. W231/HP38 is no exception. WST is one of the cleanest burning powder I know of. The main issue with it is that there is very little load data for the 9mm. I use it for all my reduced BE loads in my 45acp and 357mag. I've also used it for full loads for the 45acp. It's reverse temp sensitive and can get moody in the upper end. WST burns clean at reduced loads as well as max loads.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Clean or dirty, dirty or clean... good grief. Time for a basic chemistry lesson. Then y'all can get back to arguing over what's cleaner than clean and dirtier than not-as-clean. On ignition and deflagration, nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine are converted by heat and rapid oxidation into pure carbon. Burned nitrocellulose deposits on surfaces as carbon dust. Graphite is an allotrope of carbon - carbon dust organized as a substance made solely of pure carbon. Graphite is a lubricant. Therefore, carbon dust is a lubricant -> When nitroglycerine and nitrocellulose are burned at a high enough heat to break all the atomic bonds but one - carbon - what's left is graphite, a lubricant.

 

[Charlie98]

Has anyone tried W244 "WinClean®"? It's supposed to be the cleaner W231 alternative. I picked up a pound but haven't had a chance to try it yet. The lack of data is kind of a bummer.

I have... it's become my alternate 9mm and 200grn .45ACP powder. Someone mentioned this in another thread... it does stain the brass, however. I thought it was just me, when I was working up the ladder, but even at max data, it still stains the brass... it's really odd. It's also a little... uh... interesting to work with; you really have to fiddle with charge weight and seat depth to find where it's happiest, and to get the results you might be looking for, particularly velocity. Just my experience.

 

[Walkalong]

Pressure makes a big difference in how clean a powder burns. The source of the nitrocellulose makes a difference in how clean it burns, not adding graphite makes a difference, being single based over double based makes a difference.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Was your Glock still functioning? How was accuracy?

It was a USPSA based optimized movement class, so accuracy wasn't a factor...at least not as much of a factor as "energy leak" from inefficient movement

 

[Bronco72]

This is going to say things that all reloaders should never do !!!!

I had used Bullseye for years! One of the component shortages we had years ago left me unable to find any Bullseye. A friend said he uses WST in his 45 acp of which there is some data.
So I bought some.
Now for the heresy ;
looking at many burn rate tables I saw that WST was a tad slower than Bulleye by a little, but out of a table that had like 400 types of brands and powders. I have been using WST as a substitute for Bullseye 1 grain for 1 grain and have had great luck. No super hot loads but on the low to upper middle end. It amazed me how clean it was compared to Bullseye, economical to shoot. So now it goes into midrange power loads for 9mm, 45 acp, 38 spl, reduced 357, 44 spl., reduced 44 mag and I am done using Bullseye.
If there is load data for Bullseye I am set to use WST.

Again DISCLAIMER:
This has been my experience and I do not recommend it to others .

Just thought some might like to know where I have been

 

[lordpaxman]

I’ve found the following powders very clean with light to mid-range (minor PF) loads.
IMR Red
IMR Target
Titegroup
N320
Sport Pistol
W244 (cleaner than W231)
Very clean means little to no smoke, cases fairly clean although there’s usually a bit of soot on the outside of the case mouth. Good luck.

 

[Eagle103]

I don't believe I've seen Accurate #5 mentioned. Burns clean for me and it used to be one of the cheaper ones. As mentioned, Power Pistol works well in heavier loads. Both 9mm and 10.

 

[Constrictor]

I'm looking for suggestions for a clean burning powder for 9mm. I currently have titegroup, accurate #2, and clays.
I'm not sure how clean these are, but I'm looking for a cleaner burning powder.
I usually load mid range loads, 115gr jacketed or hitek.

Unique.

 

[Dane R. Marley]

Made in Laukaa, Finland.

I use N320 on my suppressed 9mms. It is very clean burning. I also have a Belt fed 9mm Upper for my M4 & M16. I will be reloading N320 for the that Belt Fed Upper.

 

[markr6754]

If there is load data for Bullseye I am set to use WST.

A nice bonus of WST is the smell of the powder, which reminds me of pepper. I love shooting WST. That said...I've only used it in 45 Auto. I'll have to take a look at 9mm loads.
My last 45 Auto experience was a mess...apparently too low a load. I kept getting hot grains blown back in my face. Shooting while masked allowed me to finish off the box of rounds and I haven't used it since.
Thanks for mentioning this once favorite powder (for 45 Auto). Maybe it'll have new like in my 9mm loads.

 

[nettlle]

This has been offered a number of times in this thread. I'd be interested to know if you've compared it to powders like N320, Sport Pistol, e3, or Clean Shot

I took a 2-day class, pre-pandemic, where I shot 600-700 rounds of 9mm 124gr, loaded over a charge of HP-38 ...I want to say 4.5grs..., through a Glock 34. By the end of the first day the chamber, slide, and magazines followers were filthy

HP-38 is cleaner than Bullseye when cleaning. Bullseye soot is black as coal. Takes a little longer to get a clean patch. I have run through 600-700 rounds with Bullseye without cleaning. A drop or two from a needle oiler on the slide rails now and then. The only pistol powder I have now for both 45ACP and 9MM is Bullseye. And I have a lot of it.

 

[AgPilot]

Loaded up some Acc7 this morning. 7.4gr 124gr Extreme RN. Brass was just as clean as when I loaded it.