Seeds for this thought planted a year or so back when I was looking for rifle powders. Was talking to the guys that run Full Circle Reloading in St. Charles, MO. They were short of all types of powder and had grown frustrated with people calling for powders they didn't have. In particular, pistol guys were looking for the "Dots". Full Circle were not frustrated with guys calling, they were frustrated they didn't have anything for them when they did.
At time, I didn't realize how much crossover there is between shotgun and pistol powders. When I pulled out my old stash of shotgun supplies, I had Red Dot, Green Dot, 700X, IMR 4756, IMR 7625 and Herco. All of them specific to different shotgun loads, light to heavy, but was surprised to learn all could be used in loads with same case, primer and bullet in a 9mm. Just swap out the powder. Once I thought to look, my old 1970 Hercules reloading guide includes loads for 9mm using almost every powder they made.
I now have samples of Nitro 100, Competition, Clays, 700X, International, e3, Red Dot, Green Dot, Longshot, HS-6, IMR 4756 and 7625 and Herco, each of which has very specific uses in 12 gauge, but find it bizarre that there is load data for all of those in 9mm. Could add Blue Dot, 800X, Promo, American Select, IMR red and blue, Unique, Titegroup, Titewad, some of the specialty powders for 28 gauge and 410 loads and many more, and that is before you start adding the so called pistol powders, of which there must be a couple dozen.
The 9mm Luger has to be one of the most versatile rounds there is for reloaders to work with. If you have the cases and can find the primers and bullets, lots of powders will make it go BANG!
At time, I didn't realize how much crossover there is between shotgun and pistol powders. When I pulled out my old stash of shotgun supplies, I had Red Dot, Green Dot, 700X, IMR 4756, IMR 7625 and Herco. All of them specific to different shotgun loads, light to heavy, but was surprised to learn all could be used in loads with same case, primer and bullet in a 9mm. Just swap out the powder. Once I thought to look, my old 1970 Hercules reloading guide includes loads for 9mm using almost every powder they made.
I now have samples of Nitro 100, Competition, Clays, 700X, International, e3, Red Dot, Green Dot, Longshot, HS-6, IMR 4756 and 7625 and Herco, each of which has very specific uses in 12 gauge, but find it bizarre that there is load data for all of those in 9mm. Could add Blue Dot, 800X, Promo, American Select, IMR red and blue, Unique, Titegroup, Titewad, some of the specialty powders for 28 gauge and 410 loads and many more, and that is before you start adding the so called pistol powders, of which there must be a couple dozen.
The 9mm Luger has to be one of the most versatile rounds there is for reloaders to work with. If you have the cases and can find the primers and bullets, lots of powders will make it go BANG!