What powders to try for 9mm?

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Maybe I am being too anal about weighing my charges. I weigh every 5th to 10th charge. I get crabby if I am .1 of a grain off. How far off is acceptable when it comes to charge weights?
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Mr 3180 -
Acceptability of charge weights is a function of the powder. Some great powders like Tight Group only have a 0.4gr load range. If you're off by 0.1gr then you can be in big trouble really fast. Other powders like Win231 have a load range from 0.8 to 1.0gr so a variation of 0.1gr means a lot less. That means if you want to use your automated powder measuring, which you know it's not that accurate, then you need to stay with a powder with a wide load range, or you need to confine your loads to the lower ranges.

One of the big benefits of reloading is gaining superior accuracy. Accuracy starts with being able to have consistent powder loads. That is to say, very little variation between powder drops no matter what. IMHO it is therefore useful to to discover what shape powder (ball, flake, stick) your powder measure is most successful with, and stick to those shapes.

Hope this helps!
 
I swung by the Gun Stop on my way home today. I bought a pound of HP-38. From my understanding HP-38 has the same load data as Winchester 231. I hope to do some loading next week and make to the range.
 
You did the same thing I just did. Started with Unique and added W-231. What is it with these two powders? It seems like there's a lot of load data and margin for error with them. Or maybe they are just marketed well? :)
 
GLOOB said:
You did the same thing I just did. Started with Unique and added W-231. What is it with these two powders? It seems like there's a lot of load data and margin for error with them. Or maybe they are just marketed well? :)
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The main reason for me is the large range from min to max load. Being a new loader I need all the fudge room I can get.
 
Started with Unique and added W-231. What is it with these two powders?
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Both are outstanding powders that are very versatile. They sell a ton of both for a reason. ;)
 
I have had extremely good results with VV 3N37 and N330. Very clean burning, EXTREMELY low flash and high velocity with both 124 and 147 gr bullets.
 
I'm with gilly6993 I use titegroup for just about everything.

3.9 gr behind a 125 gr LRN from MBC, or Berry's 124 FN.

Never have an issue with FTF or FTE
 
Did good, kid !

Mr 3180 -
I think you did just fine. Just starting out like you are, it's more FAR more important that you be able to find load data for your powder within your limited library. HP-38/ Win 231 fills that bill very nicely.

Are there better powders? Probably. Are there more universally understood and documented powders? I highly doubt it.

;)
 
Do you guys get a lot of smoke from bullseye? I am looking for a good indoor powder.
 
9mm: Win231/HP38, Vit n320, and plan to try 700X that many users have praised.
All are good for light to medium loads. All meter well. Vit n320 is expensive but shoots great and uses little powder .
 
For a full power load one of the powder I like the best is Power Pistol. It is the canister grade commercial version of the bulk powder developed and supplied to the US military for the 9mm.

Unique however will load just about any type of 9mm from mild to wild and I certainly would never to without Unique in my powder inventory.

Years ago I had bought 2 lbs of HS-6 on sale and had tried it in various calibers and loads but couldn't warm up to it until using it with 147gr bullets in the 9mm. For heavier bullets it works great, not the best for the 115 to 125gr though IMO.

If you want to load for carbine both Blue Dot and AA#7 are great choices. They will fill the case and most loads will be compressed, velocity with 115's is only average but it does work and since its slower burning it would be best for carbine length barrels. AA7 is the powder developed by the Israeli's for their SMG ammo.

For cast bullet target shooting any of the faster powders work fine. I'm currently burning a 4lb can of Green Dot I got cheap but I've used Red Dot, W231 and AA#2 also. As mentioned Promo which is essentially bulk Red Dot w/o the Dots will work well for inexpensive loadings of target ammo.
 
1SOW said:
9mm: Win231/HP38, Vit n320, and plan to try 700X that many users have praised.
All are good for light to medium loads. All meter well. Vit n320 is expensive but shoots great and uses little powder .
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My primary load for the 45 ACP uses 700-X. I have been using it for 30 years so I guess I like it. There are some other great powders for the 45, I just got hooked on the 700-X load

I also have used 700-X in the 380 ACP with good results.

So, if you have a published load for the 9x19 and 700-X, give it a try.
 
Suprised no one mentioned VV N320 its all I use. Then again I only have access to VV and Tu powders.
 
I suggest Winchester W-231. The powder meters well and burns cleaner than most of the other powders used in mid-sized cases I've gotten some excellent accuracy in .38 spec, 9mm, .380, .45ACP and the .45LC. My Dillon 550 seems to like it as much as I do.
 
For 115 FMJ I am using Blue Dot and Red Dot as I have a lot of this on hand. It meters OK for me in my Pacific measure and the Blue dot burns a bit dirty but the results are good. I am all into good groups. I now have some Unique to try and the fun begins again.:D
 
I'm new to reloading, too. A friend recommended Unique as a good powder to start with, so I bought a pound.

First I worked up a load for my .32 and then loaded all my brass.

Next I worked up a load for my Glock 19. I've got about a third of my brass loaded.

Unique meters well for me on the Square Deal B. I don't let the powder measure tube fall below 1/3 full, and I give it a tip-tap with my knuckle before each charge. Every 10th charge or so goes on the scale.

I have a pound of Power Pistol and Bullseye to try, but for now I'm happy with Unique.
 
for 9mm in cast, I have used:

Bullseye
Unique
Ramshot ZIP
Titegroup

I am partial to Unique and ZIP with LRN.
 
I like Titegroup and Bullseye in 9mm, they both meter well. Winchester 231 also meters well, haven't tried it in 9mm though...yet.
 
Try 5.4gr of Unique under your MG 115gr FMJ at 1.135". This load was one of my best in my G17. When I used Federal primers with this load, it produced 3" groups at 25 yards. I switched over to Remington primers and that group opened up.

Unique def does not meter well. I still use it because it seems to do very well in all of my Glocks. It also offers good load density. One to two tenths of a grain off per charge shouldn't hurt as long as you aren't loading on the hot side of your data.
 
I use Accurate Arms #7 for 9mm, cast and jacketed, and get great results. As for weighing charges, I weigh every tenth throw just to be consistant, works for me. My Uniflow is very consistant, which helps. :)
 
I'm new to reloading so I use what I have on hand for my shotgun loads. I use the Lee Auto disk powder measure and I found Greendot meters perfect every time in my cast bullit laods. Wheather I measure one drop or ten drops, it's always the same. I haven't tried my unversal powder yet.
 
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