WSF 9mm,40 loads

[02bigdogs17]

I have been reloading for a few years now and like most reloaders have been trying different powders for different calibers trying to find what works best for all my different guns. I think I am finally done with my 9mm's and .40's as far as powder searching. I have loaded and tested 115gr and 124gr bullets in my 9mm's with Unique, Bullseye, AA NO.5, Titegroup, 231, Red Dot, American Select, HS-6, and Power Pistol and finally WSF. While I have found a couple other powders perform well nothing has performed as well and clean as WSF. I loaded 5 grs of WSF with a 124 gr jacketed RN @1.165" and in my S&W Shield, Kel-Tec sub 2000, and Smith M&P full size it has performed excellent. Groupings from 10-25yds with the handguns are very tight and consistent and @ 50yds with the kel-tec it will knock the center ring out of the targets. I have also had the best luck with WSF in my .40's. So if your looking for a really good consistent clean burning powder in a 9mm or .40 give WSF a try.

 

[Ex]

Good report bigdogs! WSF is a powder that I've not tried in 6 years I've been loading. Honestly, have never seen it on the shelves in my local stores. I have found though that LongShot gives me the kind of results you've found with WSF and has kinda become my go to powder.

I will have to try some WSF one of these days!

 

[rg1]

Haven't loaded WSF in 9MM but it is a good powder for 40 S&W. I tested Power Pistol, AA#5, and Unique but WSF is my favorite with 155 and 165 grain bullets. It's also an excellent shotgun powder.

 

[vaalpens]

WSF has never been on my radar especially because Hodgdon does not have any 124/125gr plated data for it. It was just strange to me that Hodgdon would test a bunch of powders with Berry's plated bullets, but did not test the plated bullets with WSF. In 40S&W they have load data for plated bullets using WSF.

Another reason why I stayed away from it was that Hodgdon also only had 147gr bullet data for 357sig using WSF.

If it is that good then maybe I should look at picking up 1# at some time and see how it stacks up to the other powders.

Thanks for the evaluation.

 

[baseball2013]

Thanks for the info. I haven't loaded a single round yet but have Autocomp and CFE Pistol on hand. WSF was available during a recent shopping trip but I passed. Eventually I'll give it a try since I have several different bullet weights in my stash.

 

[Dudedog]

I picked up 4lbs of WSF when there wasn't much else to choose from and I have been really happy with it. It has worked well for me in 9mm. Still working on loads for it in .45 APC.
The loads that Hodgdon show appear to be from old Winchester Data so it looks like they have not tested anything new using it in years. Maybe its just a marketing thing,

This is some 1999 vintage Winchester data.
No plated though. I always start my workups for plated at the lead start and usually end up liking middle to high lead/low to middle jacketed charges.

I have had good luck with 4.3 gr and the RMR 124 9mm Hardcore Flatenose match bullets.

 

[rodregier]

I've burned many pounds of WSF in 9mmx19 using 124 and 125g jacketed projectiles...
Ironically, I haven't seen any WSF around here in quite a while, and to settle for AutoComp when I was last shopping for 9mmx19 powder.

 

[Blue68f100]

WSF is what I've been using for near a decade now. Your load is very near mine on the 124gr 9mm. A very good powder if you want to push things at higher velocities. And it's a ball powder so it meters accurately in most dispensers.

 

[TimSr]

I used the same WSF load in my 439 Smith, with pretty much similar results. The cases also dropped right next to me, and felt recoil was noticeably less. The only downside was that if I wanted a load for something more lethal than paper punching, I gained about 200fps using Blue Dot, but it makes a great target load.

Based on this I also did some 38 spl target loads with it, and had similar results.

 

[vaalpens]

This is some 1999 vintage Winchester data.
No plated though. I always start my workups for plated at the lead start and usually end up liking middle to high lead/low to middle jacketed charges.

Dudedog, thanks for the information. Looks like I need to add WSF to my "to get 1lb" list to see how it works in all my calibers.

 

[Dudedog]

You welcome vaalpens.
Wil get some chrono data on som eloads with it Friday or Sat. (I hope) and will post.

Once I get finished with my RMR bullet tests,
I will do some for WSF using the various 9mm and 45 APC bullets I have.
If I remember correctly I picked up the 4lb jug I have from Graf and Sons for around $20 a lb. (not counting shipping and hazmat)

 

[Blue68f100]

Just a note. Don't let the softer shooting fool you on speed. This powder does not give you the snappy feel as 231 does. It's a slower powder and produces more of push but at a rate that will give you max velocity in most calibers I've used it with.

 

[NINEX19]

Yes, I thought I was the only one using it for 9mm. I find it a very good powder for this application and use it exclusively for 9mm for the past three years.