Since over the last couple of years it has become hard to be very picky about favorite powders, I decided to spend a little more time looking for powders that might not be the absolute best but at least adequate for a majority of pistol calibers. I focused on Bullseye, Titegroup, 231/hp38 and a couple of others including CFE Pistol.

I lucked out and was able to score an 8lb jug of CFE and decided I wanted to do some experimenting. One of my favorite 9mm bullets is the coated 147gr running at target speed. Not trying to get to any certain power factor, just a good all around dependable range ammo.

Since the CFE is a relatively new powder, most of my manuals do not list it. The Hodgdon site lists a 147gr jacketed bullet but nothing in lead. The 2014 Hodgdon magazine manual does list 4.1 grains for a 147gr Missouri coated bullet and is the closest printed recipe I have been able to find.

My question is, where would you start to work up a dependable and relatively soft-shooting target load for 147gr coated lead bullets in 9mm? I'm thinking 3.2 to 3.5 to start. Am I too low?

thanks

I'd use Hodgdon's starting load for the 147 XTP, 3.7grs. If that's too high you could try 3.5grs & see how it functions for you.

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I shoot Missouri Bullet's Hi-Tek coated bullets, and I just use the starting load for a jacketed bullet of the same weight.

I use the load data that Hodgdon has for CFE Pistol on their website.

Jonnyboy, Please post your results. I just picked up a jug of CFE pistol and having the same problem finding load data.

I been using CFE Pistol for some time now and about the only data is on Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading but that has been all I needed. They usually have data for a cast bullet and that data is good for a plated or coated bullet. Don

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M&P X5