What powder do you like for cast lead 9x19 loads?

I have Bullseye and Unique on hand that work well in .45 ACP and .44 Spl. How would they work in 9mm?

I will probably be using Missouri Bullet 125-grain TC bullets.

Either one is OK. I would use the Unique (even though I don't like it much) it will fill the case better than BE and is a little slower burn. I do not think BE (or fast powders) are good in 9mm unless you are try to save a few cents and shoot hundreds of round.
But to each their own.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I use both in my 9mm cast loads. Probably more Unique or Universal than Bullseye...

FWIW; I don't have different "quality" of loads as I reload every round of every caliber as consistently as I can. During a load work up I weigh every powder charge and quadruple check everything. After I find "The Load" I'll relax my standards but still load my "plinking" ammo the same as my "match" ammo...

The Lyman 50th manual has a number of jacketed and cast loads using both powders you mention plus many others.

I handload Blue Dot for my PCC, but you will need gas checks.

I use bullseye exclusively in my 9 mm loads. Have used 4.0 with a 124 grain berry plated for IDPA shooting. Good shooting load, makes power factor.

W231 / HP 38, or Unique will work nicely.

Bullseye for me as it meters better than Unique.

I would take any ball powder over a flake.

This ^^^

It’s nice to throw Bullseye or TG for my 9’s, pretty much dead on ... keep Unique for 357 or 45-70 where there is more room range for min/max.

As above, both propellants will work OK in 9mm but you may need to experiment a little to find good loads with either. My best shooting 9mm load is Green Dot with 124 grain cast lead bullets.

Titegroup, then W231 for me. They both meter exceptionally well in my Dillons. Unique and BE do not meter and are therefor not accurate. Unique being the worst metering powder I have ever bought and then set on fire in a wasp hole.

Green Dot for sure. Great stuff.

The OP asked about the TWO powders he has. Not all the other endless possibilities
Ginger or Mary Ann

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Still Running Against the Wind

The two that you have will work.

Used to use No.7 but Bullseye should do.

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Some assembly required..

Both those work fine. I use WST, RedDot, vv320, w231, ramshot comp.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

For lead I like a mid-burn powder so I can keep it at 1050fps or less.

I like Unique but not all powder measures meter it accurately...fortunately my RCBS does. Can’t go wrong with missouri bullets either. Spend the extra pennies and get the coated ones. They will save you a lot of time cleaning your gun

I use 4 grains of Bullseye with a 125 cast lead polymer coated for IDPA. I also use the same amount with Berry’s hollow base 124’s.

I get modest recoil and good velocities. Accuracy is excellent.

I keep some Unique but don’t use it often because my powder measures don’t meter it well.

9mm is an old round and those are 2 old powders. Either one will work.

4.5 grs Bullseye with 125 gr cast conical nose from Falcon Bullets shoots well in my FS Gen 1 and 4" 2.0 Compact. Also use 4.0 - 4.2 grs TiteGroup with 124 gr plated RN from Xtreme. I don't use Unique.

I here others say this but I use a lot of faster powders. Not just to save $$ but I like the recoil impulse, acciracy & they burn cleaner. I really like medium burners for full power loads +, unique & wsf specifically, but fast burners work just fine for target loads.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

OK, I'll be the outlier and say I really like AA#2 for 9mm.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Of the two mentioned, Unique.

Many years back Universal replaced Unique for me. They're virtually identical in burn rate and application. I like the better load densities slower powders yield.

I make no secret of my dislike of faster burning powders. W231/HP38 are about as fast as I will use.

While the Universal does meter better, I switched because I was tired of being freckle faced when using less than top loads with Unique.

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

I here others say that about "impulse" Also "heard" about how "dirty" BE is.


BE is recommended for low pressure 38 Special, 45 ACP and of course has data for lots of other loads. But true, lots use if for 9mm and heck even 357 mag
So many powders so many choices.


TITEWAD would be the powder for you (and me)

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Still Running Against the Wind

I use a lot of Unique and Red dot in 9mm practice loads using 124 gr cast bullets. My SD load uses a max load of Power Pistol and a 115 gr XTP. The 124 gr lead bullet at lower velocity still yields a near identical recoil impulse.

I noticed BE being called "dirty". I have three comments on that.


First, Unique is the original "flaming dirt" dirt to hear some people talk about it, but it's an exceptionally versatile powder and is excellent with both cast and jacketed bullets. I use a max charge of it in m7 .357 Magnum SD load with a 125 gr XTP.

Where it gets a reputation for being "dirty" is in reduced loads. If you are operating it up near maximum pressure for a cartridge, it burns pretty clean. BE is the same way.


Second, even when it does burn dirty it doesn't leave large unburnt particles the way most colloidal ball powders do. Get a large particle of un burnt or partially burnt Win 296/H110 under an ejector star and the crane will not be going back into the frame until you remove that particle.

In contrast, the "dirt" from a flake powder is just soot which won't gum anything up with reasonable cleaning.


Third, I don't see why sooty residue is a problem. I've fired 300 plus rounds per session out of both revolvers and pistols and had sooty residue making the handgun look gray with zero issues. I then go home and clean them, rather than letting that residue in and on the gun harden with age.

I also think people that engage in things like "2000 round tests" and other similar "I never clean my handgun" nonsense are morons.

I don't leave my parachute out in the sun, or rain or get oil on it etc. It's very reliable and would *probably* work after that abuse, but why would I risk that? The same goes for a dirty self defense handgun? Just to prove it'll keep working if you abuse it? That's stupid with stupid sauce on top.

Unique is my favored powder in the 9mm Luger ...
as is Bullseye . During the 2013 shortage I discovered some others , just in case you have trouble finding Unique / Bullseye
Titegroup .
700X
Red Dot
HP38
W231
AA#2
Power Pistol

There are a few more but the above are powders I have tried in 9mm Luger , 45 acp , 38 special . 357 magnum , 41 special and found work very well . All loaded with cast lead bullets .
Trying some AA#5 at the moment ...looks promising but the powder is a bit slower burning than Unique ... jury is still out ....it does meter well .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Actually, he said, "What powder do you like for cast lead 9x19 loads?" right off the bat. And at my age, I can't catch either Ginger or Mary Ann, so I'm setting my sights on Mrs. Howell.

My preferred powder for 9mm lead loads is HP-38. Good volume and meters fine.

OK, I’d like to restate the OP’s question slightly and ask is there any advantage or disadvantage to using appropriate charges of Bullseye (original) vs Unique behind a conventional lubed and sized cast 125 grain bullet? I have significant quantities of both and the appropriate mould and sizing equipment, but although I’ve loaded extensively for the last 40+ years, I’ve somehow managed to miss the 9mm pretty much altogether.

Froggie

BULLSEYE! 'nuff said!

When I really got into 9x19 reloading, I was in to loading for 50 yard accuracy out of an accurized Beretta 92FS. Power Pistol did the job with a FMJ bullet. Since retiring from competition I started to experiment with different powders and different bullets for polymer pistols. As has been recommended on here a couple of times more, I settled on Alliant Bullseye. I used 115 gr. coated bullets. I get very good accuracy at 25 yards.

I don't remember any other than metering BE runs through a measure better. If you have a digital dispenser it is a non issue. I bought surplus AA2 for $6 a lb back when and use it almost exclusively in the 9 and rarely shoot jacketed.
I have played with various homemade lubes and don't see a lot of issues with any in 9mm due mainly to the single grooves found in most bullets of 120-135 gr weights.

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Front sight and squeeze

Lots of great replies. Thanks. It's nice to know that what I have on hand will work OK, but that with reloading supplies getting tight there are other alternatives.

I only got into 9x19 over the past year, since I've been a .45 ACP guy forever, but since getting a SIG P229 and a CZ75 I've been impressed with the guns and want to work more with that caliber.

If Bullseye and Unique are all you have, either one will work in the 9x19mm caliber. I would use Bullseye for reduced velocity loads, Unique for full power loads.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

This ^^^^.

Bullseye, like Red Dot is too fast for full power loads in the 9mm Luger. Unique is a much better choice.

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As an aside, I tend to ignore anyone who gives a one word answer followed by "nuff said". Details matter. Even if something is the greatest thing since sliced bread, it's important to understand why that is the case. It's the difference between being informed and educated versus being authoritarian.

With a 124-125 lead 9mm bullet, I have used;
Bullseye, Red Dot, Green Dot, w231, CFE pistol, and HS-6 powders.

the OAL went from a short 1.06" to a long 1.16" in my test to
see what my pistols would like.

The bullets were started at a low 916fps with CFE powder and went up to a high of 1173 fps with HS-6 in my C9, 3.5" pistol.

Lead bullets will like almost any powder but you do need to use the correct data for the bullet weight and powder used.

3.8gr of Bullseye in my 3.5" C9 started at 938fps.
A max load pushed the coated lead bullet out at 1115fps.

I did not waist my Unique for these target loads.

Stay safe,

BUMP.......

added bullseye data