Best powder for 9MM cast bullets.

[Waldo]

I have reloaded .45 ACP for many years. Always used Bullseye and once in a while Unique if I was out of Bullseye. Have always been able to find 9MM ammo pretty cheap and don't shoot much of it. Now 9MM has gotten scarce and expensive. So I bought some dies and 125 grain cast bullets for the 9MM. Was going to use Bullseye ,but talked to a guy who said Win. 231 was much better for 9MM. Cleaner, more consistent and better accuracy in a wide range of guns. Have Bullseye and Unique on hand. I try to keep as few kinds of powder around as I can. Will shoot the 9MM in a variety of guns so I am not really looking for the very best load for one particular gun. Just want something close to factory velocities that will function and be reasonably accurate in any gun I use. Should I try Win. 231 or stick with Bullseye? Thanks, Waldo

 

[buckshotshorty]

I use WSF powder for 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP. With 125 Gr. cast RN in 9mm I load 4.5 Gr. WSF OAL 1.169". Works for me.

WSF is a fine flattened ball powder and it meters spot on and burns clean!

 

[Electraclyde]

I use Win 231 under Berry's 124 gr Plated. and Bullseye in my .45 ACP. 231 is somewhat cleaner and has less flash than Bullseye. I only keep 1lb cans of each on hand so I don't mind having several types of powder on hand. Win 231, WSF, WST, Alliant Bullseye and Power Pistol. I worry more about primers than powder.

 

[smith627]

Unique

With what you are describing that you want to do and keep a minimum of different powders around, I think you will do quite well with Unique for the 9mm. I use both W231 and Unique and am happy with both.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

There's a lot of good powders but I have been sticking with WW231 and Unique.

 

[dennis40x]

I employ W231 for the 9mm-Luger, 44Spl, and 45ACP. Works for me.

 

[lougotzzz]

I use clays for my 125 gr LRN 9MM

I use clays for my 200 LSWC 45 acp

 

[RidgwayCO]

Given your supplies on hand, I'd choose Bullseye. It fills the case nicely, burns completely, and gives satisfying velocities at reasonable pressures. Unique has never measured as well for me, and you need more for each round as well (since it's a slower powder).

If you want to try something else, I've had great luck with Accurate #2. To motivate you even more, Powder Valley's selling 5 lb jugs for $65. (Of course, they also have 8 lb jugs of Bullseye and Unique for $96...)

 

[Noah Zark]

There's a lot of good powders but I have been sticking with WW231 and Unique.

Same here. W231 and Unique are all I use in 9mm.

Noah

 

[fredj338]

Given your supplies on hand, I'd choose Bullseye. It fills the case nicely, burns completely, and gives satisfying velocities at reasonable pressures. Unique has never measured as well for me, and you need more for each round as well (since it's a slower powder).

Cost has never been my reason for choosing a powder. Powder is the cheapest part of a pistol handload today. W231/HP38 along w/ BE are pretty smoky & really dirty w/ lead bullets. I like Unique, but it doesn't meter well, does give me exc accuracy w/ lead bullets. WSF is almost identical to Unique but meters better. Either 5gr of Unique or 5.1gr of WSF under a 125grLRn or LTC, OAL will vary w/ style of cast bullet, accuracy is exc. w/ either powder.

 

[epj]

I use clays for my 125 gr LRN 9MM

I use clays for my 200 LSWC 45 acp

Ditto. I also use it for .38 cast loads. In fact, I have a great big jug of it and use it for just about everything and will for a long time to come.

 

[David Sinko]

I have found that 231 burns clean in the 9mm, likely due to the small case capacity. I have used it with cast bullets from 115 to 124 grs. with complete satisfaction. But if you are looking for top velocity, I'd suggest Power Pistol.

Dave Sinko

 

[gene h]

I have tried most of powdersmentioned above, but have settled on VV 3N37. It is pricey (what isn't these days) but burns clean and my RR 9mm seems to like it with 122 LCN. - gene

 

[Stillwater788]

If you're running all weights, I'd suggest Solo 1000 - cheap, low SD, accurate, available, clean and meters well - as a bonus, it fills the case so a double charge will be spilling out of the case and easy to detect. If you don't run heavy weights, like 147s, try Clays - it has the same attributes as Solo 1000 (except available these days), but it's a little too fast for 147s in my experience. Both these powders are about as smoke free as you can get with lead. I've used quite a bit of 231 with lead and it's accurate, but a bit dirty and smokey as hell.

 

[lougotzzz]

Ditto. I also use it for .38 cast loads. In fact, I have a great big jug of it and use it for just about everything and will for a long time to come.

I only shoot lead. Thats all I can afford. I like BE,unique and titegroup but I keep coming back to clays.

The gun goes bang what else do you want?