9mm powder for guy new to reloading

Midsouth shooter supply has many of the Vihtavuori 3 series powders in stock right now. Theyre some of my favorite powders. Yes theyre a little spendy but theyre super clean, give great numbers all around, and just fantastic versatile powders. Ive loaded alot of 9mm with N340 and alot of low power 10mm too.
 
My current 9mm powder is CFP Pistol, which was in stock at Brownells earlier this morning.

It fills up the case enough to make a visual check pretty easy. Not 100% positive on this but I don't think a double charge will fit in the case, and the spread between the starting and max charge is big enough given the density of the stuff that going a tenth or two over shouldn't be a problem unless you're really pushing things.

When it comes to preventing over charging, I would have to ask what kind of press is being used and how you are measuring the charge. It really comes down to developing good habits and paying attention, but I do different things on the single, turret, and progressive presses, and if I'm using the Auto Charger v.s. powder drop on top of the die.
 
During single stage reloading, I only drop powder the moment before I seat the bullet. In fact, I'll pull the cartridge from an upside down position as super extra careful measure. No way to get a double charge.

I think it is safer than loading all of them on a holder, which seems to be the source of a lot of these issues.
 
Powder availability will be the determining factor, IMHO...

Very good 9mm powders include 231, Unique, CFE-Pisto!, #5, 700-X and... Bullseye! The OP was not looking for near MAX loads: the fact that multiple loads of some powders will fit into a case does not change the more basic reloading parameter of ONLY ONE LOAD PER CASE. IMHO, the basic methodology is more important than the "two loads won't fit without spilling over" safety belt(?). One would need a ramrod and a running start to cram a double (5.2gr x2) load of 800-X into a 9mm case: this was a great powder for beginners, but try and find any now-a-days...:rolleyes:

As mentioned by others, the dreaded "double charge" is much more likely with a powder drop or a progressive press. Those just starting out reloading should be measuring and loading powder on a case by case basis (also, IMHO).

After only a half dozen years of active reloading I still measure and weigh individual charges. If I were to put two loads into a case it would not be a case of which powder I was using but how some major fault in my reloading technique ALLOWED me to do so.:eek:

Cheers!

P.S. There really is no perfect powder out there.
 
Although it is a relatively dirty burning powder, I will add my voice to the chorus for Blue Dot. It does not meter so well for me, but I think it is one of the best and 1/10th grain one way or the other is not a big problem. Although it is unobtainium right now, I think AA#7 would also be a good powder for a beginner. I just fired some 9mm reloads yesterday using Power Pistol; once again, even though my loads were under book minimum, it felt very hot with a lot of recoil. No more PP in any Glock or other plastic framed 9mm for me.

Edited to add: decided to switch over to Longshot for 9mm as my Pwr Pistol jug is at less than 25%. Will be using Hodgdon data from their website, and using 124-g data for 115-g (Berry’s thick plate) to be even safer. Hodgdon shows 4.8 to 6.2-g (MAX) Longshot for 124-g bullets. Just tested and found that a double charge of Longshot (5.5-g) almost completely fills a 9mm case. I suppose there is someone out there who could seat a bullet on this double-charge, but not me! My Pwr Pistol load came from the Speer website, which also shows Blue Dot as having the highest velocity. Sorry, my attachment has lots of red ink added into it because of my need to keep both eyes and all 10 fingers ;)
 

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When I did test with the 38 special case and the new Federal 130 gr HST
that was shoved "All the way inside" the case for a factory OAL...... !!!

I learned a LOT about case volume and load pressures from powders and fps
with the use of my chrony.

The two worst powders that ran the "Red Flag" up the flag pole in a hurry were..........

w231 and HS-6 powders.

Just a heads up.

Not sure what you are saying about the red flag pole with w231, please explain.
 
Although it is a relatively dirty burning powder, I will add my voice to the chorus for Blue Dot. It does not meter so well for me, but I think it is one of the best and 1/10th grain one way or the other is not a big problem. Although it is unobtainium right now, I think AA#7 would also be a good powder for a beginner. I just fired some 9mm reloads yesterday using Power Pistol; once again, even though my loads were under book minimum, it felt very hot with a lot of recoil. No more PP in any Glock or other plastic framed 9mm for me.

Not a powder I'm familiar with, but...

Without going into any detail, if your "book minimum" was under Alliant's "reduce by 10% to establish a start load" and you experienced them to feel "very hot with a lot of recoil" I would definitely investigate and confirm the calibration of your weighing device.

That's just not right.:eek:

I am not trying to preach here...

Please, be safe!
 
I use N320 normally. Just did a quick check and a double charge of my usual 3.9 completely fills the case. You wouldn't be able to get a bullet even set on it for sure.
 
During single stage reloading, I only drop powder the moment before I seat the bullet. In fact, I'll pull the cartridge from an upside down position as super extra careful measure. No way to get a double charge.

I think it is safer than loading all of them on a holder, which seems to be the source of a lot of these issues.

Exactly how I do it. Cases primer up so guaranteed empty. Drop powder, weight, dump into empty case and seat bullet.

I used to do what miklid does, and drop them all and then check with a flashlight, but I was on about my 40th case in a batch of 50. My elbow bumped something and I spilled the contents of the case into the 40 open cases waiting for bullets. Had to start all over. So I seat the bullet immediately. Also means sometimes if I get called away after loading only 10 rounds I can leave mid-session and not have filled cases left to seat with bullets.
 
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Another one for 231/HP38. I first prime, then bell case mouths, then add powder charge, then place and seat bullet. Finally I taper crimp my round and test it with a Lyman Ammo Checker. To insure safety. I perform each step to a full loading block of cases, inspecting them all for for consistency before going to the next step.

Froggie
 
Another one for 231/HP38. I first prime, then bell case mouths, then add powder charge, then place and seat bullet. Finally I taper crimp my round and test it with a Lyman Ammo Checker. To insure safety. I perform each step to a full loading block of cases, inspecting them all for for consistency before going to the next step.

Froggie

Pretty much same thing I do, but I size and flare my brass and dump into a bin. Prime them while watching TV using a hand primer. I have thousands of primed cases ready to go for when the mood strikes. I also seat and crimp in different steps. Once I have 50 seated I switch dies and crimp them, then check them in the ammo checker before dumping them into the ammo box. I’m in no rush. As long as I keep doing what I’m doing there will never be a squib or a double charge.
 
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I'm a huge fan of W231/HP-38. I understand your concern of a double charge but if you teach him to look into every charged case he will be fine. What about a powder cop die? Is it possible to add one to your Dillon?

I use W231 for a lot of my reloads. It meters very well and shoots cleanly. I go with a slightly slower powder for high velocity JHP ammo used for SD but most of my 9mm ammo is made with W231.

If I had to I could make all my handgun ammo with only 3 powders and do it well.
My favorites are:
W231 - HP-38 (can use W244 in the future instead)
W54O - HS-6 (can use W572 if need be)
W296 - H110
 
I have a "pet" 9mm Luger load with a 124 grain cast truncated cone gas check bullet and 5.2 grs Unique (max RCBS book load is 5.5 grs.)
@ 1150 fps .
The first time I placed 5.2 grs, Unique in a 9mm case ... I didn't think there would be room for the bullet ... but there is ! I can Guarantee you will NOT get two charges of Unique ... even 5.0 grs. Unique will fill the case very well and not allow two charges .

I know people may say "just be careful" etc etc.... but when it comes to getting one charge ( not 0 charges or 2 charges) it's Okay to be as anal-ocd as you want ...no such thing as too careful . I eyeball my powder charges 3 different times before a bullet gets seated ... I'm looking for the double charge , 1/2 charge and the worst ...0 charge !
Load Safe,
Gary
 
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flake powders....
They might meter like **** but they are safe powders in the 9mm case.

Although it is a relatively dirty burning powder, I will add my voice to the chorus for Blue Dot. It does not meter so well for me, I just fired some 9mm reloads yesterday using Power Pistol; once again, even though my loads were under book minimum, it felt very hot with a lot of recoil.
The only thing I don't like about the flake powders is that they don't meter too well. I haven't used Red Dot, but use quite a bit of Blue Dot.

Not a powder I'm familiar with, but...

Without going into any detail, if your "book minimum" was under Alliant's "reduce by 10% to establish a start load" and you experienced them to feel "very hot with a lot of recoil" I would definitely investigate and confirm the calibration of your weighing device.
Power Pistol is my usual go-to for several of my handguns, especially when doing full power loads, as it gives good velocities near the top of its load range. GeoJelly didn't mention what loading manual he is using, but I see a lot of variance between different manuals for the same cartridge; I also see a variance from the powder jug label when it shows load data, and from bullet manuals (Speer, Sierra, for example) when they show load data. I use Hornady manuals exclusively; not because I think it is best, but it's what I started with ten years ago, even the high end is safe, and I've stuck with a known quantity that is consistent and gives good results.

Another thing to think about is a phenomenon that is sometimes seen in lightly loaded cases, where there is a large "dead space". If I can find the link to the article, I'll post it here. I'm on my laptop and don't have the data with me, but I have it on my desktop.

Pretty much same thing I do, but I size and flare my brass and dump into a bin. Prime them while watching TV using a hand primer. I have thousands of primed cases ready to go for when the mood strikes. I also seat and crimp in different steps. Once I have 50 seated I switch dies and crimp them, then check them in the ammo checker before dumping them into the ammo box. I’m in no rush. As long as I keep doing what I’m doing there will never be a squib or a double charge.
Much like how I load. I divide my reloading into different "processes" that I try to do together. First thing is throw the fired cases in the tumbler to clean them, then I deprime and size them, and then bag them until the next step. Second is to prime them and flare them, and then they go in a bin so they're ready for charging and seating. Since I use a single stage press, I'm not switching dies except for the part of the process I'm at. I rarely crimp semiauto loads, never found it necessary, even for full-boat 10mm loads, and haven't had any issues with setback.

When charging, I either have the cases head-up in the block, or I take them directly from the bin, charge them, and set them in the block. I'll do 100 at a time, charging and seating. I use a digital scale, and I determine what charge weight I want from the manual, then set my powder throw by throwing a charge into the little pan, weigh it and repeat three or four times until I get withing a 1/10th variance between throws. Then I throw another 5 times and measure each one to see if the weight changes more than 1/10th grain. If stable, I start charging the cases directly from the powder throw, setting each charged case in the block. Then I start seating, and always measure the COL of the first three to make sure the die is set correctly; after that, I measure every tenth case to make sure nothing has moved. I always look into the case as I set it in the shell holder to seat the bullet, a final check for a double charge or no charge. I don't pay any attention to my phone if it rings while charging cases, and I don't have the radio on, nothing to distract me. I've seen way too many "Kaboom pictures" from overcharged cases, don't want my hands or face ripped up. On rifle cases, I weigh each charge, set intentionally low, and trickle to the desired weight. Takes longer, but is very precise.

For you guys who charge, then seat each round, are you using a carousel press with all your dies in place? I know my Lee dies allow charging through the flaring die, but I never do it that way.
 
Well you guys finally got me thinking...... "what if..........."

you take a 124 gr Gold Dot hollow point at 1.12" oal and
a Berry 124 gr FMJ design bullet at a oal of 1.14" (what I shoot )

and fill them o the base of the bullet, will it be a double load?
the anser is NO.................. but you would not want to shoot it.

Most data states that a +P load is around 10% or more above a standard load........
well I have news for you, my findings are scary.

With the fast burning Bullseye powder;
the 124 gr fmj was found to be a 125% load and the JHP was at a 148% loading.

With the w231 medium fast powder;
the fmj was found to be at a 122% loading and the JHP was at a 153% loading.

These were my humble data reading and although not a double charge (2x).....
they were still way into a very heavy +P+ loading area.

Powders are SAFE if used correctly per loading manuals and proper loading procedures.

Have fun.
 
Exactly why if I come across a load new to me I call powder manufacturer, and bullet manufacturer and compare notes. If I don't feel it's safe I don't load, double and triple check and use your noggin..... don't be foolish!

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
 
I'll jump on the Unique bandwagon if you are worried about double charges, but I really like titegroup for 9mm.
 
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