9mm Major with CFE

[Nevada Ed]

Put CFE pistol powder on the net and on page two, came up with an article
with Major power factor with this powder.

First off.......... you need a custom barrel/chamber that supports
the case 100% or all the way back to the extractor area.
The shooter used a Para Ordnance barrel in his testing.

He use the Hornady 115 and 125gr HAP bullets at 1.15" oal in his 5" barrel

He was able to get 115gr PF's of 160 to 170 and with the
125gr bullet, PF of also 160 to 170.

CFE also was very close to Winchesters Auto Comp in this same test...........
with also the 380 super cartridge tested.

I do not do IPSC or USPSA but I found this post very interesting and thought
I would pass the information on, if any try these powders.

I just do "Standard" loads.

Good shooting.

 

[Bkreutz]

Put CFE pistol powder on the net and on page two, came up with an article
with Major power factor with this powder.

First off.......... you need a custom barrel/chamber that supports
the case 100% or all the way back to the extractor area.
The shooter used a Para Ordnance barrel in his testing.

He use the Hornady 115 and 125gr HAP bullets at 1.15" oal in his 5" barrel

He was able to get 115gr PF's of 160 to 170 and with the
125gr bullet, PF of also 160 to 170.

CFE also was very close to Winchesters Auto Comp in this same test...........
with also the 380 super cartridge tested.

I do not do IPSC or USPSA but I found this post very interesting and thought
I would pass the information on, if any try these powders.

I just do "Standard" loads.

Good shooting.

Major power factor is 165, those figures would be too close to failing for me to feel comfortable at the chrono station at a match. I have a friend who shoots 9 major (uses Titegroup) and the problem I have with it is that he says he can only load the cases a couple of times before they're junk. I shoot minor (around 135PF) and I load mine dozens of times (I don't keep track, just throw them out when they split).

 

[OKFC05]

And then there is the problem of people who do not understand "supported chamber" and blow up their guns.
This is one of the reasons USPSA has banned major 9 in Limited, Limited 10, and Single Stack: too many blown guns makes a bad name for the organization.
Even in Open, one of our club shooters did $600 damage to a gun specifically built for major 9. As a USPSA CRO, I have had the misfortune to see several major 9 guns blow in competition.
Something slower like HS6 takes a little off the peak pressure while still giving reliable major power at the chrono, if you have a suitable gun for major 9. For me, I only shoot minor 9 in Production with Titegroup.

 

[H Richard]

Trying to make Major power factor with a 9mm is asking for injury and/or a ruined gun.