I use ______ Powder for my 9mm reloads because....

9mmPatriot

9mmPatriot

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I'm green, no doubt about it. Loaded a whopping 300 rds of 9mm and a mind-numbing 40 rounds of .223. Not quite an expert yet and no one I know reloads either.

So I'm asking a very broad and general question for those of you that have been at this a little longer than I have.

How did you decide on which powder to use?


Price and availablity?(Very relevant now!)
Least amount of grains for the highest velocity?
That's what I saw on Youtube?
My spouse told me to go cheap or find another pass-time?


Help me out if you have a minute or two.
 
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BULLSEYE: primarily because I have quite a bit, secondarily because a #.5 LEE's scoop gives me an amazingly consistent 4.5gr which I can use for quite a few 9mm & other caliber loads...

Cheers!

P.S. These then go onto a balance beam scale for a quick 2nd check, then into the brass, typically in 50 round lots.
 
I review several different loading manuals and research message boards to decide what would be a good versatile powder to try in my 9mm's. I also like to see that the powder performs well in other potential applications, like .357 Magnum or .45 ACP. If I were to buy a powder today to try in 9mm, I would look for either Alliant BE-86 or Sport Pistol. I have not yet tried either, but over the years have had decent results with lots of different powders in 9mm. Currently have on hand Titegroup, W-231, HP-38, Bullseye, Unique, Universal, Power Pistol, Accurate No. 7 and Blue Dot. Am currently using W-231, Titegroup and Power Pistol to load 115 gr and 124 gr bullets in 9mm.
 
I like W231 for my 9mm, 45CAP and 44mag because it gives me very accurate target loads, with a minimum amount of grains (4.5-9.3grs). It's a ball powder that gives me very consistent loads. Not to mention that during the last big shortage (2008) I came across 8lbs and snapped it up to go along with the 3lbs I already had.
 
Titegroup because I have 8 pounds of it. And it is accurate with 9mm plated bullets. Downside, this powder burns extra HOT so you need to experiment with lead bullets.
 
There are lots of good powders for loading 9mm. I have used Bullseye, Unique, CFE Pistol, Power Pistol, Titegroup, and W231. Honestly, they all work pretty well if you find the sweet spot for your gun and your bullet. I'd say get what you can find and shoot away.

My current favorite loads for 9mm are 120 grain cast powder coated truncated cone with 4.0 grains of W231 or 3.7 gr of titegroup.

For 124 grain FMJ, I like 5.0 grains of Unique
For 124 grain JHP, I like 4.8 grains of CFE pistol.

These are all being shot from a Glock 19. Your gun may like something else. If I had to buy just one powder for 9mm thinking that I may shoot other calibers later on, I'd get W231. I use it for a few other calibers and it works very well. I only recently stumbled onto it when I began to run out of Bullseye. So far I really like it. It's a very versatile powder. Same can be said for Unique.
 
I have several kinds of powder...

I'm pretty stocked up after the last shortage. I use mostly 231 because it's a good average type powder and I have an 8# jug and a couple of pounds.

I don't mind using Bullseye or Tightgroup, I have plenty of those.

Unique is ok. I REALLY like Acc #7 for heavy bullets, really accurate. I haven't been doing as much experimenting though, so I save it for special occasions. I also have some power pistol, but I don't use it much.
 
Basically when I started Reloading 40 years ago I bought the Lyman, Speer, NRA and Hodgdon Reloading manuals. Between all of them and talking to guys that had been reloading for quite some time, I chose what I believed were good powders for the calibers I was reloading.

Over all those years I only switched from one powder, Bullseye to Titegroup and still use all the other original I chose 'till this day.

Today, the selection of powders is not only based on what is good for a specific caliber but what one can actually find! Thankfully there are a bunch of powders that can be used for many different cartridges and are versatile.

Below is what I use but there are a plethora of choices.......

38 Spl .357 Magnum & 9mm = Titegroup

45 acp = W231

45 Colt = Alliant Unique

38-55 & 45-70 = H4895
 
I use mostly Universal because it's usually easy to find, works well in so many other calibers, and gives good load density.

I like powder that actually takes up space inside the case. A light or heavy charge is easily spotted.

For higher performance Accurate #7 or Hodgdon Longshot are my choices.
 
Although I've switched over to Bullseye a couple years ago I'd agree 231/HP38 is a very good powder for 9mm and 45acp. I started using it 30 years ago in 45acp and still use it to this day. It's consistent, proven, meters well and accurate. The downside is in minimum loads where it's pretty dirty.

Bullseye has become my standard 9mm powder in the last couple of years. It's another powder that's over 100 years old. It's consistent, meters well, versatile, very accurate, extremely economical, Low flash, reasonably clean and low recoil in 9mm. It's one of the fastest burning pistol powders on the market.

I have arthritis in my hands and the recoil is mild enough to allow me to shoot without issue. I'm running 4 grains under a 124grain polymer coated lead and getting around 1000fps if I remember correctly. (Do not rely on my loading data. Be safe and check reliable loading tables.)

Like all powders Bullseye is near impossible to find but fortunately I have enough to load a couple thousand more rounds. I've started a quest looking for a good substitute though and ran across some accurate Nitro 100NF. It's a touch faster burning than Bullseye and 9mm loads use just under the amount of Bullseye that I normally use. I picked up two bottles but haven't loaded any 9's but have quite a few 38 specials and must say I'm really pleased with it. It shares all the characteristics of Bullseye but is very clean burning. If it performs as well in 9mm as it does in 38 special I'll have could my alternate to Bullseye. Actually I'm so confident in it I'm going to see if I can pickup another bottle today.
 
I started reloading over 40 years ago. I got several manuals and read them. I subscribe to several gun magazines and copied any relevant articles on the calibers I reloaded. I keep those articles in a loose leaf binder.

I started reloading 9mm later and started with 231. I was already using that powder for 38 special and 45acp. I have stayed with it as I have a decent supply.
 
9mmPatriot said:
How did you decide on which powder to use?

Price and availablity?(Very relevant now!)
Least amount of grains for the highest velocity?
That's what I saw on Youtube?
My spouse told me to go cheap or find another pass-time . . .
Click to expand...

First, price should be your last decision point. What if a 1 pound costs $40? How many loads of 9mm will it load? You are typically going to get over 1500 round out of a pound of powder So at $40 it will cost you $.03 a round.

As noted above, do the research first. I actually look for the most bulky powder listed in the standard load tables because they almost always give more consistent performance. Low SD for me is important for the proper operation of my pistol and uniform velocities for better accuracy. I also use high bulk powders to make it very easy to check fill levels in the cases with a flashlight before seating the bullets.

Last comment is to load several different published loads to find out which ones will shoot best in your revolver or pistol. Work your way up from minimum loads until your pistol does not fail to cycle. There will be a difference in powders and some will perform poorly in one gun and excellent in another. Consider recoil, ejection & loading problems, and overall consistency before making a final decision on which load to use.
 
I use N340 with a 124 or 135 bullet in 9mm because in my gun it hits point of aim and really clean. I like other calibers better. If you have a gun with non adjustable sights and have the time you can play with weights and powder to move the bullet impact.
 
Last edited:
I join my friends and fellow forum members in using HP38/W231 for my nine mm reloads. Why? I'm just starting to load 9s myself, but have been reloading for over 40 years and had already been using this versatile powder for target loads in 32 and 38 caliber rounds. I had plenty on hand and when I asked was told it would be good for 9mm as well. So far, it looks like the 4.1 grain charge behind a 125 grain cast lead RN bullet is going to work really well with my Model 639.

Froggie
 
9mmPatriot said:
I'm green, no doubt about it. Loaded a whopping 300 rds of 9mm and a mind-numbing 40 rounds of .223. Not quite an expert yet and no one I know reloads either.

So I'm asking a very broad and general question for those of you that have been at this a little longer than I have.

How did you decide on which powder to use?


Price and availablity?(Very relevant now!)
Least amount of grains for the highest velocity?
That's what I saw on Youtube?
My spouse told me to go cheap or find another pass-time?


Help me out if you have a minute or two.
Click to expand...

Unique because it works well for 147 gr. subsonic loads and 124 gr NATO level loads.

And I have about 12 pounds of it, and it is extremely useful in just about any pistol or shotgun caliber!
 
Bullseye is economical because you usually use less of it for each round. But that also means it doesn't fill the case as much, and you are at more risk of an accidental double-charge. So you will want to be careful and alert to that while loading.

Unique is a great general-purpose powder for many calibers.

Other than those two, lots of good advice here on other powders. I try to limit the variety I have, so I generally use Bullseye or Unique for range ammo in any caliber, and Unique or Power Pistol for hotter loads.
 
I started reloading for revolver cartridges and went with Unique due to its diversity. I have like 17 lbs left. When the panic hit, I added .45 acp/AR & 9mm. All for just plinking, although I did do up some hot trail lots for 10mm & .45 Colt.
 
9mmPatriot said:
I'm green, no doubt about it. Loaded a whopping 300 rds of 9mm and a mind-numbing 40 rounds of .223. Not quite an expert yet and no one I know reloads either.

So I'm asking a very broad and general question for those of you that have been at this a little longer than I have.

How did you decide on which powder to use?


Price and availablity?(Very relevant now!)
Least amount of grains for the highest velocity?
That's what I saw on Youtube?
My spouse told me to go cheap or find another pass-time?


Help me out if you have a minute or two.
Click to expand...
I want a powder that fills the case enough that I can spot a squib or a double. I also want a powder that gives high velocities with lower pressure. And it is great if it is flash reduced.

At the moment I'm using Ramshot Silhouette for 9mm.
 
Many choose a powder because of it's makeup and what it can do for them and the ways they think a loaded case should look per volume etc etc.

Every powder has its starting loads and will finally build up to it's maximum pressure and give a certain fps, with different accuracy tossed in, along the way.

You can choose a fast powder or a slow burning powder but they will all produce a load that will work for light target work or maybe a hunting load, if needed.

Over the years I have tested different powders in my shorguns, rifles, revolvers and pistols, just to see how they do in fps, recoil, blast, patterns and accuracy as a few of the things that I look at.

Most "Will Work" but there will be a few that produce a fps or accuracy, that is better than the others, but that does not mean that you have to toss out all the other powders.......
since they be the "Best" in a future test.

Enjoy your powders.
 
I was using up some AA #2 and was having awful leading, even with coated bullets. Spoke with Bezos about it(it was their coated bullets) and they recommended trying something slower, that the fast #2 may be blowing past before the bullets had fully engaged the rifling. Moved to AA#7(ehich I also had lying about) and BINGO! no more leading. Same bullets, same velocity
 
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