Seeking Load Data

[WhiskeyDawg]

I am new to reloading, I am reloading a 9mm S&W and a Walther 9mm I have 2 powders I would like to use Ramshot Silhouette and Vihta Vuori N32C....



Also would like to use those powders on my 40 cal M&P, and My S&W 44 mag. I know its a big order but any input would help.

 

[Sevens]

Western Powders markets all the Accurate line and all of the Ramshot line and their published load data can be found here:
https://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WesternPowdersHandloadingGuide8.0_WEB.pdf

Vihtavuori has published load data for handgun rounds here:
Handgun reloading data | Loads for pistol calibers | Handloads | Pistol powders | Reload your own ammo - Vihtavuori

 

[bwxmas]

Hodgdon owns, and markets accurate/western
BTW your Silhouette is a strong powder for 9mm
Not N32...

 

[oddshooter]

My strongest suggestion is to find a teacher/mentor to help you get started.
Going it alone can be done in several years.
Getting started right can be done in months. Handloaders normally love to share their knowledge and experience.
What city are you located?

Prescut

 

[Nevada Ed]

Ramshot is very close to BE-86 powder and will do very well in the 9mm from light to full power loads.
It will do a lot better than Unique flake powder with the large 147 gr plated bullets if you can find them, for top fps, since a lot more powder will fit in the small case.

Have fun.

 

[Nemo288]

N32C "Tin Star" is a quite bulky, quite fast, powder designed for the same applications as "Trail Boss".
(It is NOT the same powder, however, by any means!)
To quote their manual:

"This is a specialized powder intended to provide low bulk density for cartridges that
were originally designed for Cowboy Action Shooters shooting lead bullets
with single-action revolvers and lever-action rifles.
The use of more conventional powder results in poor load density, and fails to adequately fill the case.
Our N32C corrects this problem, and is ideally suited to many of the older cartridges
used in Cowboy Action shooting, such as the .38 Special, .44 Special and .45 Colt."

Unless you are going to shoot 9mm out of a revolver, N32C is probably not the proper powder
to get semi-auto pistols to operate correctly.

The good news is that it IS a good powder for target, plinking, cowboy action
and other low power applications in that 44 magnum.
Again from their manual:
With a 248 gr. cast start with 7.6 grains N32C and don't exceed 9.6 grains.
With a 267 gr. cast start with 7.7 grains N32C and don't exceed 9.3 grains.
These give velocities in the 900-1000 fps region.

I have used N32C somewhat successfully in the 44 Special.
It is not quite as bulky as Trail Boss but like Trail Boss I would hesitate to compress the powder at all.
Trail Boss is quite explicit about that.
One load I developed and like is the 200 gr. X-Treme Plated Flat point, Starline 44 special brass,
CCI 300 primer and 7 grains N32C.
This gives 800 fps out of a 3" 696 revolver.
You could shoot this load in any 44 magnum revolver but the full length 44 magnum brass
will work better and leave those chambers cleaner.

VihtaVouri load data is available online as mentioned above.
I would download the whole manual as a pdf for future reference.
https://www.vihtavuori.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Vihtavuori_Reloading_Guide_2021_USA_www.pdf
Some of the data from the previous year's manual is missing in this one like that 248 grain cast recipe.
(You can never have too many loading manuals)

 

[Nevada Ed]

"Unless you are going to shoot 9mm out of a revolver, N32C is probably not the proper powder
to get semi-auto pistols to operate correctly." (quote)

+1;

Cowboy loads out of a pistol is usually not going to work, with
the low fps and energy on the pistols action, if using lead bullets.

My 3.5" needs 941fps with a 115gr and 916fps with a 124 fmj, to eject, using a very fast powder.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Note;

With my 3.5" barrel I did get a 125 coated bullet at 916fps with CFE-p
but at 20 feet the accuracy was terrible !!
Green Dot at 945fps was a lot better for a minimum loading.

If "Tin Star" can get a 124 plated up to 950 in the data, you might give it a try
but you might need a well broke in weapon & spring for ejections.

 

[gwpercle]

I am looking at Western Load Data Guide and I see Data given for Ramshot Silhouette in the folowing :
9mm Luger (9 X 19)
40 S&W
44 Special ...it can be used in light 44 magnum loads .

Except for full blown 44 magnum loads it will cover a lot of your reloading needs . The exact charge is determined by bullet weight and construction . At one time Western Powder sent this little reloading booklet for the cost of postage ... my latest is Westen Handloading Guide edition 7.0 .
Go to Western Powders, Inc. this brings you to home page , look at list on left side - Categories - the first category is reloading guides . click on that ...it will show three books , Norma - 30.00 , Western - 40.00 and Handloading Guide edition 8.0 - 2.99
It has been updated to Edition 8.0 (I need to order a new one myself) the cost is only $2.99 and one of the best buys in loading guides if you use Western Powders and there's a lot of great info in there ... get it .
It has the online Data search beat seven ways to Sunday ...Hodgdon messed up Westerns old Data Center big time ...you can hardly find anything now ...get the 2.99 guide.
Gary

 

[Nemo288]

The Western Powders Handloading guide is also available free as a pdf at
http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WesternPowdersHandloadingGuide8.0_WEB.pdf
Not just load data but a complete handloading manual starting with all the basic techniques.
Recommended.