Which powder?

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Ptrlcop

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So I have been slowly acquiring all the equipment I need to start reloading and am finally ready to start. My reason for reloading is to be able to be able to shoot higher volume than what I shoot with loaded ammo. I will not be the guy that obsesses over load development. I will be loading primarily 147gr coated lead 9mm to try and match poa/poi to my Winchester RA9T duty ammo. I will also be loading .38 special with 158 SWC coated lead but in much smaller numbers and more for fun than serious shooting.


With all that said I would like to put up a enough powder to get me into mid 2018(In case the wrong person gets elected and we have another run on components). Looking around, the powders I can acquire in the needed quantities are Advantage #5, Ramshot silhouette, Titegroup, and possibly Ramshot zip. I have ruled out Titegroup because I am new at this and it has a very narrow window of loads and I want some forgiveness of minor errors in charge weight. Cost seems to be about the same for the same weights of powder but I'm not sure if I would be burning more of one than the other per charge weight.
 
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I started with Titegroup loading 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP but when it ran out I switched to CFE Pistol and added 38 Special and a power puff of a load for 357. With the Titegroup I just positioned my self at the press so I could look in the case to see powder level before sitting the bullet on top. Don
 
I know they aren't on your list, but CFE pistol and 700x been plentiful in my neck of the woods as of late, and will load most of what you are looking at. Even more if you go with some lighter bullets, and you'll be able to stretch a pound a long ways....
 
I started with Titegroup as well. I was a little nervous - but it was the only pistol powder I could find at the time.

Of course I started low and worked my way up. But beyond that I 1/ bought a set of check weights and I use them - not an empty pan - to calibrate my scale. And 2/ I weigh every 10th powder throw to ensure the powder measure isn't creeping out of spec during the loading session.

So far (knock on wood) this has worked flawlessly for me. I've had no issues with Titegroup and when I need powder I'll likely go right for that again. Titegroup meters remarkably well in my RCBS Uniflow measure.

OR
 
I like to stock powder but don't get fixated on 1-2. There are at least 15 powders suitable for 9mm loads. Try 3-4 of the ones you can get & buy 8# of the ones you like. Faster powders give you about 12000 rds per 8# jug.
Sil is a really good 9mm powder, any of the medium burners from aa#5 to power pistol are great for medium to full power loads. Faster powders are better for light, lower power loads, but can get away from you in small, high pressure rds like 9m. & 40 with heavy bullets.
 
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Ptrlcop said:
So I have been slowly acquiring all the equipment I need to start reloading and am finally ready to start. My reason for reloading is to be able to be able to shoot higher volume than what I shoot with loaded ammo. I will not be the guy that obsesses over load development. I will be loading primarily 147gr coated lead 9mm to try and match poa/poi to my Winchester RA9T duty ammo. I will also be loading .38 special with 158 SWC coated lead but in much smaller numbers and more for fun than serious shooting.


With all that said I would like to put up a enough powder to get me into mid 2018(In case the wrong person gets elected and we have another run on components). Looking around, the powders I can acquire in the needed quantities are Advantage #5, Ramshot silhouette, Titegroup, and possibly Ramshot zip. I have ruled out Titegroup because I am new at this and it has a very narrow window of loads and I want some forgiveness of minor errors in charge weight. Cost seems to be about the same for the same weights of powder but I'm not sure if I would be burning more of one than the other per charge weight.
Click to expand...
I have been using Power Pistol with good results
I have also used Tite group and the no no Tite wad
also. I have many others but haven't tried them yet
 
I've never heard of Advantage #5, if that is actually a powder you've found you wont find much load data for it. If you meant Accurate #5 that is a great powder for many applications, which include 9mm and 38 special. After a quick look at Western Powders loading data it appears you'll be using loads somewhere around 5-5.5 grains, so figure about 1200 rounds per pound of powder.

Of all your powders listed Accurate #5 is the one I have experience with and would choose to use. First, it's sort of like Unique in that it's as close to a Universal Handgun powder as can be found. Second, unlike Unique, Accurate #5 is a powder that meters just wonderfully. So, it's a powder that you can trust to meter consistently from a good powder measure. Third, it's an excellent powder for building accurate handgun ammunition.

However, Accurate #5 is a very small grained powder that will cause jams in the Lee lineup of powder measures due to leakage between the powder measure and drum. This leakage not only creates a mess, it also tend to cause the drum to jam. I would suggest the RCBS Competition Powder Measure, while expensive it's an excellent design worth every penny spent.

BTW, the Handgun Version of the RCBS powder measure can be difficult to find in stores, for some reason I don't understand most reloading suppliers don't see a need to stock the Handgun version and just keep the Rifle version on hand. Don't buy into statements "it will work fine", the Rifle version won't meter Handgun charges as accurately. If you decide to purchase the RCBS measure you can find the combination Handgun/Rifle kit at Cabela's or purchase just the Handgun version over the Net from Midway. BTW, I got the combined Kit and have never even opened up the rifle drum packaging, which shows how wise those shops are that only keep the Rifle version on hand. Calibers I load are 40 S&W, 38 Spl., 357 Magnum, 45 ACP, 300 BLK, .223/5.56, and 308.
 
Scooter's comments on powder measures are worth re-reading. I'm also a big fan of the RCBS and Hornady measures using the handgun cylinder and a micrometer adjuster. Between the two I'd go with the RCBS because I think you can buy it configured that way without paying for extra components you won't use. I'd go with AA #5 if I were you.
 
If you want versatility......

Unique or one of the other medium burnng powders will do almost anything.

One thing about the faster powders, like Bullseye and Tightgroup is that for target velocities they are VERY consistent and VERY economical to use. For higher velocities the average burning powders, Unique, Acc 5, 7, Hodgdon Universal are good choices.

If you only want to get one powder get the medium burning. I would advise, however, that getting one fast power and one medium burning powder would be great.

That will cover anything you want to do with 9mm.

BTW Acc #7 is a very good powder at light and heavy charges.
 
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WIN 231/HP 38 will load most 9mm and .38 S&W loadings very well... If you can find it.

My newest available favorite is now called HODGDON HI-SKOR 800-X, formerly an IMR listing. To my great delight it seems to be readily available here at about $24/ lb. and has published loads for just about everything from .25 ACP through .45 Long Colt!

Yes, that includes .380 ACP, 9mm, .38 S&W, .357 Magnum, 10mm, .40 S&W, .41 Magnum, .44 S&W Special, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP!!!!

Uses a little more powder than WIN 231/HP38 typically, but costs less. I have no problem with the way it runs through a powder trickler but have not tried it with my powder drop: since I weigh every load it is really not a problem.

Cheers!
 
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Medium slow burn powders, like HP 38/Win 231, Unique
Slower, Power Pistol, Longshot

From your list Accurate #5 (I have not used it but would)

I still find HP38/Win 231 to be the best all around powder for anything, Unique is good also but HP38 meters better

Avoid the really fast powders like Bullseye and Tite Group in the high pressure 9mm, too easy to make a mistake for a new reloader.

Look at the burn rates, look at your MANUAL(s);) Online data from Hodgdon Accurate and Alliant (which sucks)

What and who gives the biggest range and bullets?

https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Burn%20Rates%20-%202014-2015.pdf

Handgun « Accurate Powders

http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WP_LoadSpec_1-23-14.pdf
 
I use a lot of Red Dot. It seems to be readily available (as available as anything else) and is usedul in a wide range of calibers, to include shotgun, if you're so inclined. It's an old powder, but meters well and is fairly economical. For example, in 9mm with your bullet, 4 grains will give you 950 fps, which is on par with factory ammo.

Good luck!
 
CFE pistol is a very good powder for 38 and 9mm target loads
in my weapons, since they are pushing it and available.
With a 147gr Speer I had good results with a starting load at
4.0g at 1.16" oal and 3.6g at 1.13" oal in my 3.5" barrel.

Bullseye, Unique and HS-6 also worked for the target loads with
a starting load of Red Dot with a oal of 1.16" hitting 835fps
with the top accuracy of the powders.
The medium fast powders seemed to work the best in my pistol
but you will have to play with what you have to see what your
pistol likes.

Only HS-6 and Unique were able to get up to the 940 fps with a
long 1.165" OAL in my first heavy load test. I am sure at only
1.13" OAL they will pick up more fps, if needed.

Have fun and stay safe.
 
I have had stellar results with CFE Pistol using 124 GR plated bullets. I would imagine you would have similar results with the 147 GR bullets. Matching velocity to your duty ammo should not be a problem with CFE Pistol as it has the potential for high energy loads while remaining within published load data.

Mike
 
For the OP are you confused yet?:D

One powder for both 9mm and 38 is a compromise

The 9 being a high pressure and the 38 a low pressure, So if you only want one powder as mentioned the middle of the road burn speed, Hp 38, Unique, AA 5 there are others but it really is not going to matter much. If what you can get local is AA 5 then go for it.
 
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