joeintexas
US Veteran
W231, Bullseye, Red Dot, AutoComp, in that order. Seeing more powder nowadays on the shelves, a bit pricey here but availability is getting better.
-
Forum Update: We've upgraded the software to improve security, performance, and the overall experience.
👉 Read why we made the change | Support the Forum
Your favorite 9mm Powder
- Thread starter Ohio AV8TOR
- Start date
kwselke
Member
Herco has been my preferred powder for 9MM since I started reloading around 1992. I guess I should point out that I also like 115 grain JHP bullets on top of the Herco.
MasterTech1960
Member
If you don't mind me asking , what gr. bullet and what powder charge are you loading CFE Pistol in 9mm at .
Vortec MAX
Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2014
- Messages
- 447
- Reaction score
- 254
124 grain bullets.
5.0 grains of CFE-P for target/plinking loads.
5.5 grains of CFE-P for defense loads.
Both have really low velocity spreads and Standard Dev. They are both accurate.
Mike
AZ_M&P
Member
Power Pistol for 9 mm, Bullseye for .40 S&W.
Just another 22 shooter
Member
My two 9mms like HP38 AND Autocomp behind 115 and 124 plated bullets.
Wee Hooker
Member
I've also struggled to find more W231. Seems like it will be the last to arrive in most of the shops I frequent. ( FWIW, They tell me W231 and Clays are still near non-existent in their suppliers inventories.)
So while I still have reserves to fall back on, I've been spending time messing around with load development in the last few months. Mainly loading for 9mm for 125, 130 and (to a lesser degree) 147 gr lead and platted bullets to achieve target velocities for general range play. What I found was that experiments with Tightgroup, Bullseye, Unique , Red Dot, Solo 1000 , Clays and W231 pretty much all produced good usable ( and often closely performing) loads. True, some were better suited to one bullet weight/ style than others but I learned that in a pinch, most of these powders could be tuned to do just fine for my needs.
FWIW, I will likely stock back up on my favorites (Clays and W231) when they show up but I no longer feel handicapped by my dwindling supply.
So while I still have reserves to fall back on, I've been spending time messing around with load development in the last few months. Mainly loading for 9mm for 125, 130 and (to a lesser degree) 147 gr lead and platted bullets to achieve target velocities for general range play. What I found was that experiments with Tightgroup, Bullseye, Unique , Red Dot, Solo 1000 , Clays and W231 pretty much all produced good usable ( and often closely performing) loads. True, some were better suited to one bullet weight/ style than others but I learned that in a pinch, most of these powders could be tuned to do just fine for my needs.
FWIW, I will likely stock back up on my favorites (Clays and W231) when they show up but I no longer feel handicapped by my dwindling supply.
Moe Mentum
Member
For 9mm, I use :
Power Pistol
W231/HP38
Unique
Red Dot
Power Pistol
W231/HP38
Unique
Red Dot
As a note it could also depend on if you want to use just.......
3.2 grs of powder or up to 9.0c grs of powder per load.
A pound of powder would make around 2,187 rounds to just the minimum of around 777 loadings.
Have fun.
3.2 grs of powder or up to 9.0c grs of powder per load.
A pound of powder would make around 2,187 rounds to just the minimum of around 777 loadings.
Have fun.
I've been using HS6 with 115 gr plated RN. Tried CFE pistol, but I've had better luck with HS6.
27 Man
SWCA Member
Bullseye with both cast and jacketed bullets.
Hey, please tell us...
Hey you guys. Tell us what it is you like about your favorite loads and what you don't like about others? It's not educational to say, "I like so many grains of Xpowder behind Ybullet."
I explained why I liked the Acc #7 behind a heavy bullet for the light recoil. But the Red Dot with a 125 is fine for medium loads, economical, it seems very consistent and predictable and I have plenty of it. It's not for SD or any hot loads but for target shooting, I really like it. AND it's been more available than the others I'd use. The ONLY reason I load hot is for SD and SD practice. The 5943 isn't like a 686 revolver, and I believe that it can be overworked.
Hey you guys. Tell us what it is you like about your favorite loads and what you don't like about others? It's not educational to say, "I like so many grains of Xpowder behind Ybullet."
I explained why I liked the Acc #7 behind a heavy bullet for the light recoil. But the Red Dot with a 125 is fine for medium loads, economical, it seems very consistent and predictable and I have plenty of it. It's not for SD or any hot loads but for target shooting, I really like it. AND it's been more available than the others I'd use. The ONLY reason I load hot is for SD and SD practice. The 5943 isn't like a 686 revolver, and I believe that it can be overworked.
at_liberty
Member
What I like about my 4.2 gr Titegroup with 124 gr FMJ is that it was repeatedly recommended, it tested well, and I can pretty well rely on the powder's availability, reasons more practical than scientific.
old&slow
Member
Bullseye and HS6. Both meter well. Both fill the 9mm case about 40%- 50% so a double charge is real easy to see. ( been working with my grandson showing him reloading). HS6 seems to prefer heavy bullets and warmer loads. I like to use 147's in the 9mm and 230's in the 45 acp.
I've used Bullseye in my 45 ACP, 38 /357 target loads, and 9mm with good results.
Could not find W231 the last time I was looking. But did find a 8# jug of Bullseye. And with the load I'm using in the 9mm that's about 16,000 loads.
The 147's because they seem to knock down steel plates better than 124's for me. And I think there is less recoil with the 147's to make the power factor.
(good question rwsmith ,, it's good to know the reasoning,,
)
Last edited:
OK,
I went with Herco because during the last dry spell I was I looking for a powder to load for 124 grain cast 9mm bullets. As I checked out the bare shelves at the Sportsmans Warehouse off I-25 in Denver I saw a 4 lb keg of Herco. Something in the back of my head said, "That's a good powder." I bought it and went home I seemed to remember something from when I was a Kid about it. After digging out some old magazines I found that in the 70's and early 80's Herco was a well liked powder for semi auto handguns, both 9mm and 45ACP. More digging showed me it was also good for full power 38 special loads.
I finally found that 6 grains of Herco was a very good load for 124 grain 9mm, 230 grain 45ACP and a 158 grain +P (or 38/44) load for 38 Special lead bullets.
The nice thing for me was all I had to do was to set up the powder measure on the 9mm toolhead of my Dillon 550 and when I wanted to load 45's or 38's just swap it out to those tool heads. And a 4 pound keg was 68 bucks (at that time).
I went thru 12 pounds of that stuff in about a month. It metered OK. Ran well. It was a little dirty but I could get it!!.
So now it's my standby powder for most of my side arm use. Not the best but still available. And not high out of sight in price.
It fits in well with the Russian proverb. " Good enough is the enemy of perfect." Herco is "good enough".
Last edited:
Bkreutz
US Veteran
I used 231/hp38 since the early '70s. I started shooting USPSA Open Major about the same time the supply of 231 started to dry up. I find that Autocomp or CFE pistol works better for major PF loads so that's what I have in stock now. I think I have 3 or 4 # or HP38 in the back of the powder locker, not sure why I still keep it around. Maybe someday I'll have a use for it again.
Availability is a two edged sword....
I hate to be dictated by only what powder in available but that's the way it's been.
On one hand it's good, because we are trying powders we wouldn't have before.
On the other hand, if you can't get anything except a pound or two of something if it shows up on the shelf, that's no good either.
I hate to be dictated by only what powder in available but that's the way it's been.
On one hand it's good, because we are trying powders we wouldn't have before.
On the other hand, if you can't get anything except a pound or two of something if it shows up on the shelf, that's no good either.
It's just me I guess.....
I like heavier bullets in just about everything. In 9mm I flat out dislike the 115 grain as it just seems too light for anything and snappy on the recoil. Forget those 90 grain jobs even exist. 124 is my fave but shooting 147s are comfortable. I'd use either 124 or 147 for SD type loads. It seems that the light bullet/high velocity thing doesn't work as well as they thought it would and heavier bullets get better penetration.
I like heavier bullets in just about everything. In 9mm I flat out dislike the 115 grain as it just seems too light for anything and snappy on the recoil. Forget those 90 grain jobs even exist. 124 is my fave but shooting 147s are comfortable. I'd use either 124 or 147 for SD type loads. It seems that the light bullet/high velocity thing doesn't work as well as they thought it would and heavier bullets get better penetration.
