Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading Recomended powder for 9mm??

Going to start loading 9mm....need recommended powder choices for bullet weights from 115 gr to 125 gr.

Thanks all

Doc

Most don’t like my powders of choice, but here goes in order

Red Dot
AA5
700X
800X
Unique
CFE pistol
Titewad
Titegroup

Almost anything will work. Tried a lot of different powders. My favorite is power pistol. Look at a powder burn chart.
Power pistol is close to Unique and HS 6. Not much difference. Hasbeen

The two powders that I'm currently using in 9mm are Unique and HS-6. Satisfied with both so I won't be looking any further.

Bullseye, Unique or Power Pistol depending on bullet weight and desired velocity.

WSF
Titegroup
HS-6
Silhouette
VV 3N37

Here's a good review of 9mm pistol powders
NATO Reloading 9mm

I have used strictly Bullseye in 9mm, .38 Spl. and .45 ACP loads for general shooting since the 1960's. I have never seen any need to change.

Titegroup in my 9mm

If you can find some Alliant Sport pistol grab it!

Titegroup burns pretty hot , sports pistol runs a lot cooler with better case fill!

BE 86

Longshot powder, bullets from 90gr Lehighs to 125gr Barnes, all sit on a mildly compressed powder charge, no set back issues, top velocity and accuracy.

Blue Dot & Unique has worked well for me.

true but it is an position insensitive powder that works for subsonic .223...
which is nice,
(not to open up a rabbit hole) but, I would be curious to hear experiences with subsonic .223 loads from the slower pistol powders...

I'm a big believer in fast pistol powders for my plinkers. But I don't do subsonic 223. If I did, I'd use Clays because I have a lot of it and I've had good experiences in other cartridges. I use mid-range pistol powders for training loads.

Just my opinion..

I fine more uses for BE 86 as time goes by.

I'm familiar with and echo person's usage of Alliant Unique in 9mm. 4.6gr was my ideal load for 115-124gr cast boolits. Not too hot, it was just right and sure-function and accurate in several 9mm pistols I own. (A little snappy for the smaller ones). However, owing I bought a Hi-Point 995 9mm carbine for fun and discovered the 995 leads with these loads (cast boolits are not recommended by them) I switched to whatever jacketed bullets I could get for reloading for the carbine. 4.6gr Unique and 124gr FMJ work fine, but while I was at it I experimented with an arcane load not popular here
but known in Europe for 9x21mm reloading. I speak of Nobelsport Vectan powder which was available before shelves became slim of any brand of powder.
They have a granulated shotgun powder called "GM3" which is applicable to 9x21mm, and a disk version of the same formula called "D20" which are both listed in the same burn speed ballpark as W-231. Had some "D20" and worked-up some loads, and sonofagun 4.6gr "D20" behind a 124gr FMJ became my best and most accurate load for the 995 carbine. Pays to experiment, but be safe and use common sense. Experiment was a neat revelation I could use it in 9mm with complete satisfaction.

I use unique, because I have a lot of it and it works very well for me.

I use Alliant Sport Pistol powder for cast coated bullets. I use Win 231 for jacketed bullets. Sport pistol was designed for coated bullets. They say fast powders are the worst for coated bullets. Before coated bullets, I used to use Bullseye all the time on 9mm & 45acp.

I'm glad someone suggested Longshot powder. I just got back from the range a little while ago. Testing some loads with longshot and the 125gr HAP bullet. I'm not wanting to push it too hard, so I figured I'd stop just shy of 1,100 fps. I'm sure I could easily get to 1,150+ fps, but its a pretty accurate load as is.. Probably plenty good enough for the pin shoot coming up in 2 weeks.. 15 yard target, freehand:

WSF for quite some time now. Vincepo, powder coat in that 995 carbine works well

You bet, it's good powder Buddy, good shooting too.

My buddy gave me a pound of longshot. I had to use it in something. Ha ha.. I'm sure I could step on the gas pedal a lot more, but I'm getting pretty good accuracy and poi is just where I want it for next saturday's pin shoot... Should be able to tear them up with that load, as is. I hope.. I was practicing the other day and 5 pins off the table in about 4 seconds with the CZ. Not nearly as fast as the 22lr (at 2.5 seconds), but those pins are set up at the back of the table and go off easier. The pins for the mid bore are at the middle of the table, so you have to hit them just right to get them all the way off with the first shot.. I'll probably use my CZ 9mm in the big bore event as well too. Its just a good shooting pistol and holds 19 rounds, so there's that too. Ha ha..

Longshot is the cats ass in the 10mm as well. I’m using accurate #7 in the 9mm.

I've used both power pistol and longshot in my 40 S&W and my 45 ACP and it worked great, but this is the first time I tried it in the 9mm. I'm not saying it's the cats azz, but it works for sure. Loaded up 400 rounds of the 125gr HAP and 200 of the 124gr XTP's. Same charge of powder and oal:


Doesn't look like 400 rounds laying there. I kept thinking I wished I had a progressive. I was only able to load 385 in an hour on my single stage..

I did 2000 9mm 115 gr RNHB over 4.3 gr Universal this weekend. I still have 500 MT cases to fill with 124 gr RMR hollowpoints. They will get the same charge of Universal until it runs out. Then I will get back into the open can of HS-6.

I like Universal. It is great powder. Works very well in the 40 and 45 too..

Yeah, you're in a good spot with that Longshot 9mm pinbuster load buddy.

Universal is very versatile. I started using it many years ago as a cleaner alternative to Unique for "special level" loads in the 41 mag. And also use it for moderate 327 loads.

Really lite revolver loads get Titegroup.

I use Titegroup in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45’s

Have any of you Longshot shooters found it to be particularly loud? I've heard people jokingly refer to it as "Loudshot".

In a shotgun it is for sure, but I have not experienced it in my 9mm. Maybe because I'm only running 5 grains or so? When I shot trap competitively (or for money I should say), we would run them hot and heavy. 1500 fps with longshot was louder than normal loads. You'd see more flame coming out of the porting as well.. Were those people you are referring to pistol shooters or shotgun shooters?

I have had good luck with HS-6

Thanks buddy. I was practicing yesterday. I'm going to see if the video will load here. First time to post a video with IMGUR, so bear with me.
Bowling pin practice

Pin practice #2

I didn't get my 9mm video to load. Those above were shot with the MKII... Pins at the back of the table.

Finally got my 9mm video to load
These pins were shot with that longshot load I was talking about, where I'm using the 125gr HAP bullet. Not a real fast load, about on par with factory 124gr FMJ loads, but they do shoot well. In the video, you'll see where the pins were set in the middle of the plywood. Like Swifty said about 16" from the back edge of the table. Its hard to see this in the video, but the pins are actually 24" from the edge (right in the center of a standard sheet of plywood). This is not the table our club uses, just a piece of plywood I use for practice. It measures 4' x 5'6" long. I believe the 5 pins were all off the table in about 3.5 seconds or so.. In the previous videos, some of those pins were off in about 2.5 seconds. But I was using my Ruger mkII 22lr. For the rimfire event, the pins are at the back edge of the table, as the video shows. My pin shoot is this Saturday, so I'm getting pretty stoked about it... Should be a lot of fun.

Doesn’t look like them pins are 16” from the rear of the table which is standard for 9mm. When positioned right they roll some, not just fall off. 22 rimfire only at the back.

Like I said, those were shot with my mkII.. I'll get the 9mm video to load in a few hours.. . Damn cell phones... I'm sure there is an easier way. I may start a new thread to see how many pin shooters we have in the forum. I know Waders shoots them. Had some guys show up from the big cities (Portland and Vancouver) with race guns a few times. One guy in particular was said to shoot those pins off in "4 seconds" WOW!!... yeah he got his azz handed to him by a few rednecks..

I would have thought there would be a lot more recommendations for CFE Pistol.... whats wrong with that powder?

Pistol

Shot pins for about 10 years till the local club quit for whatever reason, believe rock your glock made more money. Funner than all get out. Pins get heavy and don’t roll to well after they have been shot a bunch. Want some real fun, shoot a single action class. Most fun I ever had.

I hope nothing is wrong with it. A couple weeks ago it was the only thing on the shelf at Sportsman's and I grabbed a couple pounds.

I have not loaded with it yet. But all the data looks very promising. I have been cleaning out some old inventory, Universal & HS-6. But I am looking forward to trying CFE Pistol and a couple pounds of Longshot I found last week.

That is fun for sure. Just for chidts and giggles I used a single action revolver in one of the matches last time. Borrowed it from a buddy shooting the event. That was a kick in the pants.. No, I didn't win that one. Ha ha.. and yes, the pins do get heavy. We keep using the pins from the rimfire event and mid bore event and use them for our final big bores, where the pins are set at the front edge of the table. It takes a good hit to take them off the table with 1 shot per pin. A lot of times they just lay there and spin on the table and present us with difficult shots. This is where you have to force yourself to slow down a bit and focus on making the shot count... If you did it for 10 years, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Its like slowing down to go faster....

The real beauty in loading for the 9mm, is you can use a lot of different powders. As these guys have named off quite a few that work very well.

Probably nothing, but most of us have already found something we like and have enough not to have worried about trying something "new". A 4 pounder of Universal lasts a long time.

That’s the truth. I picked up 16 lbs. of Red Dot at a fundraiser in about 05 for 40 bucks. At 3.5 - 5 grains I’ve only went through 12 lbs.

I just picked up 4 pounds of Win 572, it's going to be my favorite by default. Any suggestions on bullet weights for hotter loads? Can't seem to get the Hodgdon site to work today...

For sure.

And, in today's availability climate, you may be shooting the powder you can find. It's just a good thing a bunch of different powders do work, some better than others.

DF

+1

I'm another Universal fan.

I am finding that I am going thru old powder that I have had for years and loading it up just because I don't want to pay the crazy prices some people are wanting for powder now. Just finished off a can of Bulleye that has a price of $11.97 on the can. That old soldier was emptied out last week. I have a can of about that same time period of Universal that is next on the hit list.

Clean Shot, 4.4 gr w 115 gr plated works well for me in pistols
Major Pistol, 7.0 g w 124 gr plated HP for my Beretta CX4

Have a lot of different powders for fun and practice but kind of partial to AA7 for defense rounds.

There are vids out there showing the very low flash of AA7.

And I’ll see your 600 and raise you 500+. 9mm, 6.4 gr PowerPistol, 124 gr Gold Dots. On a Rockchucker.

For pistols I’ve hoarded a little Bullseye and a bit of PowerPistol & Blue Dot. 38 Special, 9mm, .357, .40, and 44 RemMag. Don’t feel lacking. Though a little AA9 and H110 finds it’s way on the bench for a Big Bang.

Damn, you are ambitious. I like your reloading set-up. Looks similar to mine.. You and I are the only ones here that use our press mounted priming stations. I like using mine, as I can feel the primer seat consistently every time.

I just use black powder. That way I can run after the shot and they don't know where I went..

I loaded 40 on a single stage once, no way Id want to do it again......

Actually my ambition waned a bit looking at all the components I’d accumulated without any loading. I’m on a roll now. And yeah I like the press mounted primer. Saves an extra step. Size & charge, then flare and reprime while the case is still in the press. I can feel how the primer seats as well, though some say they can’t. To each his own I suppose. One good thing about loading in quantity but you get to spot somebody a few if they’re low on ammo or out. I also loaded some .40, .357 and .44 in my marathon. Took a box of all 4 to my daughter’s future father-in-law this past weekend. He grinned.

Blue Dot and Unique has served me well.

I"ll fold my cards, spent my money on a Hornady LNL AP to never return to single stage press for handguning Favorite powder is Powder Pistol for 9 mm and .45, heard good comments for Titegroup.

I mostly use Longshot and 124g xtps at 1200 fps. I also like BE-86 and used to use a lot of power pistol too. Longshot is my favorite in 40s and 10mm so it makes sense for me to use it in 9mm too. I also use it in mid range 44 and 357 loads and +p 45 colt.

Bb

X2 Shoot good in my Sig 320. It is a dirty powder but a little cleaning solves that.