Powder Choice for 9mm?
- NatStateTac
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2015 7:42 am
Powder Choice for 9mm?
In a world where we could find powder readily available what would be your powder of choice for 9mm?
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
ive been using tight group with good results with 124gr bullets. Vihtavouri N320 is also another popular 9mm powder. Reddot, bullseye, unique, w231/hp38, etc are all good choices.
I was lucky and got 7lbs of tightgroup and 10lbs of w231 before sandyhook happened.
powdervalleyinc and Grafs&Sons are good places to order online.
I was lucky and got 7lbs of tightgroup and 10lbs of w231 before sandyhook happened.
powdervalleyinc and Grafs&Sons are good places to order online.
NRA Member and Certified NRA RSO
IDPA & USPSA Member
Michigan Gun Owner Member
IDPA & USPSA Member
Michigan Gun Owner Member
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
Interesting...
I came to reloading about a year ago...during the height of the recent shortage. I managed to find Titegroup and N320 back then and have continued to use both for 9mm reloads. Now that I am able to find HP38/W231, Power Pistol, Bullseye, Universal, etc, I have thought about trying something different. And then I thought about why I should go through the hassle of working up loads with a new powder and decided to leave well enough alone.
Both have work well for me, too. The N320 seems to burn a little cleaner, but it is more expensive, so I tolerate casings and barrels that are a little sooty.
I came to reloading about a year ago...during the height of the recent shortage. I managed to find Titegroup and N320 back then and have continued to use both for 9mm reloads. Now that I am able to find HP38/W231, Power Pistol, Bullseye, Universal, etc, I have thought about trying something different. And then I thought about why I should go through the hassle of working up loads with a new powder and decided to leave well enough alone.
Both have work well for me, too. The N320 seems to burn a little cleaner, but it is more expensive, so I tolerate casings and barrels that are a little sooty.

Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
You can use about any shotgun powder and most pistol powders as long as there are recipes and you are comfortable with working up loads. I found that I like Bullseye well enough to buy it in kegs. Universal smells a little like burning plastic, and Unique is a little more sooty than Bullseye. I've used Clays in 40cal for light target loads.
NRA Life Member.
4-H youth firearm instructor.
4-H youth firearm instructor.
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
For 9mm, my favorites are WSF and TiteGroup. Since we have been in a shortage for over 2 yrs I've picked up others that work well. Bullseye and
Red Dot are 2 that I will continue to use even if the shelves are full. From an email sent from the maker of Bullseye and Red Dot(Alliant), both of those work better for bullets in the 115-124 range. TiteGroup and WSF each work well for the heavier 147 bullets.
Red Dot are 2 that I will continue to use even if the shelves are full. From an email sent from the maker of Bullseye and Red Dot(Alliant), both of those work better for bullets in the 115-124 range. TiteGroup and WSF each work well for the heavier 147 bullets.
- 1813Anschutz
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:13 pm
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
smokeless.....black powder just doesn't cycle the slide very well!!!
"The more I shoot the luckier I seem to Get"
NRA Certified Instructor-Rifle, Pistol, Personal Protection Inside the Home, NRA CRO. competitor in SASS, IDPA, USPSA, NRA Smallbore rifle 3/4 p. NRA High Power Rifle Service Rifle, NRA Air Rifle
NRA Certified Instructor-Rifle, Pistol, Personal Protection Inside the Home, NRA CRO. competitor in SASS, IDPA, USPSA, NRA Smallbore rifle 3/4 p. NRA High Power Rifle Service Rifle, NRA Air Rifle
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- Posts: 17
- Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:22 pm
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
Like you, I wanted to do something out of the norm. I've been playing around with (and worked up to) 4.3 grains of Accurate #2 behind some 115gr plated bullets. So far, I like it. The wife and I shot over 100 rounds yesterday evening out of my Sig P229 and we both agreed it was a pleasant and accurate load.
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
Hodgdon CFE pistol is awesome. My guns stay very clean, and I can use it for 9, 45, and all the way up to maximum power 10mm loads. It is a fairly new powder, and more likely to be available too, since old times that have been reloading for a while are going to stick with Winchester 231 or whatever, and leave this on the shelf for you and I to buy
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
well, it will take me quite a while to get through the 8lbs of 231 i have
that will be enought for about 14,000-14,500 rounds before ill need to buy more

NRA Member and Certified NRA RSO
IDPA & USPSA Member
Michigan Gun Owner Member
IDPA & USPSA Member
Michigan Gun Owner Member
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
I haven't reloaded in years but 231 pushing 115 hp was what I used and had good luck with it. Still have some.
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
MisterB wrote:Hodgdon CFE pistol is awesome. My guns stay very clean, and I can use it for 9, 45, and all the way up to maximum power 10mm loads. It is a fairly new powder, and more likely to be available too, since old times that have been reloading for a while are going to stick with Winchester 231 or whatever, and leave this on the shelf for you and I to buy
CFE pistol would be my choice if I could find it. Nobody in my area has ever actually seen a can of it! I use Universal for my .40 S&W and have been very happy with it. Might work well for 9mm.........just haven't tried it yet.
Chris
As a regular course of procedure, I carry a pistol because a cop is too heavy!
As a regular course of procedure, I carry a pistol because a cop is too heavy!
- 1813Anschutz
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:13 pm
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
Still using Unique for my 9mm.....finally found 20 lbs of it and bought it all!!
Randy
Randy
"The more I shoot the luckier I seem to Get"
NRA Certified Instructor-Rifle, Pistol, Personal Protection Inside the Home, NRA CRO. competitor in SASS, IDPA, USPSA, NRA Smallbore rifle 3/4 p. NRA High Power Rifle Service Rifle, NRA Air Rifle
NRA Certified Instructor-Rifle, Pistol, Personal Protection Inside the Home, NRA CRO. competitor in SASS, IDPA, USPSA, NRA Smallbore rifle 3/4 p. NRA High Power Rifle Service Rifle, NRA Air Rifle
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
The only thing I don't like about Unique is how dirty it is. Universal can be substituted for Unique in all but the heaviest loads. You might give it a try. The insides of my trigger and hammer chambers stay cleaner much longer with it.
Chris
As a regular course of procedure, I carry a pistol because a cop is too heavy!
As a regular course of procedure, I carry a pistol because a cop is too heavy!
Re: Powder Choice for 9mm?
For 147gr I prefer AA #7, Unique for everything lighter.
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