Powder Choice for 9mm?

[NatStateTac]

In a world where we could find powder readily available what would be your powder of choice for 9mm?

[hkguy]

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.

[jmhyer]

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.

[Johnde]

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.

[knic]

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.

[1813Anschutz]

smokeless.....black powder just doesn't cycle the slide very well!!!

[neilbedwell]

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.

[MisterB]

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

[hkguy]

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

[Smurf]

I haven't reloaded in years but 231 pushing 115 hp was what I used and had good luck with it. Still have some.

[Chris C]

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.

[1813Anschutz]

Still using Unique for my 9mm.....finally found 20 lbs of it and bought it all!!
Randy

[Chris C]

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.

[moonie]

For 147gr I prefer AA #7, Unique for everything lighter.