Best Powder for 9mm and 40S&W

hank_scorpio · September 30, 2008, 11:11 AM

Just got a Springfield XD40. Been loading 9mm for awhile with Bullseye. Wondering if it is a good powder for both, or if you guys have a better option.

Thanks

Domino · September 30, 2008, 03:40 PM

Don't know if its the best but I've had good results with WSF in both 9 and 40.

DWARREN123 · September 30, 2008, 07:19 PM

I love Longshot for the 40 S&W. I load it for jacket, plated and lead.

bluetopper · September 30, 2008, 08:18 PM

Power Pistol...........no need for any other. Made precisely for 9,40, & 10mm.

tbtrout · September 30, 2008, 08:48 PM

I use 231 for both with good results. Both are using cast bullets.

Smaug · September 30, 2008, 09:05 PM

I've tried HP38, Unique, Clays, and Bullseye for 9mm. I like Bullseye the best so far.

RNG · October 1, 2008, 03:56 AM

+1 on the w231.

CowTowner · October 1, 2008, 05:03 AM

Titegroup does the job on both for me.

scsov509 · October 1, 2008, 11:45 AM

My favorites have been Powerpistol, Unique, and AA#5. Unique actually shoots really well in these two calibers, and given the versatility of Unique it's hard to look somewhere else. But it doesn't meter as well as Powerpistol or AA#5, and in the 9 and 40 that is definitely a much more important consideration. So I use Powerpistol for the most part, and am more than pleased with the results.

WESHOOT2 · October 1, 2008, 12:25 PM

Without question, Alliant Power Pistol.

Al Norris · October 1, 2008, 12:47 PM

WESHOOT2, I may have to get a can of Power Pistol, just to see if all the glowing reports hold true for my finicky P11!

As it stands, both HP38/W231 and HS-6 are my go to powders for 9mm. HP38 works best for cast and HS-6 for jacketed. Understand that this is for my P11. My P-89D takes (and likes) just about anything I've thrown at it.

While I can't comment on .40S&W, it appears both those powders are in wide use for that caliber also.

BigJimP · October 1, 2008, 12:59 PM

Another vote for Hodgdon Titegroup on 9mm and 40S&W ( and .357 mag, .38 spl, .45 acp and .44 mag for that matter ). I use TiteGroup for all of my pistol calibers - good clean, fast burning powder.

RidgwayCO · October 1, 2008, 05:46 PM

Alliant's Power Pistol or VihtaVuori's 3N37.

These two are so good for mid-range to full power loads in the cartridges listed that I'm starting to wonder why I keep any others.

45Marlin carbine · October 2, 2008, 07:28 AM

I use Bullseye for cast slugs, Power Pistol for jacketed.

September 30, 2008, 11:11 AM	#1
hank_scorpio Member Join Date: May 14, 2007 Location: Bismarck, ND Posts: 18	Best Powder for 9mm and 40S&W Just got a Springfield XD40. Been loading 9mm for awhile with Bullseye. Wondering if it is a good powder for both, or if you guys have a better option. Thanks

September 30, 2008, 07:19 PM	#3
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2006 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 1,758	I love Longshot for the 40 S&W. I load it for jacket, plated and lead. __________________ Have a nice day!

September 30, 2008, 09:05 PM	#6
Smaug Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2004 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 3,210	I've tried HP38, Unique, Clays, and Bullseye for 9mm. I like Bullseye the best so far. __________________ -Jeremy "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." - Eric Hoffer

October 1, 2008, 03:56 AM	#7
RNG Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 120	+1 on the w231. __________________ __________________________________________________________ Kimbers are what you show your friends. Glocks are what you show your enemies.

October 1, 2008, 05:03 AM	#8
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	Titegroup does the job on both for me. __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

September 30, 2008, 03:40 PM	#2
Domino Member Join Date: August 15, 2006 Posts: 60	Don't know if its the best but I've had good results with WSF in both 9 and 40.

September 30, 2008, 08:18 PM	#4
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	Power Pistol...........no need for any other. Made precisely for 9,40, & 10mm.

September 30, 2008, 08:48 PM	#5
tbtrout Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 234	I use 231 for both with good results. Both are using cast bullets.

October 1, 2008, 11:45 AM	#9
scsov509 Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 819	My favorites have been Powerpistol, Unique, and AA#5. Unique actually shoots really well in these two calibers, and given the versatility of Unique it's hard to look somewhere else. But it doesn't meter as well as Powerpistol or AA#5, and in the 9 and 40 that is definitely a much more important consideration. So I use Powerpistol for the most part, and am more than pleased with the results.

October 1, 2008, 12:25 PM	#10
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	to the OP Without question, Alliant Power Pistol. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

October 1, 2008, 12:47 PM	#11
Al Norris Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 29, 2000 Location: Rupert, Idaho Posts: 9,660	WESHOOT2, I may have to get a can of Power Pistol, just to see if all the glowing reports hold true for my finicky P11! As it stands, both HP38/W231 and HS-6 are my go to powders for 9mm. HP38 works best for cast and HS-6 for jacketed. Understand that this is for my P11. My P-89D takes (and likes) just about anything I've thrown at it. While I can't comment on .40S&W, it appears both those powders are in wide use for that caliber also.

October 1, 2008, 12:59 PM	#12
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Another vote for Hodgdon Titegroup on 9mm and 40S&W ( and .357 mag, .38 spl, .45 acp and .44 mag for that matter ). I use TiteGroup for all of my pistol calibers - good clean, fast burning powder.

October 1, 2008, 05:46 PM	#13
RidgwayCO Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 244	Alliant's Power Pistol or VihtaVuori's 3N37. These two are so good for mid-range to full power loads in the cartridges listed that I'm starting to wonder why I keep any others.

October 2, 2008, 07:28 AM	#14
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	I use Bullseye for cast slugs, Power Pistol for jacketed.