What powder to use for 9mm cast bullets

sigpro2022 · July 15, 2015, 10:01 PM

I have some 9mm - 125gr (.356") round nose bevel base from Shooter's Cast Bullets. What's a good powder to use to reduce leading?
I've got Unique, Bullseye, 231, Clays, Titegroup, & HS-6 to choose from. Of the powders listed above which would be the best to use?

pete2 · July 15, 2015, 11:01 PM

I've just recently started shooting some cast bullets in 9MM. I use Unique powder but others should also work. I get almost no lead in a Citadel 1911 gun, shot a few thru my LC9 and could see lead "hairs" in the bbl. I haven't tried them in my Beretta yet. Some say to start with a clean bbl, I'll try them in the LC again after cleaning to see if it makes a difference. I use 124 Cast RN from Dardas. So far I think they may be more accurate than the plated bullets I've been using.

WVMountaineer · July 15, 2015, 11:15 PM

You guys ought to look into powder coated cast bullets. They work great and, no icky lube to get stuck in your dies.

I use Bullseye but, am going to try some unique and Auto comp for my 124 grain powder coated round nose bullets. God Bless

hartcreek · July 16, 2015, 03:14 AM

I use Unique, 231, HS6, Green Dot and Red Dot with equal results. Pick one.

DaleA · July 16, 2015, 03:17 AM

Might have better response if you ask the staff to move this to the 'Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting' section.

CowTowner · July 16, 2015, 10:49 AM

9mm=Titegroup at my bench. As long as I have it that is.

zxcvbob · July 16, 2015, 11:22 AM

Bullseye works great for this application, both for target loads and full-power service loads.

mxsailor803 · July 16, 2015, 11:38 AM

I use Bullseye as primary and 231 as my second option. Both work really well in my 9mm's with a cast bullet.

skizzums · July 16, 2015, 12:52 PM

hp38/231 is my ideal for cast 9mm.

Paul B. · July 16, 2015, 06:42 PM

I cast my own bullets and use Unique most of the time. I also use Bullseye and W231 at times depending on what is available. I've found the best accuracy comes from bullets sized to .358" and in one gun .359". Sometimes .357" works but I prefer .358".
Paul B.

Oldman1151 · July 16, 2015, 06:45 PM

Titegroup

WCWV · July 16, 2015, 09:39 PM

Tite group

Hammerhead · July 17, 2015, 02:51 AM

Titegroup would be the last powder from your list I would use because it burns so hot.
I like 231/HP38 and HS-6.

tangolima · July 17, 2015, 11:57 AM

I have used hs-6, Trailboss, and power pistol. They all work. Nowadays I don't get to pick and choose "the best" powder. I use whatever available, as long as it works.

-TL

A pause for the COZ · July 17, 2015, 12:09 PM

All the powders listed should work fine.
I also found that CSB-1 is working great in my 9mm and 38 special.
Pretty much any loads you would use Universal or Unique in seems to work great.

noylj · July 17, 2015, 06:41 PM

Answered question on another forum.

10-96 · July 18, 2015, 06:37 AM

I really took a shine to Green Dot... but of course that must be the reason it's now made out of unobtanium.

ShootingNut · July 18, 2015, 07:56 AM

My preference is Accurate No. 5 if you can find it, 5.4 grains pushing the 124 grain RN.
Bullseye works fine, I go with a 4.0 gr. load with it.

totaldla · July 18, 2015, 09:47 AM

Use the HS6 and run them on the warm side.

bluetopper · July 18, 2015, 11:40 AM

Of ones you mentioned........231 and Bullseye, none better.

I don't like Clays in high pressure handgun rounds. I use it in 45acp and 38 Spl. only.

Average Joe · July 20, 2015, 07:08 PM

Red Dot

Kosh75287 · July 20, 2015, 08:54 PM

+1 concerning Red Dot. I'm guessing that this has already been said, but leading is usually a function of the velocity with which the lead projectile travels down the barrel, and the projectile's hardness.

If I can keep the velocities near or under 1100 f/s, I seem to get no major leading problems with any powder, though some powders burn more cleanly than others at the pressures required.

serf 'rett · July 20, 2015, 09:05 PM

Of those named in OP - Unique.

Kosh75287 · July 20, 2015, 09:37 PM

I really SHOULD refrain from responding when there's "too much blood in my caffeine", and my reading comprehension is low. Of the powders you mention, I'D want to use Unique or 231 for pushing lead. Save the Hs-6 for pushing jacketed bullets hard.

Mobuck · July 20, 2015, 10:07 PM

I've loaded a lot of lead 9mm using Titegroup. I'm not a lead bullet conni-sewer. I just want them to hit an 8" plate @ 10-15 yards w/o plugging the bore with lead and gunk.

July 15, 2015, 10:01 PM	#1
sigpro2022 Member Join Date: January 28, 2012 Location: North of Hattiesburg, Mississippi Posts: 21	What powder to use for 9mm cast bullets I have some 9mm - 125gr (.356") round nose bevel base from Shooter's Cast Bullets. What's a good powder to use to reduce leading? I've got Unique, Bullseye, 231, Clays, Titegroup, & HS-6 to choose from. Of the powders listed above which would be the best to use?

July 16, 2015, 10:49 AM	#6
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	9mm=Titegroup at my bench. As long as I have it that is. __________________ 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

July 16, 2015, 11:22 AM	#7
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Bullseye works great for this application, both for target loads and full-power service loads. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

July 16, 2015, 06:42 PM	#10
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,933	I cast my own bullets and use Unique most of the time. I also use Bullseye and W231 at times depending on what is available. I've found the best accuracy comes from bullets sized to .358" and in one gun .359". Sometimes .357" works but I prefer .358". Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

July 18, 2015, 06:37 AM	#17
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,190	I really took a shine to Green Dot... but of course that must be the reason it's now made out of unobtanium. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

July 15, 2015, 11:01 PM	#2
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,610	I've just recently started shooting some cast bullets in 9MM. I use Unique powder but others should also work. I get almost no lead in a Citadel 1911 gun, shot a few thru my LC9 and could see lead "hairs" in the bbl. I haven't tried them in my Beretta yet. Some say to start with a clean bbl, I'll try them in the LC again after cleaning to see if it makes a difference. I use 124 Cast RN from Dardas. So far I think they may be more accurate than the plated bullets I've been using.

July 15, 2015, 11:15 PM	#3
WVMountaineer Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2015 Posts: 330	You guys ought to look into powder coated cast bullets. They work great and, no icky lube to get stuck in your dies. I use Bullseye but, am going to try some unique and Auto comp for my 124 grain powder coated round nose bullets. God Bless

July 16, 2015, 03:14 AM	#4
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	I use Unique, 231, HS6, Green Dot and Red Dot with equal results. Pick one.

July 16, 2015, 03:17 AM	#5
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,384	Might have better response if you ask the staff to move this to the 'Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting' section.

July 16, 2015, 11:38 AM	#8
mxsailor803 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: SC Posts: 1,344	I use Bullseye as primary and 231 as my second option. Both work really well in my 9mm's with a cast bullet.

July 16, 2015, 12:52 PM	#9
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	hp38/231 is my ideal for cast 9mm.

July 16, 2015, 06:45 PM	#11
Oldman1151 Junior Member Join Date: March 22, 2014 Posts: 12	Titegroup

July 16, 2015, 09:39 PM	#12
WCWV Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2015 Posts: 137	Tite group

July 17, 2015, 02:51 AM	#13
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Titegroup would be the last powder from your list I would use because it burns so hot. I like 231/HP38 and HS-6.

July 17, 2015, 11:57 AM	#14
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 5,178	I have used hs-6, Trailboss, and power pistol. They all work. Nowadays I don't get to pick and choose "the best" powder. I use whatever available, as long as it works. -TL

July 17, 2015, 12:09 PM	#15
A pause for the COZ Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2012 Location: Braham, Minnesota Posts: 1,314	All the powders listed should work fine. I also found that CSB-1 is working great in my 9mm and 38 special. Pretty much any loads you would use Universal or Unique in seems to work great.

July 17, 2015, 06:41 PM	#16
noylj Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2007 Location: Between CA and NM Posts: 860	Answered question on another forum.

July 18, 2015, 07:56 AM	#18
ShootingNut Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,475	My preference is Accurate No. 5 if you can find it, 5.4 grains pushing the 124 grain RN. Bullseye works fine, I go with a 4.0 gr. load with it.

July 18, 2015, 09:47 AM	#19
totaldla Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2009 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 1,499	Use the HS6 and run them on the warm side. __________________ Keltec P15 at 1200 rounds

July 18, 2015, 11:40 AM	#20
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,214	Of ones you mentioned........231 and Bullseye, none better. I don't like Clays in high pressure handgun rounds. I use it in 45acp and 38 Spl. only.

July 20, 2015, 07:08 PM	#21
Average Joe Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,332	Red Dot

July 20, 2015, 08:54 PM	#22
Kosh75287 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2007 Posts: 820	+1 concerning Red Dot. I'm guessing that this has already been said, but leading is usually a function of the velocity with which the lead projectile travels down the barrel, and the projectile's hardness. If I can keep the velocities near or under 1100 f/s, I seem to get no major leading problems with any powder, though some powders burn more cleanly than others at the pressures required.

July 20, 2015, 09:05 PM	#23
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	Of those named in OP - Unique.

July 20, 2015, 09:37 PM	#24
Kosh75287 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2007 Posts: 820	I really SHOULD refrain from responding when there's "too much blood in my caffeine", and my reading comprehension is low. Of the powders you mention, I'D want to use Unique or 231 for pushing lead. Save the Hs-6 for pushing jacketed bullets hard.

July 20, 2015, 10:07 PM	#25
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I've loaded a lot of lead 9mm using Titegroup. I'm not a lead bullet conni-sewer. I just want them to hit an 8" plate @ 10-15 yards w/o plugging the bore with lead and gunk.