powder suggestions for 9 mm?

Misssissippi Dave · November 25, 2011, 09:04 AM

I'm using a Dillon press and found ball type powder meters quite well in it. I'm looking for good metering powder (probably ball type) for 9 mm low to mid range loads. These are mostly for range use. Accuracy is more important to me then anything else. CCI and Federal primers are the ones normally available locally. I have Montana Gold 115 grain FMJ and JHP bullets on hand. At the moment I have W231 powder and am working on finding the load that will work with it.

My question is with the above information what other powders would fit my needs? I know that the LGS occasionally runs out of most of the powders they carry from time to time. I want to find which powders will meet my needs so I can switch to something they might have on the shelf and continue to load.

Shootest · November 25, 2011, 10:20 AM

I think the solution may be to buy a #8 pound keg of W231 or HP38 which is the same powder. Also Bullseye and Power Pistol are flake powders but I have had little trouble with them on my Dillon XL650, and they work great in the 9mm.

Sevens · November 25, 2011, 10:39 AM

There are two powders that I really like in 9mm, neither of which is a ball powder.

Good metering is also very important to me, but I have found that it doesn't have to be spherical to meter well. Power Pistol and Hodgdon Universal are both small flake powders and they meter great -- very consistent.

Power Pistol runs better in warmer loads and Universal works well for me in midrange loads. These days, I'm going whole hog with Universal. In 8 pound jugs, it's affordable (Power Pistol only comes in four pounders) and you've also got the backing of Hodgdon and their great online data source.

bluetopper · November 25, 2011, 10:46 AM

If you've got 231 and loading for a 9mm you really don't need any other unless you just want to experiment.
Green Dot is also superb in 9mm mid-range loads, it's a flake powder but meters very well and can be found anywhere.

wingman · November 25, 2011, 10:53 AM

I use AA5 for 9mm,40S&W and 45ACP, it gives excellent accuracy with mild recoil.

armoredman · November 25, 2011, 12:01 PM

Big user of Accurate #7 in 9mm, all I use anymore.

Jim243 · November 25, 2011, 12:17 PM

Quote:

I'm looking for good metering powder (probably ball type) for 9 mm low to mid range loads

Win 231, no question about it.

Jim

chiefr · November 25, 2011, 01:06 PM

May be showing my age here, but I have been using Unique and Bullseye in 9mm for over 40 years. With Unique, I have punched out many enviable groups.

Misssissippi Dave · November 25, 2011, 01:35 PM

Unique and Bullseye powders I will use only when I'm measuring each load. I have found they don't work that well for me through powder measures. When measured on a scale for each load it works very well.

overkill0084 · November 25, 2011, 01:42 PM

231 should do fine for you.
For warmer stuff, HS-6 works pretty well. I've had good luck with Bullseye & AA#5 also.

Nevmavrick · November 25, 2011, 02:31 PM

Those Alliant powders are excellent old-tyme powders and are popular because they've been used forever,
My choice at this time would slide over to Accurate #5 and #7.
Have fun,
Gene

hounddawg · November 25, 2011, 02:32 PM

Myself I have been using W231 and Missouri bullet co lead 125 gr RN's for 3 years now with no complaints. Some of the people I shoot with swear by TightGroup, a couple of others like VV's N320. AA5 might be another good choice.

m&p45acp10+1 · November 25, 2011, 04:45 PM

For easy metering I like Bull's Eye, or Hodgdon's TiteGroup. Both work well, and meter well, and consistantly.

dunerjeff · November 25, 2011, 05:06 PM

Power Pistol is my tops in 9mm plated or Jacketed,AA#5 and N330(which was made specificaly for the 9mm).HP-38 works good also.The last three are my best in line for lead above Power Pistol.

Orochimaru · November 25, 2011, 05:18 PM

+1 on Sevens' recommendation of Hodgdon Universal. My "go-to" 9mm load is based on Hodgdon Universal. It shoots consistent, small groups and works flawlessly in everything I've run it through.

Hunter Customs · November 25, 2011, 10:37 PM

I never found a need to look any farther then Win 231.
It gave me the velocity I wanted and all the accuracy I needed.
Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com

medalguy · November 26, 2011, 12:15 AM

AA #5 and AA #7 are my favorites. Both measure extremely accurately and flow like water.

mumbo719 · November 26, 2011, 02:13 AM

Bulls Eye and Power Pistol measure accurately and reliably for me. Like mentioned above I like Power Pistol in a hotter load and BE in a mid range load.

WESHOOT2 · November 26, 2011, 07:25 AM

For the most affordable choice that offers easy metering and the highest accuracy potential use Alliant Power Pistol.
Works with all bullet weights.

p5200 · November 26, 2011, 08:37 AM

I feel like a kid in a candy store with all the choices to choose from

Thanks very much folks! I hope to get my dies ordered next week, get some powder and primers locally and get started. I have lots of used sorted by brand, brass I've been saving should I use it or start out with new? I have a RCBS Trimmer and a tumbler which most of the brass has already been tumbled. Should the free shell holder that comes with the dies fit my RCBS Universal hand primer also?

dunerjeff · November 26, 2011, 09:16 AM

If your talking about Lee dies the shellholder may not fit the RCBS hand primer.The inside dia is a little smaller and wouldn't fit on my plastic insert(the yellowish one for small primers).I had bought a couple Hornady and RCBS shellholders and use one of them.Lee is the only company that includes a shellholder with their dies.

Hammerhead · November 26, 2011, 09:33 AM

W231/HP38, SR 7625, Universal, HS-6 all meter well and work well in mid range 9mm loads.

IMR SR 7625 is an under rated 9mm powder IMO. It's a fine flake powder that meters like water and has just the right load density for 9mm. Not too fast or slow.

Titegroup is a good powder, but the charges are so small a double would be easy to miss.

Give your W231 powder a thorough workout before you switch, it's a great powder.

p5200 · November 26, 2011, 11:33 AM

Thanks for the heads up dunerjeff, I'll be sure to add a RCBS shell holder to my order also!

dunerjeff · November 26, 2011, 12:09 PM

Hammerhead; I actually missed adding Sr7625 to my list.It keeps coming out at or near the tops in accuracy for 40 and 45 (using lead especially).I have just started testing it in 9mm. See attachments
Both are shot @30yrds semi-resting

Hammerhead · November 26, 2011, 03:39 PM

Good shooting.

7625 a winner in 9mm and .38 Super in every load I try.

You don't read much about it here or on other general shooting forums, but over at the Brian Enos forum, they're catching on quickly to what a great powder it is in 9mm.

I think one of the reasons it works so well with lead is that it's a single base powder (no nitro glycerin) so it's burns at a cooler temperature which seems to reduce smoke and base melting with lead.

It's fantastic as a .44 special and .357 mid-range powder as well. I rarely use anything else anymore.

November 25, 2011, 09:04 AM	#1
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,411	powder suggestions for 9 mm? I'm using a Dillon press and found ball type powder meters quite well in it. I'm looking for good metering powder (probably ball type) for 9 mm low to mid range loads. These are mostly for range use. Accuracy is more important to me then anything else. CCI and Federal primers are the ones normally available locally. I have Montana Gold 115 grain FMJ and JHP bullets on hand. At the moment I have W231 powder and am working on finding the load that will work with it. My question is with the above information what other powders would fit my needs? I know that the LGS occasionally runs out of most of the powders they carry from time to time. I want to find which powders will meet my needs so I can switch to something they might have on the shelf and continue to load.

November 25, 2011, 10:20 AM	#2
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	I think the solution may be to buy a #8 pound keg of W231 or HP38 which is the same powder. Also Bullseye and Power Pistol are flake powders but I have had little trouble with them on my Dillon XL650, and they work great in the 9mm. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

November 25, 2011, 10:39 AM	#3
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	There are two powders that I really like in 9mm, neither of which is a ball powder. Good metering is also very important to me, but I have found that it doesn't have to be spherical to meter well. Power Pistol and Hodgdon Universal are both small flake powders and they meter great -- very consistent. Power Pistol runs better in warmer loads and Universal works well for me in midrange loads. These days, I'm going whole hog with Universal. In 8 pound jugs, it's affordable (Power Pistol only comes in four pounders) and you've also got the backing of Hodgdon and their great online data source. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

November 25, 2011, 01:42 PM	#10
overkill0084 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2010 Location: Northern, UT Posts: 1,162	231 should do fine for you. For warmer stuff, HS-6 works pretty well. I've had good luck with Bullseye & AA#5 also. __________________ Cheers, Greg “At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.” — P.J. O’Rourke

November 25, 2011, 02:32 PM	#12
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	Myself I have been using W231 and Missouri bullet co lead 125 gr RN's for 3 years now with no complaints. Some of the people I shoot with swear by TightGroup, a couple of others like VV's N320. AA5 might be another good choice. __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

November 25, 2011, 10:46 AM	#4
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	If you've got 231 and loading for a 9mm you really don't need any other unless you just want to experiment. Green Dot is also superb in 9mm mid-range loads, it's a flake powder but meters very well and can be found anywhere.

November 25, 2011, 10:53 AM	#5
wingman Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2002 Posts: 2,108	I use AA5 for 9mm,40S&W and 45ACP, it gives excellent accuracy with mild recoil.

November 25, 2011, 12:01 PM	#6
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	Big user of Accurate #7 in 9mm, all I use anymore.

November 25, 2011, 01:06 PM	#8
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	May be showing my age here, but I have been using Unique and Bullseye in 9mm for over 40 years. With Unique, I have punched out many enviable groups.

November 25, 2011, 01:35 PM	#9
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,411	Unique and Bullseye powders I will use only when I'm measuring each load. I have found they don't work that well for me through powder measures. When measured on a scale for each load it works very well.

November 25, 2011, 02:31 PM	#11
Nevmavrick Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2010 Location: Sparks, Nevada, near Reno Posts: 183	Those Alliant powders are excellent old-tyme powders and are popular because they've been used forever, My choice at this time would slide over to Accurate #5 and #7. Have fun, Gene

November 25, 2011, 04:45 PM	#13
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	For easy metering I like Bull's Eye, or Hodgdon's TiteGroup. Both work well, and meter well, and consistantly. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

November 25, 2011, 05:06 PM	#14
dunerjeff Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2011 Location: central Wisconsin Posts: 440	Power Pistol is my tops in 9mm plated or Jacketed,AA#5 and N330(which was made specificaly for the 9mm).HP-38 works good also.The last three are my best in line for lead above Power Pistol.

November 25, 2011, 05:18 PM	#15
Orochimaru Member Join Date: September 11, 2011 Posts: 47	+1 on Sevens' recommendation of Hodgdon Universal. My "go-to" 9mm load is based on Hodgdon Universal. It shoots consistent, small groups and works flawlessly in everything I've run it through.

November 25, 2011, 10:37 PM	#16
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	I never found a need to look any farther then Win 231. It gave me the velocity I wanted and all the accuracy I needed. Best Regards Bob Hunter www.huntercustoms.com

November 26, 2011, 12:15 AM	#17
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,033	AA #5 and AA #7 are my favorites. Both measure extremely accurately and flow like water.

November 26, 2011, 02:13 AM	#18
mumbo719 Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2008 Location: Tampa Bay, FL. Posts: 346	Bulls Eye and Power Pistol measure accurately and reliably for me. Like mentioned above I like Power Pistol in a hotter load and BE in a mid range load.

November 26, 2011, 07:25 AM	#19
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	one choice For the most affordable choice that offers easy metering and the highest accuracy potential use Alliant Power Pistol. Works with all bullet weights. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 26, 2011, 08:37 AM	#20
p5200 Senior Member Join Date: April 1, 2008 Posts: 241	I feel like a kid in a candy store with all the choices to choose from Thanks very much folks! I hope to get my dies ordered next week, get some powder and primers locally and get started. I have lots of used sorted by brand, brass I've been saving should I use it or start out with new? I have a RCBS Trimmer and a tumbler which most of the brass has already been tumbled. Should the free shell holder that comes with the dies fit my RCBS Universal hand primer also?

November 26, 2011, 09:16 AM	#21
dunerjeff Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2011 Location: central Wisconsin Posts: 440	If your talking about Lee dies the shellholder may not fit the RCBS hand primer.The inside dia is a little smaller and wouldn't fit on my plastic insert(the yellowish one for small primers).I had bought a couple Hornady and RCBS shellholders and use one of them.Lee is the only company that includes a shellholder with their dies.

November 26, 2011, 09:33 AM	#22
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	W231/HP38, SR 7625, Universal, HS-6 all meter well and work well in mid range 9mm loads. IMR SR 7625 is an under rated 9mm powder IMO. It's a fine flake powder that meters like water and has just the right load density for 9mm. Not too fast or slow. Titegroup is a good powder, but the charges are so small a double would be easy to miss. Give your W231 powder a thorough workout before you switch, it's a great powder.

November 26, 2011, 11:33 AM	#23
p5200 Senior Member Join Date: April 1, 2008 Posts: 241	Thanks for the heads up dunerjeff, I'll be sure to add a RCBS shell holder to my order also!

November 26, 2011, 03:39 PM	#25
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Good shooting. 7625 a winner in 9mm and .38 Super in every load I try. You don't read much about it here or on other general shooting forums, but over at the Brian Enos forum, they're catching on quickly to what a great powder it is in 9mm. I think one of the reasons it works so well with lead is that it's a single base powder (no nitro glycerin) so it's burns at a cooler temperature which seems to reduce smoke and base melting with lead. It's fantastic as a .44 special and .357 mid-range powder as well. I rarely use anything else anymore. Last edited by Hammerhead; November 26, 2011 at 03:47 PM.