9mm loading for IDPA/ Steel Target

Old 454 · March 9, 2019, 01:23 PM

A little advice on loading for IDPA and steel target shooting in 9mm production class

Gun - CZ Shadow 2

Powder choices I have in my stock
Green Dot
Power Pistol
Tite Group
VV 3N37 - VV 310 - VV 320
WSP(not a whole lot of it though)
W231
Primers-WSP
Mixed case heads

Will be ordering 124 grain 9mm projectiles from Everglades

Thanks for any advice.. much appreciated

Nick_C_S · March 9, 2019, 02:07 PM

Good propellant choices. Many would like to have your problem

I don't load 9mm for IDPA (actually shoot 38 revolver in the class) but from my experience, you'd be well-served by leaning toward the faster propellants.

Green Dot, TiteGroup, V320, & W231 would all work. (My concern with VV310 is that it might be TOO fast; causing pressure problems. I have, and use VV310; I know first-hand that it's super fast.)

Because I don't specifically load 9mm/124's for IDPA, I was reluctant to reply to this thread. I generally don't post just for the sake of posting. But here's what I do know that may be invaluable . . .

From my experience, TiteGroup is a phenomenally low recoil propellant. If I was in your situation, I'd reach for the TG - no-brainer.

T. O'Heir · March 9, 2019, 02:37 PM

For steel target shooting use a cast bullet. Only ever load cast 121 grain TC's using Bullseye myself.
IDPA, like all the shooting games, has their daft gamer's, arbitrary, Power Factor rules. No idea if a 124 will get there. Jacketed bullets get expensive quickly though.

Jim Watson · March 9, 2019, 03:15 PM

Green Dot
A good 9mm powder even if not commonly seen.

Power Pistol
A lot of flash and blast. Great if you want to look manly at the range, not the best for serious shooting.

Tite Group
Very common in action shooting ammo.

VV 3N37
Too slow for standard 9mm

VV 310
Marginally fast for 9mm, although it is used.

VV 320
A very good choice, just expensive.

WSP(not a whole lot of it though)
Don't know of it. WST and WSF are good.

W231
Very good in the job, I load 9mm with HP38, same thing with Hodgdon label.

Old 454 · March 10, 2019, 12:14 AM

I do cast some pretty nice 124 grain 9mm... never even thought of using those.... you can get decent deals from Everglades on plated or fmj's.
Being that it was low power I was gonna prolly order 2k plated.

But I can cast a boat load of 9mm also.

I have used alot of green dot in 9mm and 3n37 .... GD is one of my favorites

But I will try the Tite group

This will be my first time trying the IDPA and Steel target.

I want to make sure I get it right

chris in va · March 10, 2019, 12:42 AM

No need to order plated bullets, just powdercoat the ones you cast. Doesn't take much equipment.

74A95 · March 10, 2019, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old 454

WSP(not a whole lot of it though)

What powder is WSP?

Power Pistol is one of the best powders for 9mm. It has a well deserved reputation for accuracy in this caliber.

jmorris · March 10, 2019, 03:05 PM

I have won more matches with 3.1 of N310 pushing plated 147’s @ 1.160” than anything else.

3.2 of N320 or titegroup, same otherwise, are good #2 & 3 though.

Nick_C_S · March 10, 2019, 09:18 PM

Good post Jim Watson (#4). I agree; right down the line.

Old 454 · March 13, 2019, 05:47 AM

Lolol sorry for the typo...ment WST..

I believe figuring power factor is bullet weight x velocity divided by 1000 ?
Is this correct

Old 454 · March 13, 2019, 05:50 AM

I will try the VV320... I do like VV powder .. very consistant and clean.i have plenty of VV powders. I buy all my powder in Tulsa at the big ass gun show.
I find good bargains there if you buy in quantity

Average Joe · March 13, 2019, 08:01 PM

Out of the powders you already have, I would go with Power Pistol for 9mm. It's my go to powder for my 9mm reloads.

egd · March 13, 2019, 09:07 PM

Correct Old 454

Old 454 · March 14, 2019, 06:18 AM

I have alot of range ammo made up with power pistol.
115 grain fmj projectiles with 6.5 grains of Power Pistol.
Very flashy and snappy... I wanted something less snappy an flashy then PP. That's why I will try the VV

Old 454 · March 14, 2019, 06:20 AM

Thank you guys for all the advice.

This will be the first time I will try this IDPA.
There is a bunch of us going to do this for the first time. Looking to improve my gun handling skill and most of all have alot of fun

Now I got to find a a holster and mag pouches.. any recommendations that wont bust my wallet lol...not cheap but I want to try this out before going all out on gear

pete2 · March 14, 2019, 11:02 AM

It doesn't make a lot of difference which powder, just be safe and use published loads. You won't find any for WST, for some reason Hodgdon doesn't want us to use it in in 9 mm. IDPA/plates doesn't require great accuracy so you shouldn't have to worry about that. I've never used any VV powders but Titegroup, 231, or Green Dot will all work well in 9 mm.
I've shot a lot of Titegroup in 9 mm with 124 bullets, works fine. I also shot a thousand cast 125s with Unique, also worked great. The cast bullets didn't seem any more accurate than plated bullets so I stayed with the plated bullet. I now have some 125 cast SWC bullets to try out.
It's all fun.

March 9, 2019, 01:23 PM	#1
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	9mm loading for IDPA/ Steel Target A little advice on loading for IDPA and steel target shooting in 9mm production class Gun - CZ Shadow 2 Powder choices I have in my stock Green Dot Power Pistol Tite Group VV 3N37 - VV 310 - VV 320 WSP(not a whole lot of it though) W231 Primers-WSP Mixed case heads Will be ordering 124 grain 9mm projectiles from Everglades Thanks for any advice.. much appreciated

March 9, 2019, 02:37 PM	#3
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	For steel target shooting use a cast bullet. Only ever load cast 121 grain TC's using Bullseye myself. IDPA, like all the shooting games, has their daft gamer's, arbitrary, Power Factor rules. No idea if a 124 will get there. Jacketed bullets get expensive quickly though. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

March 10, 2019, 09:18 PM	#9
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,523	Good post Jim Watson (#4). I agree; right down the line. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

March 9, 2019, 02:07 PM	#2
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,523	Good propellant choices. Many would like to have your problem I don't load 9mm for IDPA (actually shoot 38 revolver in the class) but from my experience, you'd be well-served by leaning toward the faster propellants. Green Dot, TiteGroup, V320, & W231 would all work. (My concern with VV310 is that it might be TOO fast; causing pressure problems. I have, and use VV310; I know first-hand that it's super fast.) Because I don't specifically load 9mm/124's for IDPA, I was reluctant to reply to this thread. I generally don't post just for the sake of posting. But here's what I do know that may be invaluable . . . From my experience, TiteGroup is a phenomenally low recoil propellant. If I was in your situation, I'd reach for the TG - no-brainer. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

March 9, 2019, 03:15 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Green Dot A good 9mm powder even if not commonly seen. Power Pistol A lot of flash and blast. Great if you want to look manly at the range, not the best for serious shooting. Tite Group Very common in action shooting ammo. VV 3N37 Too slow for standard 9mm VV 310 Marginally fast for 9mm, although it is used. VV 320 A very good choice, just expensive. WSP(not a whole lot of it though) Don't know of it. WST and WSF are good. W231 Very good in the job, I load 9mm with HP38, same thing with Hodgdon label.

March 10, 2019, 12:14 AM	#5
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	I do cast some pretty nice 124 grain 9mm... never even thought of using those.... you can get decent deals from Everglades on plated or fmj's. Being that it was low power I was gonna prolly order 2k plated. But I can cast a boat load of 9mm also. I have used alot of green dot in 9mm and 3n37 .... GD is one of my favorites But I will try the Tite group This will be my first time trying the IDPA and Steel target. I want to make sure I get it right

March 10, 2019, 12:42 AM	#6
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	No need to order plated bullets, just powdercoat the ones you cast. Doesn't take much equipment.

March 10, 2019, 03:05 PM	#8
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	I have won more matches with 3.1 of N310 pushing plated 147’s @ 1.160” than anything else. 3.2 of N320 or titegroup, same otherwise, are good #2 & 3 though.

March 13, 2019, 05:47 AM	#10
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	Lolol sorry for the typo...ment WST.. I believe figuring power factor is bullet weight x velocity divided by 1000 ? Is this correct

March 13, 2019, 05:50 AM	#11
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	I will try the VV320... I do like VV powder .. very consistant and clean.i have plenty of VV powders. I buy all my powder in Tulsa at the big ass gun show. I find good bargains there if you buy in quantity

March 13, 2019, 08:01 PM	#12
Average Joe Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,325	Out of the powders you already have, I would go with Power Pistol for 9mm. It's my go to powder for my 9mm reloads.

March 13, 2019, 09:07 PM	#13
egd Member Join Date: April 15, 2016 Posts: 73	Correct Old 454

March 14, 2019, 06:18 AM	#14
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	I have alot of range ammo made up with power pistol. 115 grain fmj projectiles with 6.5 grains of Power Pistol. Very flashy and snappy... I wanted something less snappy an flashy then PP. That's why I will try the VV

March 14, 2019, 06:20 AM	#15
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	Thank you guys for all the advice. This will be the first time I will try this IDPA. There is a bunch of us going to do this for the first time. Looking to improve my gun handling skill and most of all have alot of fun Now I got to find a a holster and mag pouches.. any recommendations that wont bust my wallet lol...not cheap but I want to try this out before going all out on gear

March 14, 2019, 11:02 AM	#16
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,566	It doesn't make a lot of difference which powder, just be safe and use published loads. You won't find any for WST, for some reason Hodgdon doesn't want us to use it in in 9 mm. IDPA/plates doesn't require great accuracy so you shouldn't have to worry about that. I've never used any VV powders but Titegroup, 231, or Green Dot will all work well in 9 mm. I've shot a lot of Titegroup in 9 mm with 124 bullets, works fine. I also shot a thousand cast 125s with Unique, also worked great. The cast bullets didn't seem any more accurate than plated bullets so I stayed with the plated bullet. I now have some 125 cast SWC bullets to try out. It's all fun.