best powder to reload 9mm

jbrown · July 13, 2010, 11:45 AM

What is the best powder for reloading 9mm? I have been loading for many years,but never for the 9mm.I recently got brass ,bullets and dies,now Im trying to decide which powder will work best.
I bought 200 100 gr bullets,but will probably settle on the heavier weight bullets after while,so hopefully I can get a powder that will work well in my two autos with most bullet weights.
I have a hi power,and a Taurus 709 slim.
Right now,Im just trying to reload for shooting practice,not CCW or HD.
Any advice appreciated.

spacecoast · July 13, 2010, 11:50 AM

Accurate #2 and Titegroup are both good.

zxcvbob · July 13, 2010, 11:53 AM

Bullseye is very good -- better than you would expect from its position on most "burn rate" charts.
If you need more oomph, use Winchester WSF.
If you want something even hotter than that and don't mind burning a lot of powder, use AA#7.

All three of these throw well with a powder measure. I use maximum loads of Bullseye and cast bullets.

**Mike Irwin** · July 13, 2010, 12:09 PM

WW 231

Brian Pfleuger · July 13, 2010, 12:40 PM

I hope you weren't looking for a consensus!

Add Power Pistol to your list.... It was designed for 9mm.

I've not used it in 9mm, but I use it for 357sig. It meters well, burns clean and is as accurate (at least) as I am. Relatively cheap too.

floydster · July 13, 2010, 01:18 PM

Bullseye.

Brian48 · July 13, 2010, 01:19 PM

I've always gotten good results using Unique with all my reloads, 9mm included.

McClintock · July 13, 2010, 02:30 PM

Another vote for Bullseye. Charge weights are relatively small (my standard target load is 3.5 grains), but are still enough to be obvious when double-charged, and it gives decent velocity.

Downsides? It's sooty, creating a lot of crud in your gun's internals. This isn't a problem if you clean your guns regularly. You also need to be careful (as always), as a slight variation in charge weight can make a big difference in pressure. I'm far enough away from max that I'm not worried. It appears to smoke a little more with lead bullets than other powders I've tried.

I've also used 231 with good results. I didn't notice as much smoke with 231 as compared to Bullseye.

My $0.02. As always, YMMV.

Cheers!
McClintock

doctruptwn · July 13, 2010, 02:53 PM

another vote for 231/HP39

jsflagstad · July 13, 2010, 02:57 PM

VV 3N37

BigJimP · July 13, 2010, 05:03 PM

I like Hodgdon TiteGroup --- and I use it in 9mm, .40S&W, .45 acp, .357 mag and .44 mag....

it meters very well / and I think its pretty clean...

dwhite · July 13, 2010, 06:02 PM

Hodgdon Universal. Clean, powerful, meters great, wide range of application.

All the Best,
D. White

Jim243 · July 14, 2010, 02:09 AM

+1 on Win 231

steve4102 · July 14, 2010, 08:05 AM

3N37

gregjc9 · July 14, 2010, 08:48 AM

Power Pistol

3leggeddog · July 14, 2010, 10:05 AM

Try AA#5 or w-231........

Sid · July 14, 2010, 10:11 AM

I had been using AA#5 for years. But now I have switched to Winchester AutoComp and found that it burns much cleaner.

Flipper 56 · July 14, 2010, 11:58 AM

Unique for 115 grain
Universal for 124 grain
American Select for 147grain

American Select is really clean. I have used it in other calibers as well and have been very pleased with the results.

zxcvbob · July 14, 2010, 12:18 PM

American Select burns so clean in .38 Special, it's scary.

I haven't tried it in 9mm; I didn't know they had load data for it.

BigJimP · July 14, 2010, 12:49 PM

Holy Cow ...

18 responses ....and we have 15 powders listed ...and no more than 3 votes for anything ...( with BullsEye and Win 231 at 3 votes each ) ...I think ...

looks like peetza was right .....

chris in va · July 14, 2010, 03:27 PM

I started with Universal, then got Unique, 231 and Bullseye. I'll probably go back to Universal because it was so clean burning. BE and Unique are just so darn dirty.

bozhoz · July 14, 2010, 03:39 PM

And another....

IMR SR4756. At maximum loads (around 6.2 grains) you are compressing the powder. It is physically impossible to double charge using this powder, so +1 for safety. In addition, it works well in .380 auto, 38 special, & 45 colt.

THEZACHARIAS · July 15, 2010, 08:13 AM

I've been pleasantly suprised by some of my Autocomp loads, particularly with heavier (124gr) XTPs and FMJs. It does pretty good with 115gr varieties too, just not quite as well as the 124gr.

DiscoRacing · July 15, 2010, 08:35 AM

I use titegroup

dlb435 · July 15, 2010, 08:47 AM

Win 231

July 13, 2010, 11:45 AM	#1
jbrown Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2006 Location: minnesota Posts: 215	best powder to reload 9mm What is the best powder for reloading 9mm? I have been loading for many years,but never for the 9mm.I recently got brass ,bullets and dies,now Im trying to decide which powder will work best. I bought 200 100 gr bullets,but will probably settle on the heavier weight bullets after while,so hopefully I can get a powder that will work well in my two autos with most bullet weights. I have a hi power,and a Taurus 709 slim. Right now,Im just trying to reload for shooting practice,not CCW or HD. Any advice appreciated. Last edited by jbrown; July 14, 2010 at 08:04 AM.

July 13, 2010, 11:53 AM	#3
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Bullseye is very good -- better than you would expect from its position on most "burn rate" charts. If you need more oomph, use Winchester WSF. If you want something even hotter than that and don't mind burning a lot of powder, use AA#7. All three of these throw well with a powder measure. I use maximum loads of Bullseye and cast bullets. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

July 13, 2010, 12:09 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	WW 231 __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 13, 2010, 02:57 PM	#10
jsflagstad Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Up Nort Posts: 419	VV 3N37 __________________ JSF "Is your rifle interesting? -Larry Potterfield

July 13, 2010, 06:02 PM	#12
dwhite Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2007 Location: Wake County, N. Carolina Posts: 379	Powder for 9mm Hodgdon Universal. Clean, powerful, meters great, wide range of application. All the Best, D. White

July 13, 2010, 11:50 AM	#2
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Accurate #2 and Titegroup are both good.

July 13, 2010, 12:40 PM	#5
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,694	I hope you weren't looking for a consensus! Add Power Pistol to your list.... It was designed for 9mm. I've not used it in 9mm, but I use it for 357sig. It meters well, burns clean and is as accurate (at least) as I am. Relatively cheap too. __________________ https://ecommercearms.com I am the owner/operator! Ask me for custom prices! No sales tax outside CO!

July 13, 2010, 01:18 PM	#6
floydster Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2008 Posts: 472	Bullseye.

July 13, 2010, 01:19 PM	#7
Brian48 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2001 Location: Boston, People's Republic of MA Posts: 1,616	I've always gotten good results using Unique with all my reloads, 9mm included. __________________ Proud to have served.

July 13, 2010, 02:30 PM	#8
McClintock Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2008 Location: The Bald Prairie of Southern Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 305	Another vote for Bullseye. Charge weights are relatively small (my standard target load is 3.5 grains), but are still enough to be obvious when double-charged, and it gives decent velocity. Downsides? It's sooty, creating a lot of crud in your gun's internals. This isn't a problem if you clean your guns regularly. You also need to be careful (as always), as a slight variation in charge weight can make a big difference in pressure. I'm far enough away from max that I'm not worried. It appears to smoke a little more with lead bullets than other powders I've tried. I've also used 231 with good results. I didn't notice as much smoke with 231 as compared to Bullseye. My $0.02. As always, YMMV. Cheers! McClintock

July 13, 2010, 02:53 PM	#9
doctruptwn Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 197	another vote for 231/HP39

July 13, 2010, 05:03 PM	#11
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I like Hodgdon TiteGroup --- and I use it in 9mm, .40S&W, .45 acp, .357 mag and .44 mag.... it meters very well / and I think its pretty clean...

July 14, 2010, 02:09 AM	#13
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	+1 on Win 231

July 14, 2010, 08:05 AM	#14
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,968	3N37

July 14, 2010, 08:48 AM	#15
gregjc9 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 501	Power Pistol

July 14, 2010, 10:05 AM	#16
3leggeddog Member Join Date: December 18, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 68	9mm power Try AA#5 or w-231........

July 14, 2010, 10:11 AM	#17
Sid Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2009 Posts: 362	I had been using AA#5 for years. But now I have switched to Winchester AutoComp and found that it burns much cleaner.

July 14, 2010, 11:58 AM	#18
Flipper 56 Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2008 Posts: 165	Unique for 115 grain Universal for 124 grain American Select for 147grain American Select is really clean. I have used it in other calibers as well and have been very pleased with the results.

July 14, 2010, 12:18 PM	#19
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	American Select burns so clean in .38 Special, it's scary. I haven't tried it in 9mm; I didn't know they had load data for it. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

July 14, 2010, 12:49 PM	#20
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Holy Cow ... 18 responses ....and we have 15 powders listed ...and no more than 3 votes for anything ...( with BullsEye and Win 231 at 3 votes each ) ...I think ... looks like peetza was right .....

July 14, 2010, 03:27 PM	#21
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I started with Universal, then got Unique, 231 and Bullseye. I'll probably go back to Universal because it was so clean burning. BE and Unique are just so darn dirty.

July 14, 2010, 03:39 PM	#22
bozhoz Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Posts: 82	And another.... IMR SR4756. At maximum loads (around 6.2 grains) you are compressing the powder. It is physically impossible to double charge using this powder, so +1 for safety. In addition, it works well in .380 auto, 38 special, & 45 colt.

July 15, 2010, 08:13 AM	#23
THEZACHARIAS Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 537	I've been pleasantly suprised by some of my Autocomp loads, particularly with heavier (124gr) XTPs and FMJs. It does pretty good with 115gr varieties too, just not quite as well as the 124gr.

July 15, 2010, 08:35 AM	#24
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	I use titegroup

July 15, 2010, 08:47 AM	#25
dlb435 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 654	Win 231