Favorite Powder for 9mm LRN

T

Tony C

New member
All,

I just purchased a XDm in 9mm for USPSA and IDPA, and will be reloading lead round nose bullets since they are so much more affordable. What is your favorite powder (assuming I could find it) for loading lead 9mm rounds? The powder I use for .45 LRN, Clays and 231, I can't find data for in 9mm.

I'm not looking for recipes, just powder preferences. I will be testing both 125 grain and 147 grain bullets.

Thanks,
Tony
 
I use 4.2 gr of Power Pistol with my 147 gr FMJ-TC bullets. This gives me a PF of about 132 with my XDm 5.25 9mm. PP is great for 9mm.
 
I like hs-6 for lead in a 9mm. Work it up and load it on the warm side for a clean burn but it seems to play well with lead. Some here say to use a mag primer with it but if you keep the powder charge near max it burns clean enough for me. Just this past week I ran over 400 122 gr rounds through my xd service with zero leading.

Just make sure you slug your bore and get your bullets at least .001 over grove dia. (I run mine .002 over);)
 
I've used hs-6 and titegroup with good success, I agree that loading it near max gives a much cleaner burn
 
Some how I lucked into a pound of Green Dot... I swear I must have gotten the last can on planet earth as I haven't seen it for sale. As a matter of fact, I don't recall seeing any of the Dot powders for sale in a long time.
 
UNIQUE or HERCO

I'm more familiar with Unique in 9mm than all the other powders I've tried, combined. Both Unique and Herco are famous for metering like cornflakes, particularly in lower charge weights. SAFE charge weights for Unique and Herco using 124/125grain pills are just inside the range of charge volumes that go through charge-throwers pretty uniformly. Charge weights safe for the 147 grain pills are borderline heavy enough for Unique and (in my experience) well above the minimum for good loading with Herco. All factors being equal, I "SENSE" that Herco works better with the heavier pill, especially in barrel lengths over 4".

IF you can find a can of it, Alliant's new BE-86 powder might be worth trying.
 
HP38 or WIN231...same

not only is it my favorite, it is also very economical.

*edit: I just noticed in the OP, you are saying you cannot find data for 231 in 9mm? there's tons of it. they even list the 115 right on the bottle I believe. but hodgdons website has all of it, even for lead

*edit #2: geez, I really need to start reading these the FIRST time, I see the above poster, Oldman, already linked you to the data site
 
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If the barrel isn't permanently attached to the frame,,, all I use is 231.
Then again it also works on wheel guns to.
 
For 147 grain bullets to shoot near the minimum IDPA power factor I like Ramshot Zip. I shoot 147 grain for both my CZ 75b and my Springfield XD Service 357sig, both at about 895 fps when shooting IDPA.

For 125 grain I use Ramshot Silhouette for higher power factors, it's very dirty at IDPA minimums. You're much better off with 147 grain for IDPA unless you want it to shoot like duty ammo. Then 125 grain and Silhouette would be better.

I really like the low deviation numbers I get with Ramshot powders.
 
HS6, 231, Red Dot, Green Dot, Unique....all work the same for me.....If you cant find data for 231 you aint looking very hard.
 
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