Looking for a quick opinion....titegroup vs longshot in 9mm?

N

Nathan

New member
I'm making action pistol ammo that is accurate, reliable and economical.

I'm trying to guess longshot, aa#5 or titegroup. I'm pretty sure aa#5 is out, but I would try it.

124gr plated rn by xtreme
CZ 75 B SA Pistol

Would like a best 25 yd accuracy load.

Need an answer tonight, if possible.
 
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Titegroup is the best powder to blow up a gun. Easy to find but touchy on variations. Very fast powder. Color of case soot - very hard to see a double-charge.

AA#5 is a very good mid-range powder. Not easy to find but a good powder.

Longshot is a very good slower powder for top velocity. Available and very safe.
 
TiteGroup worked for me when I did 9mm jacketed, and plated. Will not use it for cast lead though. It works better for higher pressure. It does meter as well as any of the more fine grained powders go. A small charge is all it takes. It will give more bangs for the buck. Just like many fast powders for small case rounds it will not fill a case to a high degree. While not case sensitive, it is pressure sensitive. The window for loading it just like most powder for 9 mm is a narrow one. .4 to .5 grains from start to max is normal for most of them. I prefer Win 231 or HP 38 to keep it simple for one powder that does well for more than one caliber I load for.
 
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I use Titegroup exclusively in .45acp, 9mm and .38spcl. No problems what so ever, and very good accuracy. Yes, it's possible to double charge 9mm, and even triple charge .45acp and .38spcl, but it's never happened to me.
 
Need an answer tonight, if possible.
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What's your hurry? Loading ammo in a rush is generally discouraged.

I'm trying to guess Longshot
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Not likely at all. Longshot is a really big powder - up into magnum revolver territory. I would never use it for 9mm in any application.

AA#5 or TiteGroup.
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Now you're in the right neighborhood.

I'm pretty sure AA#5 is out
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Why is that? 9mm with 124 grain bullets is right in AA#5's wheelhouse and would make excellent ammo.

But TiteGroup would be the proper choice for your application (accurate, reliable & economical). AA#5 would be equally accurate and reliable; but not as economical. Of course, everything in life is a trade-off. With AA#5, what you lose in economy, you get back in velocity performance. Since you're loading for action pistol and didn't mention velocity as a necessary criteria, TiteGroup is your winner.

TiteGroup is and excellent choice for good consistent plated 9mm ammo (115 or 124gn). And a little bit goes a long way - I believe it even says so on the label :p.
 
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I've recently tried Longshot with 124 gr and 147 gr plated bullets. My normal 9mm powder is HP-38 but there is no load for it with 147 gr bullets, and while on the Hodgdon page saw they had loads for Longshot with the 124 gr bullet.

The 124 gr Longshot (5.1 gr) cartridges "felt" stronger and "sounded" louder, enough so I was a bit worried about them. Turned out they chrony'ed within about 30 fps of the HP-38 (4.3 gr), in the 1060 fps range out of a Taurus PT99. I think I'll stay with HP-38 for 124 gr bullets.

On the other hand, 4.4 gr of Longshot under the X-treme 147 gr CBRN bullet was about 950 fps from the Taurus and has turned out to be the most accurate load I'm found for my Ruger SR9.
 
Not really in a rush, but wanted to get started tonight.....needless to say, I'm pushed back to tomorrow...

May hav to try all 3!
 
I've used titegroup for a while it's a good powder but like everyone says it's got a very narrow window. If you can get I love to use power pistol. It's fast become my favorite 9mm powder.
 
I go with 3.5 grains of TG for 124 gr. 9mm bullets (Berry's plated RN), which delivers very acceptable groups (approx. 2 inches @ 10 yds off-hand) out of my Shield and Glock 19. To put a bit of perspective on that, I'm not an ex-LEO or military service shooter; I'm just an average joe.

In 9mm it's pretty easy to see a double charge of TG, which has happened a couple times for me (7 grains will pretty much fill the case almost completely full), but was also easily spotted and fixed. In .45 auto, or .38/.357 etc., it is more difficult to spot a double charge. For kicks I once dropped 4 charges into a .44 mag case and still had some room at the top. Obviously, I didn't put a bullet on top of that.

As for metering, through my Lee PPM, I consistently get a variance of only +/- 0.1 grains (I've produced a little over 2,000 9mm rds with TG to date). If I'd tracked it, I probably could've counted the number of charges on both hands that were greater/less than 0.2 grains. So IMO, TG meters very consistently.

About the only thing that I'd consider a negative about using TG is that it does leak out of my PPM more than most other powders I've used, but in all other respects it seems to work just fine for 9 mm.
 
I recently started loading 9mm and had many questions on powder when I started. I had been using Bullseye in my 38/357.

I was/am looking for mild target loads. not max loads or SD loads.

I was interested in Titegroup, W231/HP-38, Power Pistol and HS6 because they were commonly available in my area. I settled on HP-38.

With all the questions I'd asked it seemed that Titegroup and Power Pistol like it best at higher load levels rather than lower levels. Also the price per pound of all these powders were within a buck or two of each other. Then it seems to me that the 9mm is less forgiving than a revolver with very light loads because of cycling issues. In the revolvers I could load up start levels of Bullseye and the gun fired them all with no problem. Starting loads in my auto gun fired them but would not lock the slide back on the last round.

I don't recall what the load data is for Titegroup but I'm loading 124gr Berry's over 4.1 or 4.2gr of the HP-38 and it's working very well and very pleasant to shoot. This charge also fills the case to about half way.
 
I've used both HS6 and aa5. HS6 was good, I am not certain that AA was optimal, but AA is good for .38. Either will work. HS6 builds good loads.
 
I run Titegroup for 9mm 115 gr jacketed and coated bullets. It's performance and accuracy are excellent in my guns including a Glock 19. Loads run 4.4 gr in FMJ bullets and 3.9 for Missouri Bullet Co. coated LRN. It's a fast burning, relatively clean and very efficient powder, and supposedly not position sensitive.

Criticisms for Titegroup include it burns hot. Since I'm not shooting a subgun that doesn't matter to me. It is possible to double charge the case, ok yeah probably, my loads are approx 1/2 of a 9mm case +-. Since I run Bullseye in .45 ACP, I'm used to that claim. That one applies to several fast burning powders, not just Titegroup. In following proper quality control and safety procedures I have had no problems.
 
What kind of press are you using? I run TG 3.8 to 3.9 for 124 plated xtreme bullets with no issues. You can use a lock out die if you are running a progressive press.
 
Hornady LNL with a powder check die.

I am very confident in it's ability to throw +/- 0.1. I'm surprised you are running 3.8-3.9. My load data shows 4.1-4.4gr.
 
Titegroup, is a good powder to have around. I have used it on 9mm with pretty good results. What I don't like about it? it runs HOT! I mean it will get your barrel really hot real quick if you aren't careful. I don't know what kind of damage it will do but I'm just conscious of it.

Since I'm shooting coated leaded bullets in 9mm right now, I personally don't use it for that application. I've found better powders, BE86 for instance.

Having said all that, I'll always keep Titegroup in my powder drawer, I use it in many different pistol calibers and in case of another run... it goes a long way.
 
Go with TiteGroup since you have the powder check die...

I use TiteGroup exclusively in 9mm, .40S&W, .45 acp, .38 spl, .357 mag and .44 mag...its a very good powder...as long as you can hold tight tolerances.
 
No cast 124 grain data on Hodgdon's site for either of their powders. There is 125 grain cast data that'll do nicely. Slightly higher pressures with TiteGroup vs Longshot. Mind you, you use a couple grains more Longshot for roughly the same velocities.
AA 5 uses even more powder for the same velocities with plated bullets. About the same as Longshot for a cast 124.
You're in a 'Toss a coin' situation. Whatever powder is easiest to find locally is your friend.
Only use Bullseye myself. Only because I've used it for .45 and .38 WC's for eons.
 
The answer to your query is wholly dependent upon your tolerance level for "kick" or "snap." Hodgdon does have load data for Titegroup (3.6 - 4.1) and Longshot (4.8 - 5.8) on their site for a 124 grain plated round nose bullet.

Personally, I only load 9mm with Longshot, both lead cast for the range (115 gr) and XTP (147 gr) for carry. I'm sorry but can't speak to AA as I've never worked with it.

I started out loading with Titegroup but put it aside because it was/is too snappy for both me and my wife. I eventually found my way into Longshot and find that I have better control/results with the powder. Again, it's strictly personal preference.

Take your time, be safe.
 
That is the press I use too. If you go to Hodgdon site this is what I went by.
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

I think you should give them a call



Bullet Weight
124 GR. BERB HBRN TP


Starting Loads

Maximum Loads



Manufacturer

Powder

Bullet Diam.


C.O.L.


Grs.


Vel. (ft/s)


Pressure



Grs.


Vel. (ft/s)


Pressure




Hodgdon

Titegroup

.356"

1.150"



3.6

957

27,700 PSI



4.1

1,057

32,700 PSI
 
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