124gr Speer GDHP

[Mustang Jon]

I'm a new reloader so please bear with me. I have Unique, Power Pistol, Titegroup and CFE Pistol for powders. I'm looking for the powder that will give me the best velocity for the 124gr Gold Dot? 5.5gr of Unique provided the best accuracy but I'm wondering if one of the other powders I listened will give me better velocity and expansion. I do not have a chronograph at this time (someday in the future I hope to) I have worked up good shooting loads with each powder but I'm wanting the opinion of the much more knowledgeable of which powder you have had success with (hopefully with one of the powders I listened). Thanks for any help you can give to a newbie. (9mm)

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Titegroup or Power Pistol will be your friend for what you've after with the 124gr GD. Look up the loads in a reloading manual and start with the starting load and work up from there.

 

[ToddKS]

If you are looking for raw velocity (for a defensive load for example) Power Pistol can be loaded all the way up to 9 major (which your gun is likely not designed to handle). CFE pistol can deliver increased velocity as well. Tightgroup and Unique are not great powders to chase max velocity with. Tightgroup is a good all around 9mm powder and it is what I use in my practice ammo. I run N320 in my match ammo.

 

[GotRDid]

Agree that Power Pistol and CFE Pistol are your ideal choices. I’m down to 8 lbs of Power Pistol, and less than 5 lbs of CFE. When I resupy, I will likely stick with CFE, in spite of an apparent lack of flash suppressants in that propellant. Both meter quite precisely with the slightest of an edge to CFE as it has less sensitivity to variances of propellant level in the hopper.
The GDHP is a splendid choice, and will perform as advertised over its velocity spectrum. You can push it as fast as is prudent to do in modern semi-autos and still maintain exceptional accuracy in my experience.
GotRDid.

 

[Rsadams]

+1 on power pistol for velocity in 9mm loads... If for defensive loads you might want to use factory ammo so some dbag lawyer doesn't accuse you of sitting in a dark room loading ammo for , well the purpose of shooting someone , if that was to actually happen one day , hopefully never of course but don't think you won't be in a courtroom if it does.... I carry a factory +p gold dot in my carry guns...

 

[Mustang Jon]

+1 on power pistol for velocity in 9mm loads... If for defensive loads you might want to use factory ammo so some dbag lawyer doesn't accuse you of sitting in a dark room loading ammo for , well the purpose of shooting someone , if that was to actually happen one day , hopefully never of course but don't think you won't be in a courtroom if it does.... I carry a factory +p gold dot in my carry guns...

Yes I definitely carry factory SD ammo. But I got a good deal on about 600 Gold Dot's, so I'm making some shtf SD rounds.

 

[KevinThomas]

Having tested a great many of these in ballisitic gelatin, you’re on a good, path here. The Speer GDHPs perform beautifully over a wide range of velocities, so you needn’t worry too much about finding the ultimate velocity powder. These things are just stupidly consistent, and firing a dozen, or two dozen into gelatin normally yields a dozen or two dozen virtually identical expanded bullets. Good, solid choice here.

 

[Mustang Jon]

Having tested a great many of these in ballisitic gelatin, you’re on a good, path here. The Speer GDHPs perform beautifully over a wide range of velocities, so you needn’t worry too much about finding the ultimate velocity powder. These things are just stupidly consistent, and firing a dozen, or two dozen into gelatin normally yields a dozen or two dozen virtually identical expanded bullets. Good, solid choice here.

Thanks. This makes me feel better about my Unique loads. The 5.5gr should be somewhere close to 1090 fps and my 5.8gr load is listed at 1180 fps according to the Speer manual. The 5.5gr load has a perfect poa and put 2 bullets in on hole and the 3rd touching all dead in the bullseye.

 

[Rsadams]

Thanks. This makes me feel better about my Unique loads. The 5.5gr should be somewhere close to 1090 fps and my 5.8gr load is listed at 1180 fps according to the Speer manual. The 5.5gr load has a perfect poa and put 2 bullets in on hole and the 3rd touching all dead in the bullseye.

You will need to crono your rounds out of your gun , book speeds rarely happen as stated... There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a deal on some gold dots... If you don't have a crono Xmas is coming and you can pick up a competition electronics pro cronograph for under a hundred bucks and I like mine alot...

 

[Mustang Jon]

You will need to crono your rounds out of your gun , book speeds rarely happen as stated... There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a deal on some gold dots... If you don't have a crono Xmas is coming and you can pick up a competition electronics pro cronograph for under a hundred bucks and I like mine alot...

That's my plan. I've got my eye on a few different ones.

 

[people]

+1 on power pistol for velocity in 9mm loads... If for defensive loads you might want to use factory ammo so some dbag lawyer doesn't accuse you of sitting in a dark room loading ammo for , well the purpose of shooting someone , if that was to actually happen one day , hopefully never of course but don't think you won't be in a courtroom if it does.... I carry a factory +p gold dot in my carry guns...

I like it. In stead of being in a dark room you just went to the store and bought the ammo with more killing power. You know because regular ammo does not kill fast enough. lol

 

[mike mccormick]

Just my two cents.....if you have accuracy, speed doesn't matter much

 

[GotRDid]

I like it. In stead of being in a dark room you just went to the store and bought the ammo with more killing power. You know because regular ammo does not kill fast enough. lol

As A Retired LEO, I tend to carry what the local Constabulary issues for their Depts. Just about all the top quality rounds like Rem Golden Saber, Win Ranger JHP, Fed HydraShok, Sig JHP, and others now carried by Law Enforcement will certainly perform if you are able to strike your intended target/threat.
No precedent setting case has yet been brought forth to prosecute a person using Handloads in self defense; I do not wish to be in that position should a prosecutor seize upon that fact if I did.
If the question comes up, I will simply state that I use exactly what our Police carry, and name the brand if required.
GotRDid.

 

[Rsadams]

I like it. In stead of being in a dark room you just went to the store and bought the ammo with more killing power. You know because regular ammo does not kill fast enough. lol

Make sure you talk to any gun attorney before you think what I said was a joke....

 

[Rsadams]

As A Retired LEO, I tend to carry what the local Constabulary issues for their Depts. Just about all the top quality rounds like Rem Golden Saber, Win Ranger JHP, Fed HydraShok, Sig JHP, and others now carried by Law Enforcement will certainly perform if you are able to strike your intended target/threat.
No precedent setting case has yet been brought forth to prosecute a person using Handloads in self defense; I do not wish to be in that position should a prosecutor seize upon that fact if I did.
If the question comes up, I will simply state that I use exactly what our Police carry, and name the brand if required.
GotRDid.

Yet as an ex leo myself there is no CHL/LTC class saying that carrying reloads is smart and I know at least 4 instructors.. myself and a friend that just retired after 20+ years training Leo's said the same... He like me has not seen a case of f aftermarket parts or reloads being a major problem , but seriously do you want to be the first..? You should know a dbag attorney will push that hard.... Just carry factory ammo in a factory gun and keep you aftermarket stuff for paper.... It don't and pray you are never in that situation....

 

[GotRDid]

Yet as an ex leo myself there is no CHL/LTC class saying that carrying reloads is smart and I know at least 4 instructors.. myself and a friend that just retired after 20+ years training Leo's said the same... He like me has not seen a case of f aftermarket parts or reloads being a major problem , but seriously do you want to be the first..? You should know a dbag attorney will push that hard.... Just carry factory ammo in a factory gun and keep you aftermarket stuff for paper.... It don't and pray you are never in that situation....

I think that is what I said, albeit not clearly enough.
All Skills Firearms Instructor and Armorer myself for my Dept.
GotRDid.

 

[people]

Make sure you talk to any gun attorney before you think what I said was a joke....

I know you were not saying anything as a joke. It is funny to think if you get that same dirty lawyer they will not tear you down for shooting ammo with extra power. If they are going to question your choice they are going to question it. So shooting extra powerful ammo might not be the best choice also.

Two things you do need to know if you are in a shooting. 1 don't talk to the cops and 2 lawyer up.

 

[people]

As A Retired LEO, I tend to carry what the local Constabulary issues for their Depts. Just about all the top quality rounds like Rem Golden Saber, Win Ranger JHP, Fed HydraShok, Sig JHP, and others now carried by Law Enforcement will certainly perform if you are able to strike your intended target/threat.
No precedent setting case has yet been brought forth to prosecute a person using Handloads in self defense; I do not wish to be in that position should a prosecutor seize upon that fact if I did.
If the question comes up, I will simply state that I use exactly what our Police carry, and name the brand if required.
GotRDid.

Some time in the past I came across a study that covered this very thing. You are in the clear because you are former leo. The rest of us can look bad by choosing gear and ammo used by leo. The short of the study was those who do what you are stating to do are the ones who are looking for a fight or something like that. The short-short version. It makes you look bad. I was not able to find this study this morning granted I did only look for about 30 seconds.

Personally using what the local cops are using is a good choice because they probably did some testing and it is consistently reliable. Granted we both know many times gear is picked because it is low cost. I am looking at you glock.

I carry hand loads because they shoot very well and I can shoot a lot of them to stay a proficient.

 

[pacificman]

Well I guess I'm the only one who likes unique powder in my pistols. I have used this powder
in my pistols including my 9mm for more than 40 years. Guess I should try some different powders
but it's hard to change what has worked for so long.

 

[JimT]

Another thing to be aware of is if you are involved in a shooting that d-bag lawyer is going to find every last one of your posts on this forum. In that case, for some, whether they are using handloads or not might be the least of their worries!