.45 acp and 9mm powder choices

[Matt in Virginia]

FWIW,
I also like Titegroup. Great for lighter loads without significant powder volume percentage. That said I have found 9mm too cheap to reload for and hence buy it in bulk. My experience above is with .45 ACP. It meters well and doesn't have the flash that WW231 makes. I've also tried IMR 800X and found flake sucks in a powder throw. IMHO.

Regards, Matt.

 

[68cuda340]

HS6 for both is what I use

 

[Twicepop]

The FCD has a sizing ring that is ment for jacketed bullets. It will resize your bullet and cause problems. If you have a way to crimp without that die and see if you problem goes away that's what I believe may help.

Think you're probably on to something there, however I have LEE FCD's for 40 S&W and 45 ACP and these both work very well with cast bullets. I have a Redding taper crimp die for 38/357, I'm going to give that a try and see if that eliminates the growth problem. I've used other cast bullets in the 9MM before and I've never had this happen.

 

[powderbrake]

I'm an "old guy" so my pistol powder is Bullseye.

38 sp, (accuracy.plinking) 148gr HBWC 2.7 gr Bullseye
9mm 115 JRN 4.5 gr BE
40S&W 170 gr swc 4.5 gr BE
45 ACP (accuracy) 200gr SWC lead 3.8gr BE
45ACP (IDPA) 230 JRN 5.0 gr BE

 

[riflewoman]

Your setup belongs on the History Channel. I tried to find some Allan powders when I started in the early 1970s. By that time none was out there anymore.

I came up loading during the time when if you had a supply of Bulls Eye, you could load any pistol cartridge in existence. And it's still pretty much possible. Same with 231. There are tons of powders nowadays that make it easier to shoot heavier for cartridge bullets, with cleaner burning.

In my antique powder department though, I'm still using mostly forty or fifty year old shotgun powders. And things are fine. jd

View attachment 1158695

 

[riflewoman]

I plan to test this weekend, 4 different loads, with Berrys 124gr Hp. unique (4.5 and 4.8gr) and CFE pistol (4.6 and 5.0gr). My loads could be a little light as these are the first ive loaded and dont want to overdue it. If these don’t do what I Hope, I will try red dot and tite group

Try some 124 Hornady HXP or HAP with those loads before you make any conclusions. I’ve never had much luck getting Berry’s plated bullets to shoot consistently. I’ve shot 5,4 CFE behind a 115 and it shoots well but is very dirty. After 500 shots my pistol and I need a bath. Unique is still “dirty” as powders go but seems to be less dirty than CFE.

 

[Steve Ladino]

Good evening! I am new to the forum, and new to reloading as well. I have started with 9mm and .45 because I shoot it often, and have a decent amount of brass. I have some test loads of 9mm loaded with unique and cfe pistol. I am about to start on some .45 loads soon and both of these powders show up on all of my load data for .45 as well. Am I missing anything or is there another powder I should consider adding for these two rounds? As of right now these are the only two pistol rounds I plan to load, I will be moving to .223 and .300 BLK next.

Thanks in advance!!
Parker

I'm not sure about the 9 but for the 45 acp round Alliant Bullseye powder has been the standard match powder for years when using the 200 / 185 / 230 grain lead bullets at mid range velocity's

 

[Parker Nalley]

Try some 124 Hornady HXP or HAP with those loads before you make any conclusions. I’ve never had much luck getting Berry’s plated bullets to shoot consistently. I’ve shot 5,4 CFE behind a 115 and it shoots well but is very dirty. After 500 shots my pistol and I need a bath. Unique is still “dirty” as powders go but seems to be less dirty than CFE.

What would be a cleaner choice for a pistol powder that would be good for 9mm and 45 both? Like I said I am brand new to reloading.

 

[riflewoman]

Cleaner: WST and WSF depending on your use for the ammo. Or Vihtavuori N320. Titegroup is also clean as are Accurate #2 and #5 bit I don’t use them. Bullseye and Red Dot are only “good” for target loads in 9 and aren’t that much cleaner than Unique. BE-86 is supposed to be cleaner but I haven’t used it much.