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9MM Luger

I have been loading for rifle calibers since 1972 but no real handgun experience. I have started shooting at my clubs indoor range and have bought a 9 MM. I am now getting set up to reload. No experience on powder selection at all. Several suitable powders are listed. Is there a "best" powder?
 
Everyone is looking for the best powder because they have the best gun and
are the best shooter during one of the worst component shortages in many years.

Nowadays you dont choose your powder the powder chooses you.
Pick a good reloading manual and choose some powders that are sutible for the
bullets you intend to load.

If you find any one of them buy it.
 
I’ve been using VV N330 a lot, I also use unique and Win 231 all of which are hard to find right now. Powder valley has a couple I’ve used and in the past and liked too, Hodgdon CFE pistol and Accurate #5. You can do a search to see others comments/feelings on those two powders. The link below will take you there, both powders are in stock at the time of this post.

 
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SW Clean Shot as well. It is the SW version of Titegroup. Given the scarcity of powder mentioned it pays to have a few choices.
 
What doc said ∆∆∆
Lots of powders work in the 9mm. I started using Tite Group a couple of years ago. You can get up to 2,000 rounds per pound. For me it also seem to produce lower smoke levels at some of the less ventilated indoor ranges I frequent.
 
Check some loading manuals you have, or some of the web loading data sites, for powder to use in your pistol. A good all around one is CFE Pistol.
But your choice, starting out, will be determined now by what is available in your area or on-line to match the choice you make and want.
 
indoor range
May help to know what bullets will be used? Target loads will require faster burn rate powders.
I use Speer data. For my homecast 125 gr bullet.

Unique, Bullseye, HS-6 & 700X did ok with starting loads. The measure doesn't like larger flake powder, like Unique & 700X . A variation of +/- 1/10 gr. Is common. They are powders i have on hand.
 
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I’m currently loading 9mm with Hodgdon Titegroup. I’m also teaching my son in law to load 9mm. He’s using VihtaVuori N330. Like others have said you don’t choose powder, you choose the powder available that you can find and see if it will work. So far I like Titegroup.
 
My pistol powder selection is down to almost zip lately because of the current silliness. Been looking for some Sport Pistol or Power Pistol for the 9mm & 45 but haven't found any. I'm saving the Bullseye & Unique for 44 Spl., so W231 is going into mid range loads in all of the autos. As the 231 dwindles I've been seeing more W244 around so tried some of that in 45ACP. It's just a tad slower than W231 & burns very nicely at moderate pressure with similar velocity. I'm sure it will be fine in mid range 9mm as well.

There's enough bulk 9mm in the closet to last me for a while & the small pistol primer stash is at an all time low, so the only time we load it anymore is when the kids come to visit. I send a few hundred reloads home with them reusing the brass they took home with them last year or range pickup from here & the circle of plinking continues. Berry's or Magnus or Acme plated or coated 115s, whatever is cheap & available, are mostly what we use.
 
strut,

Depends upon the results you want. Case prep consistency on a 9mm can be as important as on a rifle cartridge. For low flash in night matches, you may wish to try N-350 or Clays. Tightgroup may be low flash, don't remember.

HTH,
DocBII
 
3.4g of Tightgroup-130 cast HP, unreal accuracy & will test your shooting ability.


Self defense/hunting

7.8g of AA#7 with 124g jacketed Hp-very, very accurate I load the 124g Speer Gold Dots when I can find them, 124g Nosler HP is awesome and they are more available. Hornady XTP 124g are available now.

I load George's 130g Hp at the same load. I ordered the Soft alloy and they expanded to 69 caliber in water jugs. George is one heck of a bullet maker. His bullets arrive exactly as you see in the picture.
 
Winchester Super Field, or WSF as it’s more commonly known. My shooting buddy stumbled on it as an affordable alternative to VV powder. Great power but soft shooting. Excellent accuracy.
 

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