Looking for powder to load 9MM ...

[kc_hhsl]

I have found the following powders and I can find some 9MM load data for these. But not a lot. Are these powders ones you would use for 9MM or if others were available go with those?

Vihtavuori
3N37
N310
N340

Hodgdon
Longshot

Accurate
Nitro 100

I am wanting a powder that is flexible enough to load a wide range of bullet weights. Found one powder and it showed two loads ... kind of strange. Seems like if the powder could be used for 115gr jacketed bullet you should be able to use it on 125 gr jacketed bullet or a 140 grain jacketed bullet. I'm sure there are technical reasons why and I'll learn those in time.

Thoughts?

 

[Nodak7mm]

None of those powders were in my selection. I have used AA5 & AA7, but really like to shoot Hodgdon Titegroup. Handles the 115/124/125 & 147's fine. It is my preferred 9mm powder.

Good Luck

 

[muddy72]

Hodgdon Longshot will work according to their manual but isn't too common. Titegroup is also popular. If your looking for a "flexible" powder for 9mm try Win 231 or Hodgdon HP-38. The data for these 2 is the same. There is ample loading data for powders on the Hodgdon website for the 2 common 9mm bullets, 115,124. I use 231 and HP-38 with success. Win WSF is also a good clean burning powder to consider for 147's as is Longshot and Titegroup. I use WSF for 124gr lead which is about all I shoot anymore. As always be careful of "said" loads, consult reloading manuals, and start low to work up.

 

[kc_hhsl]

Hodgdon Longshot will work according to their manual but isn't too common. Titegroup is also popular. If your looking for a "flexible" powder for 9mm try Win 231 or Hodgdon HP-38. The data for these 2 is the same. There is ample loading data for powders on the Hodgdon website for the 2 common 9mm bullets, 115,124. I use 231 and HP-38 with success. Win WSF is also a good clean burning powder to consider for 147's as is Longshot and Titegroup. I use WSF for 124gr lead which is about all I shoot anymore. As always be careful of "said" loads, consult reloading manuals, and start low to work up.

Would agree that there are "better" powders but those listed are the ones I can get.

Basically - beggars cannot be choosers at this time.

Thanks

 

[jonbearman]

If it werent so expensive to mail it out I would sell you some hp-38 or 231 to help you out.

 

[kc_hhsl]

If it werent so expensive to mail it out I would sell you some hp-38 or 231 to help you out.

Those powders listed I can get about 100 miles away. That is the only reason.

What do they charge - $27 fee to ship it.

Do most guys buy powder at stores or do they pay the fee?

Thanks

 

[Perk]

I live in Topeka Ks. We have hp-38 last time I was at gun shop. I will check tomorrow. Perk

 

[Outrider27]

Also check your area for Blue Dot; it's a very useful powder for 9mm.

 

[jbarnwell]

N340 works fine in the 9mm, or at least the lot I have does. With 124 and 115's it produced good velocity and very low standard deviations. Another good powder, if you can find it is Power Pistol. Hope this helps.

 

[mmcu]

Blue Dot works very well for me with 124 - 147 grain bullets. Accurate, good velocity and cleans up in a snap.

 

[amlevin]

Interesting that there aren't more fans of the 3N37 that's first on your list. I use it for all my hollow point SD loading in 9mm. Great speeds, nice and clean, just usually a little more expensive than my practice ammo powder preference, Power Pistol.

If you do use this powder be careful to use the longest bullet seating possible for your pistol. It does tend to have some nasty pressure spikes if you go too short.

 

[jlow]

If it werent so expensive to mail it out I would sell you some hp-38 or 231 to help you out.

Those powders listed I can get about 100 miles away. That is the only reason.

What do they charge - $27 fee to ship it.

Do most guys buy powder at stores or do they pay the fee?

I pay the fee and shipping but the key is to buy in bulk. If you buy say 8 lbs of Titegroup for say $115, after shipping and Hazmet, it is still only around $20/lb which is pretty decent today. At least in the old days, when primers were also available, I would buy primers with it and that would even further dilute the Hazmet and shipping cost.

Thanks

 

[kc_hhsl]

Interesting that there aren't more fans of the 3N37 that's first on your list. I use it for all my hollow point SD loading in 9mm. Great speeds, nice and clean, just usually a little more expensive than my practice ammo powder preference, Power Pistol.

If you do use this powder be careful to use the longest bullet seating possible for your pistol. It does tend to have some nasty pressure spikes if you go too short.

With respect to pressure spikes - what do you mean. Can you tell when you fire the gun?

I've got a lot to understand on this ...

Thanks

 

[amlevin]

Interesting that there aren't more fans of the 3N37 that's first on your list. I use it for all my hollow point SD loading in 9mm. Great speeds, nice and clean, just usually a little more expensive than my practice ammo powder preference, Power Pistol.

If you do use this powder be careful to use the longest bullet seating possible for your pistol. It does tend to have some nasty pressure spikes if you go too short.

With respect to pressure spikes - what do you mean. Can you tell when you fire the gun?

I've got a lot to understand on this ...

Thanks

Think of it in simple terms. When powder is ignited it is supposed to push the bullet out of the barrel by building pressure in a controlled manner. To generate as much pressure as needed to accelerate the bullet down the bore at a desired speed. This is usually accomplished by matching the characteristics of the powder to the cartridge, bore size, and bullet weight.

If you have a pressure spike either at the initial ignition (explosion rather than "push") you can have too much pressure for the cartridge case to contain. If it develops while the bullet is farther down the barrel (like it might with a slow burning powder) then most of the energy is expended as a large muzzle flash which doesn't do anything to accelerate the bullet down the bore.

Most of this is taken into consideration by the powder manufacturers when developing load maps for their various powders with given cartridges and bullets.

If you pretty much follow the powder manufacturers data, staying within their parameters for charge weight and MINIMUM OAL for a given bullet weight most of this is moot. It's when you start experimenting that a better knowledge internal ballistics is essential.

Yes, one can rely on "software" for their answers but it helps to understand what's going into these programs and how each and every parameter plays a role in crafting safe, yet well performing, ammo.

An old explanation of "pressure spike" was given to me years ago. This oldtimer said "you can put your head against the back of that wagon, push hard, and move it. Or, you can take a run at it with your head down. You might give some serious though to the first". Too high a pressure "spike" too soon, can be like trying to move a wagon by lowering your head and taking a run at it. Something is likely to break, sooner or later,