Common powder for 9, 38 and 45?

[ZY100]

Sort of a reloading novice here....

Was wondering if anyone had experience with a single powder that was working well for all three calibers?

- Fun shooting only, no comp or carry; no hot loads
- 92FS, Taurus 66, and XD45
- Shooting jacketed or TMJ, typically 115gr, 158gr, 230gr
- Clean is good
- "bulkier" might be nice--to better notice of spec charges visually?
- Leaning towards Clays or Universal...perhaps P-38 or VV True Blue?

While we are at it, a primer question. Does the same type of primer between manufacture change much with regard to vel/pressure/performance? i,e Win small pistol compared to CCI small pistol, not Win small pistol compared to Federal small pistol magnum.

Any good recs?

Thx
ZY

[AH-1]

1.bullseye
2.W231
3.unique
4.AA5
5.trailboss
6.titegroup
7.red dot
8.700X
9.800X

thats a good start
pete

[fredj338]

There are many. Since the 45acp & 38sp are low pressure rounds & the 9mm is such a small case, you can use just about anything. Powders I have used w/ good results:
HP38/231
WST
AA#5
Unique
Universal
Other good choices:
RedDot
TightGroup
Clays
AA#2
VV310
WSF
Bullseye
700x

[Lee Bell]

Originally Posted by ZY100

Was wondering if anyone had experience with a single powder that was working well for all three calibers?

I use Bullseye for all calibers you list.

[kritter]

Lee,
I just reloaded my first batch of 9mm and used Titegroup. It seemed much dirtier than the powder that came in my factory WinClean ammo. Do you know what is in WinClean? Or how does Titegroup compare to the brand you suggest, "Bullseye?"

Thanks,
Kritter

[para_org]

My vote is ww231/hp38 (same stuff, more or less).

[kritter]

I guess I should have stated that I'm reloading these 9mm rounds for my SC. Does that change anyones suggestions?

Thanks for the input so far,
Kritter

[philbo]

I'm using Titegroup for all 9/40/45 with excellent results.

[Lee Bell]

Originally Posted by kritter

Lee,
I just reloaded my first batch of 9mm and used Titegroup. It seemed much dirtier than the powder that came in my factory WinClean ammo. Do you know what is in WinClean? Or how does Titegroup compare to the brand you suggest, "Bullseye?"

Thanks,
Kritter

I don't know for sure, but it's reasonable to assume it's Winchester powder.

In the old days, long ago, I reloaded with Hercules powders. When I started reloading again, it was natural for me to go back to them, now named Alliant. My Lyman and Speer manuals both had loads for everything I shoot for Bullseye, so that's what I used. When it went on sale at a local gun shop, I stocked up a bit. It's all I've used. Bullseye has a reputation for being dirty too and some of my loads certainly are. Both my very light, bullseye loads and my most powerful loads, particularly when fired in one of my shorter barrel guns, tend to be quite dirty. With the light loads, the case does not expand enough to get a good seal against the sides of the chamber. Some of what should go out the barrel, gets by the case and into the action. It's not dangerous, just dirty. With the highest power loads, I don't think all the powder burns, which creates a dusting on the front of the slide, including the sight. When I load just right, even Bullseye shoots relatively clean.

I'm still using Bullseye because I have developed loads for it that work with my guns and, of course, because I've got about 8 lbs of it on hand. When my supply begins to get low, I'm probably going to try WW 231, which was mentioned by at least one person responding to your question. 231 has been around a long time and has a reputation for being consistent, accurate and clean. As important, to me, it's also reputed to be quite similar in burn characteristics to Bullseye. Hopefully, it won't take me as long to work up loads for my guns with it as it would be with a powder that differs significantly from Bullseye.

Overall, I think Tightgroup may be the most popular powder with competitive shooters. I have no experience at all with it, so I'll leave that to others. Perhaps you and I can both learn something new.

Lee

[Lee Bell]

Originally Posted by kritter

I guess I should have stated that I'm reloading these 9mm rounds for my SC. Does that change anyones suggestions?
Thanks for the input so far,
Kritter

Guns tend to tell you what they like by the size of the groups they will shoot. Short barrel guns can be a bit of a problem simply because the bullet is out of the barrel before some charges can burn fully. I shoot both an XD 9 SC and an XD 9 Tactical. The SC is a carry gun, the Tactical is a USPSA Production competition gun. Both are dead stock. Few people reload 9mm. For most, it's cheap enough, or used to be, that it's not worth the effort to reload. Reloading is as much a hobby as a chore for me. I reload and chronograph my 9mm rounds.

A bit of background. USPSA specifies minor and major ammunition power factors. Power factor is the weight of the bullet in grains, times the velocity of the bullet in feet per second, divided by 1,000. IDPA uses the same system, but doesn't divide by 1,000. In any division other than Open, 9mm is always minor and must have a PF of 125 or more. OK, that's the background, here's the point.

Here's the results of my test of a couple of factor bullets, both 115 grain full metal jackets, and my 115 grain Zero JHP rounds.

Sub Compact MV/PF Tactical MV/PF
Remington UMC 1050/121 1152/132
Winchester Western 1081/124 1216/140
4.6 grains Bullseye 1091/125 1219/140

There's a couple of interesting things here. Note that the Remington UMC, which is the cheapest factory ammunition I've found locally, makes the required power factor in my Tactial 9mm. It shoots accurately in my guns, has a milder recoil than either the Winchester or my competition reloads. FWIW, I load a bit over the minimum to guard against problems with load variation and, more importantly temperature. Velocities tend to shift with temperature. Interestingly, USPSA tests ammunition for all competitors, with the same gun. While none of these rounds reliably makes the 125 minimum out of my SC, they all would probably be allowed, even if I were to foolish as to shoot a 3 inch barrel instead of the 5 inch one.

Relevant to your question though, is the difference between each of the loads when fired in my SC. In each case, MV (actually at the chronograph which is about 10 feet from the muzzle), is significantly lower for the Sub Compact. What the data does not show because I didn't retain the readings, is that a 4.7 grain charge of Bullseye, when fired out of the SC, did not increase the MV. Either it was not actually 4.7 grains, or 4.6 grains of Bullseye is all that has time to burn in a 3 inch barrel with a 115 grain Zero JHP. If I wanted something more powerful for my SC, I'd probably have to change powders to get it.

Lee