With 90gr and 115gr bullets the CFE has a little better velocities than AutoComp and Silhouette. Can't wait to see how CFE performs. I think it will get me into the 1400fps range without going to plus P....which eventually I'll take them all to.
That, of course, depends on whom is doing the loading. In terms of velocity vs. pressure, none of them do anything that can't be matched or exceeded by HS-6 which is what all of these Winchester and Hodgdon powders are based on including Silhouette which was originally sold as Win. WAP.
For my 9mm defense loads where all would be classified +P, at least in terms of velocity, there's 2 simple tests that the powder must achieve. 1. Proven pressure stability above the +P+ level courtesy of 9mm Major loaders. By NO MEANS should Major loads be approached with stock service pistols. You're already on your own in attempting +P loads and strict guidelines must be observed. Secondly, the powder has to have a low flash signature. That comes from a guy who started out loading with the older 35,700 CUP standard using Blue Dot before moving on to HS-6 and V-V 3N37. I've loaded my share of 9mm and .40 S&W with Power Pistol also, where at least Blue Dot has other applications I used it for including starting out reloading for the .41 Magnum. It's been at least 10 years since the last time I charged any case with a flake powder. Some older reloaders still use and like 'em, but in every case for me, there's a better spherical (ball-type) handgun propellant with the caveat that I think it's fair to say that I'm not much of a TiteGroup fan.
I think you made a very good choice with CFE Pistol that is almost certainly a derivative of HS-6, and like Silhouette, it's treated for low flash. Now will come the test of accuracy and uniformity at high velocity where Silhouette excels and is probably second only to HS-6 in terms of the number of 9mm Major loaders who use it with 3N37 being very close. The consensus at BENOS forum seems to be that CFE Pistol makes the grade in pressure stability. Now lets see what happens with your 90 and 115 gr. experiments. Like I said, if I could find it right now I'd buy & try and I'm still in pretty good shape as far as Silhouette with a little 3N37 to back it up. Don't neglect your AA#7 though! I'd hold in in reserve for when you start using a full-size service pistol and 124 & 147 gr. JHPs.
