Powder for 9mm and .45

D

Dirt Nap

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I'm about to start to reload 9mm and .45. I'm trying to find an all around powder for both. This will be plinking ammo so I want something that is clean, relatively inexpensive, and the most reloads per pound.
 
I like W231 (HP-38) they are the same powder. I use it in all my light loads, 38sp, 44ssp, 9mm, 45acp, 45colt. It meters well and clean burning. I don't use max loads, there are a ton of loads in all the loading manuals.

Mike
 
Hard to beat good old Unique. I have burned many a pound of it in 9mm and .45 ACP loads. I like Power Pistol a lot too though.
 

For plinking ammo, I load Hodgdon Universal for 380 Auto, 9mmx19,
40 S&W, 10mm Auto, and 45 ACP. I also load 28, 20, and 12 gauge
target ammo with it...Truely Universal.

It burns clean, and meters well.

Squeeze
 
I use W-231 in both and I use the same powder charge in both 5.7grs with a 230gr in the .45 and with a 115gr in the 9.mm
About 10,000rds to an 8# keg.
 
Well, I use IMR 4756, but that's cause I picked up 6lbs of it for like $40 from a friend. Does the job for what Im doing
 
That charge seems alittle high to me. I use 231 in 9mm using a 124gr lrn 4grs was stretching my cases pretty bad. cut back to 3.5 and my ruger p85 loved them.
 
Originally Posted By: RustydustHard to beat good old Unique. I have burned many a pound of it in 9mm and .45 ACP loads. I like Power Pistol a lot too though.

Power Pistol or Unique are both great powders. Power Pistol seems to be a little cleaner.
 
WIN231/HP38 meters well & fills the case pretty good so it will eliminate double charges at least in the smaller cases. I don't load .45apc so I can't offer and opinon for that cartirdge.

I purchased HP38 for the 9mm & a .45 I had but soon after sold it (the .45) and never got around to reload for it. From what I remember HP38 wasn't the best choice for .45apc but it covered the calibers I had.
 
I use 700x (because I still have about 4 lbs of it) and some Titegroup. There's a lot of newer powders out there I don't know much about and haven't tried. I'm kinda old school, I guess. Stick with what's been working for me for like 35 years.
 
Originally Posted By: Delta yoteIs the charge for H-38 the same as win 231

Yes... they come out of the same railroad freight car.


.
 
When I first started loading, "the guys" recommended hp-38/win 231 to me. I got a few lbs and have never seen a need to try anything else.

I load it in 45, 9, 38, and even did some light 44 with it.
 
Back in 2008 I got a great buy on an 8# box of HP38. Yes, I said box. Hodgdon hadn't packaged it that way since the 1970s. $50 for the box and it has gotten me through two ammo shortages. It shoots great in our 9mms, .38, and 45 acps. Some of the newer powders may burn cleaner, but I can't buy them for under $7.00 a pound.
 
I have used 5.0 grs of Bullseye in 230 gr Jacketed Rounds and 4.8grs in 230gr Cast bullets for over 20 years. I also have loaded many 9mm with bullseye over the years. Since I now have a number of 45s and only one 9mm that is a safe queen I can not remember what my 9mm loads were.

Bullseye is dirty but it just works for me. I did try 231 and was pleased with it, it just cost a tad more to load.
 
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