If you could only have one...

[Hutehund]

And you were forced to select a single powder for loading 9mm, accommodating a broad range of bullet weights, with the additional attributes of being clean burning with consistent accurate metering... What would your powder choice be?

[copemech]

Why is it I already feel offended?

[1SOW]

JMHO:  Not to be belligerent,  but that's asking too much for one single powder.  Going from 115gr light loads to 147gr heavy loads can be done with one powder that burns fairly clean,  but also wouldn't be the best choice for half or more of them.

Maybe Vit 330 could make them all go bang,  be fairly clean and hit paper with all.  231/HP38 wouldn't be as clean but would do the same.  .  AA#5 maybe.  IMR 7625,  no longer available and a little dirty.  All these meter very well
Others may have thoughts on the subject.

I only load 9mm and can cover a fairly broad spectrum with my  Vit n320 and n340. The n340 will take a 124/125gr bullet beyond supersonic.  n320 gives very good lighter loads.

[painter]

I suppose I'd choose N320.

I'd have to buy SD ammo, or switch to 115gr, because N320 won't push a 124gr bullet quite fast enough.

[Wobbly]

I really have no idea.

Maybe WSF, N330, or something else along the speed of Unique. That's why I want to get so of the new IMR Unequal.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

And you were forced to select a single powder for loading 9mm, accommodating a broad range of bullet weights, with the additional attributes of being clean burning with consistent accurate metering... What would your powder choice be?

While it's not exactly the cleanest burning powder I'd take Bullseye any day. I can load 9mm .38spl/.357mag and .45acp all with this same powder. Glad we don't have only one choice though.

[IDescribe]

Right. 

Hutehund, that's a fairly common question in reloading forums.  Unfortunately, there's a fundamental problem with the question -- you haven't listed an application.  Any time you ask a question structured "what's the best X for Z," Z should always be an application.  Why did I leave out Y?  Because Y is 9mm -- it's a constraint, but it's not an application. 

You would never ask -- what's the best exercise (X) for people (Y).  You would ask what the best exercise (X) for people (Y) to lose weight(Z), or gain strength, or to increase muscle mass, or mobility, or for cardiovascular endurance.   You would tell us what the desired goal for the exercise is:   

"What's the best exercise for pregnant women to maintain joint mobility?"

Or for your powder question:

What's the best powder (X) to use in 9mm Luger (Y) for minor power factor action pistol shooting (Z)?  Steel Challenge?  Range plinking?  50 yard precision target shooting?  Home defense?

All of those might get different answers.  And those answers might come with bullet restraints, as well.  And then there's the question as to the purpose of your asking.  Is this a banter question, where you just want to watch a discussion unfold with no direct application for you?  That's sort of how it's asked.  On the other hand, if you want to read this so that maybe you can decide on a powder for YOU to buy and try with a number of different applications, then you need to at least tell us the applications -- because what powder is application dependent, even if it's a compromise powder to cover multiple applications.

If I could have only one powder to load 9mm with, what would that powder be?  It would be Bullseye.  But that is tied directly to what I most often use 9mm for.  I would NOT pick a compromise powder to cover different applications.  I would pick my preferred powder for my application of highest priority, and then buy commercially produced ammo or choose other calibers for EVERY OTHER application. 

Remember that the more specific your questions are, the more relevant the answers will be.

[armoredman]

Easy for me - I only use one powder for 9mm, seriously - Accurate Arms #7. Love it. I alos use only two or three different bullet styles, either 115 or 124 grain. Me weird.

[Augie.Cooper]

Unique for only one powder, that said I have other powders I prefer for specific applications.

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk

[Hutehund]

Right. 

Hutehund, that's a fairly common question in reloading forums.  Unfortunately, there's a fundamental problem with the question -- you haven't listed an application.  Any time you ask a question structured "what's the best X for Z," Z should always be an application.  Why did I leave out Y?  Because Y is 9mm -- it's a constraint, but it's not an application. 

You would never ask -- what's the best exercise (X) for people (Y).  You would ask what the best exercise (X) for people (Y) to lose weight(Z), or gain strength, or to increase muscle mass, or mobility, or for cardiovascular endurance.   You would tell us what the desired goal for the exercise is:   

"What's the best exercise for pregnant women to maintain joint mobility?"

Or for your powder question:

What's the best powder (X) to use in 9mm Luger (Y) for minor power factor action pistol shooting (Z)?  Steel Challenge?  Range plinking?  50 yard precision target shooting?  Home defense?

All of those might get different answers.  And those answers might come with bullet restraints, as well.  And then there's the question as to the purpose of your asking.  Is this a banter question, where you just want to watch a discussion unfold with no direct application for you?  That's sort of how it's asked.  On the other hand, if you want to read this so that maybe you can decide on a powder for YOU to buy and try with a number of different applications, then you need to at least tell us the applications -- because what powder is application dependent, even if it's a compromise powder to cover multiple applications.

If I could have only one powder to load 9mm with, what would that powder be?  It would be Bullseye.  But that is tied directly to what I most often use 9mm for.  I would NOT pick a compromise powder to cover different applications.  I would pick my preferred powder for my application of highest priority, and then buy commercially produced ammo or choose other calibers for EVERY OTHER application. 

Remember that the more specific your questions are, the more relevant the answers will be.

I understand and appreciate your answer.  I guess for me, as a relatively new reloader and casual range plinker, I haven't gotten serious enough about performance testing individual powders.  I have numerous 9mm platforms from pistols to an SBR to a carbine.  Until I got my P-09, I never considered loading for the individual weapon.  I've just been attempting to build a load that would function dependably and be reasonably accurate in all of my 9mm guns. 

When I started reloading, components were ridiculously scarce.  I finally found 4lbs of N-340 and snatched up greedily.  It's been excellent.  But as components became more available, I bought Bullseye, Unique, Power Pistol, BE-86, and today at the gun show I picked up a pound of 231.  I didn't think these powders would be noticeably better than the N-340 for my purposes (it's definitely the cleanest of all so far), but I wanted to try others to see if they would meter more accurately for me.  I often get up to  +/- .2gr variations in the powders I've used so far.  Variations annoy me 

Anyway... It's probably more than that.  There's a small part of me that didn't want to have to be looking too hard for powder again if the election went sour, and another part that just likes to try new recipes.  I spent some time reading the post on the new IMR powders over the past couple of days, and I found myself looking for Unequal at every reloader supply at the show today.  I can't help myself 

So forgive me for the general post... I just felt that I was going in too many directions right now, and I was hoping a consensus on a good solid, versatile, powder would focus things a bit for me.

[1SOW]

Maybe you should take a harder look at your powder drop mechanics.  If n340 is good for your needs,  it DOES meter very accurately.  It is a small rod powder very much the same size as n320,  but more dense/heavier.  In my clumsy old fashioned LEE turret press it drops closer than .1gr consistently after the first few drops..

See if your powder drop system needs a little "tuning".  Others here can probably help with the fix.

[IDescribe]

So forgive me for the general post...

No, no - nothing to forgive.     I was just trying to get at what you needed, and depending on what you needed, get your question focused.

WSF is an excellent "middle ground" powder.  You can keep bullets inside the upper limits of typical 9mm minor power factor velocities and still get a timely pressure seal, BUT you can also drive bullets fast enough for long range duty with your 9mm SBR and carbine, OR if you decide you want to start shooting that P-09 with 115gr bullets at 50 yards the way it should be.    WSF is a good compromise powder in terms of burn rates, and it's a reasonably clean, accurate powder.  N330 doesn't actually exist.  Don't listen to the others.  Mui loco.   

Personally, I think you should focus on two powders, one for bullets you want to drive fast, and one for bullets you want to drive slow.  If that were the case, I'd recommend Power Pistol, Silhouette, N340, or AA7 for the bullets you want to drive fast, and N320, AA2, or Bullseye for bullets you want to drive slow.  But if you must have only one, WSF is a great compromise. 

As to metering well, unfortunately, just because a powder meters well in one make/model of powder drop does not mean it will meter well in another.  For example, N320 meters acceptably well (but not exceptionally well) in my Hornady drop, while it meters beautifully in at least some models of Lee and Dillon drops.  That said, and so as not to commit N320 heresy in these hallowed halls, N320's relative inconsistency in drops doesn't seem to reflect on group size when I'm actually shooting, so I don't care too much.   The point is that unless you can get consensus from people who use the same drop you use, you'll have to try it in your drop and discover on your own, keeping in mind that you can often make adjustments to your drop to help it work with a certain powder. 

[Hutehund]

So forgive me for the general post...

No, no - nothing to forgive.     I was just trying to get at what you needed, and depending on what you needed, get your question focused.

WSF is an excellent "middle ground" powder.  You can keep bullets inside the upper limits of typical 9mm minor power factor velocities and still get a timely pressure seal, BUT you can also drive bullets fast enough for long range duty with your 9mm SBR and carbine, OR if you decide you want to start shooting that P-09 with 115gr bullets at 50 yards the way it should be.    WSF is a good compromise powder in terms of burn rates, and it's a reasonably clean, accurate powder.  N330 doesn't actually exist.  Don't listen to the others.  Mui loco.   

Personally, I think you should focus on two powders, one for bullets you want to drive fast, and one for bullets you want to drive slow.  If that were the case, I'd recommend Power Pistol, Silhouette, N340, or AA7 for the bullets you want to drive fast, and N320, AA2, or Bullseye for bullets you want to drive slow.  But if you must have only one, WSF is a great compromise. 

As to metering well, unfortunately, just because a powder meters well in one make/model of powder drop does not mean it will meter well in another.  For example, N320 meters acceptably well (but not exceptionally well) in my Hornady drop, while it meters beautifully in at least some models of Lee and Dillon drops.  That said, and so as not to commit N320 heresy in these hallowed halls, N320's relative inconsistency in drops doesn't seem to reflect on group size when I'm actually shooting, so I don't care too much.   The point is that unless you can get consensus from people who use the same drop you use, you'll have to try it in your drop and discover on your own, keeping in mind that you can often make adjustments to your drop to help it work with a certain powder. 

Maybe you should take a harder look at your powder drop mechanics.  If n340 is good for your needs,  it DOES meter very accurately.  It is a small rod powder very much the same size as n320,  but more dense/heavier.  In my clumsy old fashioned LEE turret press it drops closer than .1gr consistently after the first few drops..

See if your powder drop system needs a little "tuning".  Others here can probably help with the fix.

Thanks to everyone for your replies, and for your patience.  The P-09 at 50 yds is obviously a tool that's capable beyond the limits of my old eyes, but I am striving to produce ammunition of high quality and consistency.  I'm beginning to realize that my initial  "one size fits most" mentality may produce ammo on par with factory ammunition, but I do want more than that.  Even if it is just for plinking.  After all, if I have the tools, why wouldn't I?  I still want that "one size fits most" load for "extended storage", but once I'm comfortable that I have that dialed in, I'm going to start tuning ammunition for clean-burning maximum accuracy in the P-09.

It's also apparent, as we did have one consensus in the topic , that I need to continue to learn to fine tune my equipment.  I'm still experimenting with that as well.  Learning to fine tune that Hornady LnL AP case activated powder drop is next on the list.

Thanks again

 

[Wobbly]

It's also apparent, as we did have one consensus in the topic, that I need to continue to learn to fine tune my equipment.  I'm still experimenting with that as well.  Learning to fine tune that Hornady LnL AP case activated powder drop is next on the list.

That's an east one...
? The first 10 "drops" from any powder measure go back into the hopper. Do Not actuate the PM by hand. Put a case under the powder through die and let the press cycle and drop the powder as it would during the loading process.
? Then take the cumulative weight of 10 drops to get your best average single drop. E.g. if you are looking for 4.1gr, then 10 drops should equal 41.0gr.

 

[armoredman]

No forgiveness necessary, asking questions is how we learn - and the day we stop learning is the day they shovel dirt over us.