Favorite 9mm Major powder

[MakeMineaP99]

Everyone loves 9mm Major threads. Is any reloading forum be complete without one?

What's your favorite powder? I'm partial to Silhouette (improved WAP).

[VN350X10]

I've done all of my R&D with Vhit. powders.
Using 147 gr bullets, can do with 3N37 & easily with 3N38
This was all done over an Ohler 33 & using a STOCK G34, stock barrel.
Will be even easier with the race gun, going to a 17L length bbl.
Also, used Rem brass & win primers.
Bullets were Speer GoldDot (priced wrong @ GM, bought them out !) & Montana Gold.
Data book is out in workshop, will put the info up in a day or two.

uncle albert

[4eyes]

I played with WAP and gave the remainer away. Wap showed a pressure spike like Universal. Got really dangerous really fast. YRMV.

BTW: 9 major is easier in a 1911 platform compared to a Glock because the increased mag length allows chamber volume increases from a longer oal.

Never tried Silhouette.

[MakeMineaP99]

I played with WAP and gave the remainer away. Wap showed a pressure spike like Universal. Got really dangerous really fast. YRMV.

BTW: 9 major is easier in a 1911 platform compared to a Glock because the increased mag length allows chamber volume increases from a longer oal.

Never tried Silhouette.

I have noticed any spikes with Silhouette. I've safely worked up to 7.8 grs behind a 115 gr FMJ.

115 Win FMJ
7.8 grs Silhouette
WSP
1.160" OAL

[Tree Rat]

I've done all of my R&D with Vhit. powders.
Using 147 gr bullets, can do with 3N37 & easily with 3N38
This was all done over an Ohler 33 & using a STOCK G34, stock barrel.
Will be even easier with the race gun, going to a 17L length bbl.
Also, used Rem brass & win primers.
Bullets were Speer GoldDot (priced wrong @ GM, bought them out !) & Montana Gold.
Data book is out in workshop, will put the info up in a day or two.

uncle albert

I still got that Issue 1 data you sent me a few years back.....

Good to see you made the trip over hear..


TR

[saunderscc]

How good is Accurate? I was thinking of giving it a go for my 124gr rounds. Maybe #2, #5, or #7? Right now using WSF.

[MakeMineaP99]

AA #7 will get you there.

[saunderscc]

AA #7 will get you there.

Thanks, I am going to try something new in my next load and will give that a try.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

When loading for low recoil everyone likes the big bullet/fast powder to reduce recoil, but if going for broke how does that change? Are lighter bullets pushed faster with a lot of powder better because of comps or do you still go for big bullets and push them as fast as needed to meet the power factor?

[4eyes]

9mm is only legal to make major in open class in USPSA. Comps and dots are competitive. Light bullet with slow powder to generate lots of gas to make the comped gun shoot flat.

[MakeMineaP99]

9mm is only legal to make major in open class in USPSA. Comps and dots are competitive. Light bullet with slow powder to generate lots of gas to make the comped gun shoot flat.

+1.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Ok, so if you are making major without a comp is it best to stick with big and just as fast as they need to be? I guess overall does it end up being big bullets for non-comp and small bullets for comp, driven as fast as they need to be meet power?

[4eyes]

If you are not shooting gun games, going for major with a 9mm is a waste unless you just want to do it. In real life, you want major, get a bigger cartridge. See Brian Enos forum for 9 major loads.

You don't get hand fed with a recipe. You want major--experiment with your recipes, gun, and chrono.

[MakeMineaP99]

Damn straight. I would never load for major without a chrono and very careful work up. The only advantage 9mm Major has in the gun games, is you can stuff lots of rounds into mags, brass is cheap/free compared to .38 Super or .38 TJ, and you can compete against the guys with the .45s.

When I worked up my 9 Major last weekend with Silhouette, I did load development for the better part of 4 hours. Load five rounds, chrono, repeat. 9 major isn't all that hard to work up, but when you're operating at the limits of the cartridge and the safety factor, there is no room for error.

[4eyes]

You never know from pre load inspection either. I split some good looking Win brass during load work up. Makes a dirty mag, stinging fingers, and a damn surprised look.

[MakeMineaP99]

Good point. I had about 1000 rds know once fired brass, used new cases for each work up as a control.

[Clark]

I have put allot of hours into various powders and bullets trying to find out how much I can get out of 9mm.

What I have found is:

1) If you want the most powerful 9mm handload in a book, get the first Vihtavouri load book [147 gr XTP 5.7 gr 3N37 1.142"].

2) If I want the most powerful 9mm handload, I use Power Pistol and work up my own load [158 gr XTP 11 gr Power Pistol, resizied loaded, 1.169"].

[918v]

That VV book load will not chamber in most 9mm's. The OAL is too long and the bullet shank hits rifling too soon. Not only that, that OAL puts the bullet nose out too far and they drag on the mag body. It is not a good load at all.

On top of all this, I was only able to get 1090 FPS from my Sig P226 with this load. They lie, lie, lie!

[Clark]

I have shot 8.4 gr and 8.5 gr 3N37 147 gr and they both make the case bulge with case support at .19" and case webs .16" thick.

That is the sort of case support one gets from Kel-Tec, Glock, Beretta, and S&W.

CZ52, Tokarev, and Star have better case support.



As to load books being a load of hoey, look at the incentives:
1) Make the loads look hot to sell books.
2) Make the loads benign to avoid liability.

The winning strategy is:
1) list high velocities
2) List wimpy loads and that can't really get those high velocities.

[Flexmoney]

As mentioned, other than experimentation, 9 Major is used for Open guns in USPSA/IPSC competitions. And, many feel it's pushing the envelope there.

I have a bit of Vectan SP2 still. I sure wish we cold get more of it in the USA. (works fine in my open Glock)

Sierra manual list 3 book load with 9x21 that make a reported 1350fps with their 125g FMJ at 1.165oal (Unvi. Clays, HS-6 & VV 3n37) Test gun was a 5.2" EAA Witness (168.75 pf)

[Washington,D.C.]

As mentioned, other than experimentation, 9 Major is used for Open guns in USPSA/IPSC competitions. And, many feel it's pushing the envelope there.

I have a bit of Vectan SP2 still. I sure wish we cold get more of it in the USA. (works fine in my open Glock)

Sierra manual list 3 book load with 9x21 that make a reported 1350fps with their 125g FMJ at 1.165oal (Unvi. Clays, HS-6 & VV 3n37) Test gun was a 5.2" EAA Witness (168.75 pf)

The loads should be the same for 9x19 when loaded to the same 1.165" length. Some of that velocity comes from the 5.2" barrel. I remember back when the major power factor was 175 that Hodgdon was working with a powder they were thinking of marketing to make major. They wanted to piblish the load data and sell the powder. After they found that they couldn't make major within SAAMI pressure limits they decided not to sell the powder. They did say later that the powder was in fact VV 3n37. These days besides major power factor being lower there are newer powders such as 3n38 and Longshot. Back in the 175 PF days the trick was to use very heavy soft lead bullets. These days the jacketed hollow points are more accurate and major PF is low enough to use them.

[io_joe]

I have noticed any spikes with Silhouette. I've safely worked up to 7.8 grs behind a 115 gr FMJ.

115 Win FMJ
7.8 grs Silhouette
WSP
1.160" OAL

MMaP99:

Have you chronographed the above load?

Also, what else have you used Silhouette for? I have a pound on order to try it out. I was planning to use it in 9, 40, 45, and maybe for mid-range 10mm loads.

[MakeMineaP99]

MMaP99:

Have you chronographed the above load?

Also, what else have you used Silhouette for? I have a pound on order to try it out. I was planning to use it in 9, 40, 45, and maybe for mid-range 10mm loads.

Yes, did alot of Chronographing a couple weeks ago, including the 9mm Major. I'll be home next week, and will post some data then. I chronographed so many loads that weekend, I don't even remember the rough numbers, I have to get to my notes.

Haven't loaded Silhouette in anything but 9. Going to try .45 next and see what happens (I'm happy with Solo 1000 and Clays in .45). I don't load .40/10mm.

[MakeMineaP99]

Got my notes, I thought the numbers looked low, so I ran some over the chrono today. This is the latest and greatest.

40* F, overcast.

G17

1427 fps
1447 fps
1447 fps
1436 fps
1441 fps

Very consistent, the ES was only 20 fps and the SD was in the single digits!

[ede]

i used hs6 and hated it, liked power pistol, but i always like power pistol. hated 9mm major and went back to the .40 and .45 for major loads in gun games. after all the problems i've had with my latest 9mm race gun i'm considering scraping the project and shooting the 40 for everything i was a dot gun for.

[Clark]

The last shot over a chrono with a 9mm was 124 gr FMJ 1.169" 10 gr Power Pistol , throated 3.1" barrel Kel-Tec P11, 1336 fps = 165 pf.

I did not make major, and the next round went through the chrono:(

[918v]

i used hs6 and hated it, liked power pistol, but i always like power pistol. hated 9mm major and went back to the .40 and .45 for major loads in gun games. after all the problems i've had with my latest 9mm race gun i'm considering scraping the project and shooting the 40 for everything i was a dot gun for.

Feeding issues?

[ede]

no there were no real problems with hs-6, i just didn't like it. thought it was too loud, too much recoil and too much **** got on the cmore lens. maybe it was all in my head but i thought the recoil was less and it was cleaner on the cmore.

[VN350X10]

9 Major in an open gun is fine, but it don't do SQUAT for a pin gun !
Just one of my test observations.
Past month or so has been hectic.....will be back working on load development with 3N38 soon.(if that *%#! barrel from Lone Wolf ever shows up!)

uncle albert

[Jim_M]

Back from the dead thread...

I'm using a Jager Open kit on my G17. Worked up a Winchester AutoComp major load. Flat and comfortable shooting.

[BillM]

Back from the dead thread...

I'm using a Jager Open kit on my G17. Worked up a Winchester AutoComp major load. Flat and comfortable shooting.

+1 on Autocomp. G17 open gun, 6 port Titanium comp, 3 blow holes in
the barrel. 124 PD FMJ, WSPM primer, 7.2 Autocomp. 1.145 OAL.
172 Power factor, flat and soft.

Have run 9 Major USPSA open division loads for the G17 with:

3N37
N350
3N38 (VERY compressed)
HS6
Silhouette
WSF
SP2
4756
7625
and my all time favorite---HS7---now discontinued, dammit.:mad:

[BigSlick]

IMO, HS-7 was the best powder ever made for pistol/revolver use

It has been said Longshot is reformulated HS-7.... might be worth a try :dunno: