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Recommend a powder for 147 FMJ 9mm minor PF


Nimitz

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I'm currently using WST for my 147 lead practice ammo but will be shooting FMJs for matches. I've heard that WST may not be desirable for FMJs? If so, what are folks using for 147 FMJs loaded to minor P F?

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WST will work fine with FMJ, I use it for lead and jacketed bullets, no problems. Doesn't get as hot as tite group and not as expensive as N320 and I can always find it locally, no hazmat fees.

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WW231 - an old powder, but I still have a few

pounds left over from 1989 :surprise:

Works very well - can't compare it to any of

these new dang 21st century powders - guess

they might work better, but I don't see how.

From reading these postings, everyone will

tell you N320, but every once in a while you

will hear about N330 or N340, and a few others

that are supposed to be pretty good.

:cheers:

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++++++++N320 by far the best

No way! N320 is decent, but "by far"...NOT. Some people like Solo1000, some 231, some WST some WSF, some Clays and there a lot of others.

There are a scant few people, that loaded to the same minor PF out of the same gun can tell the difference between these variety of powders. At the opposite extremes, there is a small difference. When I went through testing 9mm, I found the "feel" at equivalent PFs was affected by the bullet, and that changed some from gun to gun. The feel from powder to powder, at minor PF, sorry, there just is not enough there to say one is superb, especially since we all have slight variations on how we like and perceive recoil.

Many years ago I did some testing with 9mm and the vast majority of my testers could not perceive a charge weight difference of under .35 grains in 9mm loads at around 150 PF, and they were experienced shooters.

I would not say don't use N320, it is surely a good powder, but some people just get too wrapped up around small things that make no difference...I used to as well, but that 12 step program is working out for me.

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MarkCO ... That's the kind of data I was looking for. I have a lot of WST because I 'm sending six to seven hundred lead rds a week down range and I only need 200 FMJs per month for match ammo so I was hoping to just stay with WST . Thought I read a post on here somewhere where someone said it took more WST with FMJs raising the pressure so I figured I'd ask ...

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I’ve been loading 3.6 gr. of WST with Bear Creek 147’s for a while now in my M&P 9L but switching over to Precision Delta’s 147 FMJ required bumping the powder charge up to 3.9 to get the same 130 PF.

No pressure issues that I can find. (OAL for both bullets is 1.145)

:cheers:

Jeff

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Fltbed - why the switch in bullets? I'm still waiting on my 250 rd sample I bought from precision to test them... I also have some SnS and Missouri lead to try out. I've also heard good things about Berry CMJs ...

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I use 3.1g of Titegroup loaded to 1.15 for my M&P pro 5". I am using Berrys 147g and it makes 130 PF.

I use 3.2gr at the same OAL, and get about 132pf from my 5" Pro. Nice load! :cheers:

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I have used WST, W231, Clays,titegroup and n320 and I have to say I can live with all of them, they all seem fine to me, however, if I had to pick one, it would be n320. It seems to meter the best, least messy on my 1050 loader and very clean in the gun. I use Monatana Gold or Precision Delta 147g bullits generally.

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I have used WST, W231, Clays,titegroup and n320 and I have to say I can live with all of them, they all seem fine to me, however, if I had to pick one, it would be n320. It seems to meter the best, least messy on my 1050 loader and very clean in the gun. I use Monatana Gold or Precision Delta 147g bullits generally.

This about sums it up.... just ran W231 today against N320. Both work......

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Fltbed - why the switch in bullets? I'm still waiting on my 250 rd sample I bought from precision to test them... I also have some SnS and Missouri lead to try out. I've also heard good things about Berry CMJs ...

I was mentoring a new shooter on how to reload last winter. IMO, it’s easier to learn reloading with jacketed bullets. He started with a sample pack of PD’s, then I split a 2K order with him and found out my gun really liked them.

I still shoot a lot of Bear Creek’s but it’s good to have options. :cheers:

Jeff

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hmmmm .... good to know as I'm just getting started myself. I guy who had been reoading for me is leaving FL so I decided to dive off the cliff & bought a complete 650. I'm still in the process of setting up the machine but I sounds like I may want to break down and get some jacketed bullets to begin. I'm shooting lead for practice to keep costs down to .10/rd ...

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++++++++N320 by far the best

Trident, when you compared N320 to WW231, what was the

advantage of the N320?

Jack

Jack,

I tried W231 against N320 under both Berries 124g and 147g and MG 124 JHP in MP 5" pro and Sig P226. I loaded 3.6, 3.8, & 4.0, W231 under the Berries 124g HBRN @ 1.148 as follows:

S&W Pro 5" Berries 124g

3.6 916 113 PF 1 SP, 1 FTF

3.8 965 119 PF Swage

4.0 1020 126 PF

S&W Pro 5" Berries 147g

3.4 907 133PF

3.6 934 137 PF

Berries grouped 4" 25yds Freestyle

S&W Pro 5"

4.2 W231 under MG 124JHP

1048 130 PF

Sig P226

4.2 W231 under MG 124g JHP

1029 127 PF

MP Pro 5"

4.2 N320 under MG 124g JHP

1040 SD16 128 PF

Sig 226

4.2 N320 under MG 124 CMJ

1015 SD20 128PF

4.3 N320 under MG 124 CMJ

1071 132PF

MG grouped 6" with JHP being slightly better.

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++++++++N320 by far the best

Trident, when you compared N320 to WW231, what was the

advantage of the N320?

Jack

Jack,

I tried W231 against N320 under both Berries 124g and 147g and MG 124 JHP in MP 5" pro and Sig P226. I loaded 3.6, 3.8, & 4.0, W231 under the Berries 124g HBRN @ 1.148 as follows:

S&W Pro 5" Berries 124g

3.6 916 113 PF 1 SP, 1 FTF

3.8 965 119 PF Swage

4.0 1020 126 PF

S&W Pro 5" Berries 147g

3.4 907 133PF

3.6 934 137 PF

Berries grouped 4" 25yds Freestyle

S&W Pro 5"

4.2 W231 under MG 124JHP

1048 130 PF

Sig P226

4.2 W231 under MG 124g JHP

1029 127 PF

MP Pro 5"

4.2 N320 under MG 124g JHP

1040 SD16 128 PF

Sig 226

4.2 N320 under MG 124 CMJ

1015 SD20 128PF

4.3 N320 under MG 124 CMJ

1071 132PF

MG grouped 6" with JHP being slightly better.

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++++++++N320 by far the best

Trident, when you compared N320 to WW231, what was the

advantage of the N320?

Jack

Jack,

I tried W231 against N320 under both Berries 124g and 147g and MG 124 JHP in MP 5" pro and Sig P226. I loaded 3.6, 3.8, & 4.0, W231 under the Berries 124g HBRN @ 1.148 as follows:

S&W Pro 5" Berries 124g

3.6 916 113 PF 1 SP, 1 FTF

3.8 965 119 PF Swage

4.0 1020 126 PF

S&W Pro 5" Berries 147g

3.4 907 133PF

3.6 934 137 PF

Berries grouped 4" 25yds Freestyle

S&W Pro 5"

4.2 W231 under MG 124JHP

1048 130 PF

Sig P226

4.2 W231 under MG 124g JHP

1029 127 PF

MP Pro 5"

4.2 N320 under MG 124g JHP

1040 SD16 128 PF

Sig 226

4.2 N320 under MG 124 CMJ

1015 SD20 128PF

4.3 N320 under MG 124 CMJ

1071 132PF

MG grouped 6" with JHP being slightly better.

Trident, sorry, but I must have accidentally taken

two of my stupid pills this morning :(

But, did you find that N320 is more accurate, or softer,

or that you required fewer grains to achieve PF than

the WW231 (with the same bullet and same gun), or is it

cleaner?

I apologize, but I still don't see what it is that you

preferred with the N320 vs the WW231? :cheers:

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Thx all for your detailed responses ... Looks like I'm good to stick with WST ... Now all I have left is to settle on either 124 or 147 and which bullet: Missouri, Precision or SnS for lead and then either Berry's or Momtana Gold for match ammo ... Looks like I'll be becoming very good friends with my chrono ...

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