Best powder for 9mm AND 380acp

[MaryB]

I have the 356-120-TC 9mm mold and the Lee 102 grain 380 mold. Looking for a good do it all powder to load both... I know I can use Red Dot but wondering if any better options...

[John Boy]

Why change - Red Dot is an excellent powder for both calibers

[MaryB]

It works, but my nephews burn through red dot trap shooting... really annoying to open the jug to find it almost empty

[Old Scribe]

I started using CFE Pistol a while back and my 9mm likes it. Shoots 115 gr. fmj, 124 gr plated and 115 & 124 gr cast. My LC9 cleans up real nice and easy and for punching paper it's as good if not better than Red Dot, IMHO.:Fire:

[aspangler]

Bullseye or Unique. Also Greendot.

[Boolseye]

+1 Bullseye, or 231/HP38
I usually use BE 'cause I have a bunch of it. 231/hp38 is just as good, slightly slower burning (between BE and Unique, I believe)

[runfiverun]

anything between bullseye and unique will work just fine for the 9m.
I have used titegroup, red-dot, and 231 the most cause they are usually available to me, but I wouldn't hesitate to use any of the others. [clay's, 700-x etc they make good shot shell loads too]
the 380 would probably do a little better with the faster powders.

[JeffG]

I'm using the 356-120-TC as well. I was using Unique for a while them started playing with Accurate #7, which I liked too, just a little cleaner and maybe a little more accurate but that could just be me. Just started on some BE-86 which I'm also pleased with. I just recently posted some chrony numbers on BE-86 and that bullet in 9mm.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?273165-9mm-and-Alliant-BE-86-Chronograph-Results

[Bzcraig]

I don't shoot 380 but my 9's all shoot well with Bullseye, W231 and Acc#2.

[weasel 21]

Ive got a whole bunch of BE & a leading issue with my 9s. Nines are frustrating to say the least.

[Driver man]

ADI powder AP50 shoots well with my CZ75.

[paul edward]

Have you tried Power Pistol?

[jonp]

Vectan ba10?

[Dan Cash]

Spank the nephews and make them buy their own powder.

[ioon44]

Currently using Auto Comp for 9mm 120gr SWC sized .357".

[captaint]

Bullseye, Titegroup, RedDot... They should work well.

[Alexn20]

I use unique and find it works very well for my needs. Some people have issues with getting consistent powder drops tho. I seem to meter charges without much trouble.

[rsrocket1]

Since you burn so much Red Dot anyway, just start buying 8# jugs of Promo. Cheaper, just as good and you can probably load several magazines with just their floor sweepings :).

Unique, Power Pistol or BE-86 will work fine in your handgun loads and will be too slow for your nephews if you want to keep something that they won't use.

[smoked turkey]

I have had excellent results with the 95 gr Lyman 358242 and about 3 gr of W231. I size to .355 and have no issues in my S&W BodyGuard.

[Cherokee]

231 works in both just fine if yu can't get RD or one of the others mentioned. I use 231 (HP38)

[MaryB]

Well the 8 pound jug of Red Dot is theirs but they are using my hulls and primers and shot so I have been using it for pistols. But yes, I am looking for something they can't swipe for the shotgun. Powder is still hard to come by here so they need to be using their own and not mine. Yes I spoil them the 2 weeks they come here. I make them work but we play a lot too! Will go to the range at least 8 times if weather permits. They love shooting trap and it gets them ready for the fall gun club trap team at school.

They shoot my other guns too but usually supply ammo. I told them if they are going to use my AR they better be bringing 1,000 rounds of brass case with so we can save cases to reload. One nephew is bringing his own AR this year, have to check laws on him transporting it without his mom along. He got his drivers license and his own car now so he is driving and bring the other nephew with. Same for shotguns... both pheasant and duck hunt and are on the trap team so shotgun is their favorite to play with.

[rsrocket1]

Well, in that/ case, they won't miss a few ounces here and there! Keep buying Red Dot in one pound bottles and let them keep buying it in 8# jugs. They won't notice a few ounces missing here and there nor should you act surprised that your one pound bottle never seems to run out. :guntootsmiley:

[WHITETAIL]

You are blessed to have those youngins.
Go and get some BE and be happy they
share the RD.:bigsmyl2:

[typz2slo]

In 380 i have tried reddot and titegroup. Titegroup leaves the brass smokey and for my wifes Bersa 380 reddot seemed ill mannered compared to titegroup. For 9mm I have used WSF with good luck. It fills the case pretty well.

[MaryB]

LGS had some 700x so I grabbed 2 pounds. Not a lot of choice for powder right now out here. I wanted to avoid online ordering and the extra $27.50 haz mat fee.

[Handloader109]

Should work well, I've been using 800x and like it, have recently bought a 4lb jug of 700x to try. Very much like red dot, so you shouldn't have issues with powder feeding like others have whined about:-)

[Bonz]

Just about all pistol powder will work in 9mm/380 It really comes down to the length of the projectile/amount of space in the brass case that is taken up. Ramshot and Accurate powders allow for shorter COL than Alliant or Hodgdon (just a few examples)