What powder to use for 9mm cast

[sigpro2022]

I have some 9mm - 125gr (.356") round nose bevel base from Shooter's Cast Bullets. What's a good powder to use to reduce leading?
I've got Unique, Bullseye, 231, Clays, Titegroup, & HS-6 to choose from. Of the powders listed above which would be the best to use?

[Vann]

All will work well. I'm currently finishing off my last pound of Win 231 then I'm going to titegroup. Hs6 works well for heavier loads.

[bstone5]

Use 231 or HP 38 which are the same powder.
Used Tightgroup when ran out of 231.
Got 8 pounds of HP 38 so back to the 231 data.

[blikseme300]

Unfortunately, if the boolits you have are .356" you will probably have leading no matter what powder you use.

I use HP38 exclusively under CB's sized to .3575" and have no leading in any of my 9mm pistols.

[Outpost75]

Agree on sizing bullets .357+ for most nines. Berettas and CZ will take .358", Bullseye, lightest charge which cycles, 3.0-3.2 grs. with 147-155 cast, 3.5 to 4.0 for 124-139 cast.

[tazman]

Unless your barrel slugs at .355-.356 you will almost certainly get leading no matter what powder you use. Most 9mm barrels run a bit on the larger size, hence the need for .357 or larger boolits.
Yours may be one of the ones that can use the smaller diameters with no problems. You need to slug your barrel to find out.
Any of the powders you mention will work well in 9mm. Just start light and increase slowly. When the groups are good, stop there.

[ioon44]

I just got a new SR9 and the barrel measures .3573", would not want to run .356 da boolits.

"I've got Unique, Bullseye, 231, Clays, Titegroup, & HS-6 to choose from." all of these powders are good.

[bangerjim]

356 is probably too small as said. Slug your barrel.

TiteGroup is my standard powder in everything pistol. Tons of load data in the books. Buy them. Do not guess! And do not rely on load data suggestions from forums without having the actual load data books to refer to. Lyman Cast Bullet book is the best for us casters. The Lee book also has good data. I own and use all of them!

Leading is caused by undersized boolits, not powder.

You can increase the size of the ones you have by stripping off the lube grease they now have and powder coating them. That will add 0.002 to them. Or melt them down and cast 0.358. Again, it all depends on YOUR barrel!

banger

[sigpro2022]

Unfortunately, if the boolits you have are .356" you will probably have leading no matter what powder you use.

I use HP38 exclusively under CB's sized to .3575" and have no leading in any of my 9mm pistols.
That's what I thought. I won them in a raffle.

[N21911S]

Start with Bullseye, once you find the load that works experiment with Titegroup, and 231. Clays might work but does not meter for used food (powder measures will not throw concisely. Unique will be a little slow burning.

[Schrag4]

Are they lubed already? If not, perhaps you could powder coat them and then size them back down to 357.

I've never slugged my barrel. I bought a .356 sizer before I knew what I was doing, and I size my powder-coated cast bullets with that sizer. I've only really used AA#5 and Unique. AA#5 makes a good middle-of the road load with good-enough accuracy, while Unique gives me both full-power velocity and superb accuracy with these PC bullets sized to .356. I suspect based on everyone's comments that I would have major problems if I wasn't PCing, I'm not willing to find out because PC has enough advantages that I'll keep doing it. Gun is a Ruger SR9c.

[MattN]

I would highly recommend powder coating. I have a 92FS that slugs at .357. I cast some Lee 125 RNFP bullets. Powder coated them and sized to .358. No lead what so ever. They shoot right at 2" at 25 yards from a bench. I tried Tightgroup first. HP-38 was better and Unique was the best. Only a little better than HP-38.

[bangerjim]

PC will protect your barrel. I have dropped 356 boolits, PC'd them, and sized to 356 and they shot without leading. I would NOT try that with bare lead + grease! Barrel is ~357.

banger

[captain-03]

Bullseye -- boolit size is the most important factor regarding leading ....

[sigpro2022]

A lot of good information guys thanks. Looks like I'll be slugging those barrels, removing some grease, and trying my hand at powder coating.

By the way, I always compare load data I get from forums and friends with the numerous reloading manuals I own. My wellbeing and the wellbeing of my firearms depend on that, it's just great to not to have to reinvent the wheel so to say and draw from the experience of veteran reloaders.

[Schrag4]

I'm surprised nobody has come along to tell you that PC is a waste of time yet. Ultimately you'll have to decide for yourself, but if you shoot indoors, that alone makes it worth it IMO. There are a whole host of other benefits that I consider significant as well, such as no gunk in your dies, in your ammo containers, on your hands, in your magazines, etc. If your bullets already have lube, it may be difficult to get them clean enough to PC, but it can be done. If you're up to the task, I highly recommend you give it an honest try. It took me a few sessions to get the process down, but it's not that hard.

[Bzcraig]

IIRC, 4gr of 231 shot great for me with that weight boolit.