Accurate #2 in 9mm?

[BHuij]

I have had good results with both the Lee 356-124-RN-TL and the Lee 356-120-TC over 4.0 grains of W231/HP38 in my M&P. At 10 yards offhand, it's fairly easy to get 5 touching shots on paper.

I recently bought a pound or two of AA#2, because I can get it for about $20/lb here, compared to $27/lb for 231/HP38. I really, really wanted to like this powder. It meters way better, requires smaller loads in addition to being less expensive, and supposedly isn't position sensitive, so therefore theoretically better for light target loads.

But I can't get it to shoot. Accurate's published load data for a 124gr lead bullet go from 3.0 to 3.8 grains. My Lee 120gr mold gives me almost exactly 125 grains after powdercoating. I shot groups with 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8, and 4.0 grains yesterday with AA#2 (COAL 1.066"), and couldn't get it to group for crap. Shots all over the place, but no pressure signs in the primers or excessive recoil. The same trip I tried several loads of HP38 under the same bullet, and they all shot better than any of the AA#2, with the best being 4.0 grains, unsurprisingly.

I guess it comes down to just some guns like some powders and dislike others. Just bothers me that I don't know why. I'll probably resign myself to paying for the slightly more expensive HP38 going forward, unless anyone has a pet load with AA#2 and a 125ish grain bullet that makes minor power factor for USPSA shooting :D

[metricmonkeywrench]

For my 1st gen M&P I run 6.8g AA #5 with 125g plated bullets to stay in the realm of standard performance. I now have a mould and will be working towards the 125g myself but I never would have started with #2

I just loaded some 147g XTP over 6g of #7 for an Av Velocity of 915 with and es of 15 and a SD of 4!!

the #2 may be just too fast for the application. yep agree, just because its in the book doesn't always mean it will work.

[MT Gianni]

I bought a 6 lb bottle of surplus AA2 and 4 gr has been my standard load in the 9mm. [CZ75] You just have to try and see what your gun likes. It's a good thing that there are plenty of powders to use.

[kmw1954]

AA#2, I've been loading it with a 115gr plated Xtreme and Berry's at a OAL of 1.130" and a charge of 4.2gr and 4.4gr and have been shooting these thru a XD Mod2 4.0 and a Taurus PT92C and they have been as accurate as any other load I make other than one with Ramshot Silhouette. So far I haven't loaded any 124gr plated with it but from what I see it should do very well. I also haven't tried it with any 9mm cast.

I have also used the #2 with 185gr and 200gr plated 45acp loads with very good results.

Lastly I recently started playing with 380 cast lead bullets with 2 different 95gr bullet molds and a 102gr mold and so far have tried them with the AA#2 and HP-38. The two 95gr bullets I didn't get a bunch so I was limited to what I could test. One mold was better than the other easily. The 102gr bullet performed the best with both powders. I loaded all these with a charge of 2.8gr and a few with a 3.0 charge. To be perfectly honest I couldn't distinguish a difference between the powders.

I do now also have some of the 102gr loaded with 2.5gr of AA#2 as the 2.8gr load is what I used as a starting load for the Xtreme 100gr plated.

Again I'm loading and shooting the AA#2 in 3 different calibers and 6 different guns with 6 different bullets and is now one of 3 powders I keep on hand.

[Lloyd Smale]

its my favorite 9mm powder. 3.5 grains for a mild plinking load that will still run most guns and 4.5 for more serious work. I won quite a few trophys with my sti trojan 9mm 1911 using a rcbs 120 round nosed cast bullet with 3.5 grains of aa2 in the local ppc league. Used the same load and gun in the bullseye league and was top shooter in that league for the last 3 years I shot. Now im talking pr200 which is surplus packaged aa2, the original aa2 that accurate arms sold. but they are interchangeable

[GARD72977]

I have loaded over 20lbs of accurrate #2 in 9mm. I use it for IDPA and USPSA. I have used weights from 124 to 147 gr. Loading near 135 Power Factor all my loads have been as accurate as any other.

I wonder if you are having a unrelated problem.

[BigBore45]

It's always been a good powder for me in 9mm and various other pistol rounds. Did you do a side by side test with your other powder?

[BHuij]

Yeah, I took the same bullet out loaded over a few different charges of HP38 and a few charges of AA#2. The worst charge of HP38 was better than the best of AA#2. For those facing success with it in 9mm, particularly if you’re using a 125gr cast bullet,, what is your load?

[JBinMN]

Yeah, I took the same bullet out loaded over a few different charges of HP38 and a few charges of AA#2. The worst charge of HP38 was better than the best of AA#2. For those facing success with it in 9mm, particularly if you’re using a 125gr cast bullet,, what is your load?



Posted to subscribe & remind myself to go look at my load diary later on, to share some other loads for you in 9mm using some other powders.
;)

[Lagamor]

Friend of mine loves it, but he shoots nothing but plated 115 gr.
I’m not a fan. Burns too fast for rounds I shoot and causes nothing but problems for me.
I much prefer Silhoutte, but I mainly shoot 147 gr in 9mm and 165gr 40.

[popper]

I use wst with 130gr cast in XDs9, works great. Much faster than #2 or w231. You didn't specify alloy or H.T. which I must do to get any accuracy.

[JBinMN]

OK. I went and looked and with Power Pistol powder I use 5.3 or 5.4 gr. with a 124gr. RN or TC

I use 3.8 or 3.9gr. Red Dot ( or Promo) for the same.

Those are the only powders I have used for those weight boolits & are happy myself with them for accuracy.

G'Luck!
:)

[kmw1954]

The same trip I tried several loads of HP38 under the same bullet, and they all shot better than any of the AA#2, with the best being 4.0 grains, unsurprisingly.

I guess it comes down to just some guns like some powders and dislike others. Just bothers me that I don't know why. I'll probably resign myself to paying for the slightly more expensive HP38 going forward, unless anyone has a pet load with AA#2 and a 125ish grain bullet that makes minor power factor for USPSA shooting :D

I use AA#2, HP-38 and Ramshot Silhouette in 6 different guns and 8 different bullets. In all I love the HP-38 in all but the 45ACP. Tired it with a number of different weights and just don't like it. The Silhouette has shot well in everything and the AA#2 in order I Love it in the 45, then the 380 and then the 9mm.

I still have about 1/2 pound of AA#5 that I probably will not use because I like the other powders better. I guess if there is one powder that I would still like to try it would be Sport Pistol.

Good luck, hope you find a powder that works and that you will be happy with and maybe would want to try the AA#2 with some different bullets other than the cast lead.

[5 iron]

My Hornady load manual has slower powders recommended for 124 grain bullets. It shows fast powder data like Bullseye for 115 grain and lighter bullets but not for anything heavier.