Went to the range today and took a Sig 9mm with me, I had reloaded the rounds with 4gr W231. That was unbelievably smoky and dirty. What powders might I use for a cleaner Load?
I have been using Ramshot True Blue and AA#5 with 124 gr FMJ and plated bullets for the past several years, seems fairly clean and meters well in my Hornady Lock-n-Load AP.
Posts: 312 | Location: Ohio | Registered: January 04, 2015
Still a new reloader, but I really like CFE Pistol. I was able to get good results with 125,135 and 147gr bullets. Doesn’t seem to affect the coated bullets. It’s a little dirty at low charges, even with plated bullets, but higher charges are better.
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Posts: 8393 | Location: West | Registered: November 26, 2002
I like H-Universal(can use it for 9mm/40S&W/41 Mag/45ACP/45Colt/20ga/28ga) but also like H-CFE Pistol(works well in 9mm/40S&W/45ACP). I am more interested in reasonable accuracy without having too many different powders on the shelf.
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Posts: 369 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: June 15, 2003
You didn’t mention what bullet weight, so I’ll assume 115-124 grn. 4 grains is at or below the minimum load for W231. The problem might not be the powder, but those light loads. Ball powders don’t work well with light loads. First try upping the loading a bit to see if the load cleans up before looking around for a new powder.
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Posts: 8292 | Location: Utah | Registered: December 18, 2008
I like HS6 for 9mm. It fills the case to the point that it would be next to impossible to double-charge, it's been consistent with 115-135 grain projectiles (I don't load heavier bullets in 9mm), and it's not unnecessarily flashy like power pistol, but it is slow burning enough to show some decent velocity improvements out of carbine-length barrels. It also burns pretty clean. I buy the stuff in 8lb jugs, and have been very happy with it.
The one thing I have noticed is that it doesn't like light charges in large-volume cases. I had issues with getting full powder-burn and consistency problems with it in .38 spcl, even when using magnum primers. Not an issue with 9mm, though.
Posts: 9459 | Location: In the Cornfields | Registered: May 25, 2006
Went to the range today and took a Sig 9mm with me, I had reloaded the rounds with 4gr W231. That was unbelievably smoky and dirty. What powders might I use for a cleaner Load?
IF you are loading lighter bullets than 147gr, that is the problem with incomplete burning. For lighter loads go faster powders. For full power loads, I like WSF, but other medium burners work fine too, any bullet weight. For light loads I like WST but again sim burn rate powders will do just as well.
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Posts: 7789 | Location: ca, usa | Registered: February 17, 2004
I prefer AA #7 but HS-6 is also an outstanding powder for 9mm. As is power pistol
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Posts: 723 | Location: Wyoming | Registered: September 30, 2012
If you are getting a lot of smoke and residue you are probably shooting lead bullets. With lead bullets it is the bullet lube that smokes and contributes to gunk left behind; not so much the powder. Switch to plated or FMJ or even coated bullets.
I shoot mostly coated bullets and TiteGroup powder ......leaves my gun very clean; no smoke
You didn’t mention what bullet weight, so I’ll assume 115-124 grn
Yeah, didn't supply that crucial piece of info..... Currently have some Rainier, 124gr, plated bullets. This is what I've been using for a long time. I'll have to find something else that's plated. I have some of the newer powders like CFE. Might try that. I also have loaded with WST/WSF in the past. I was just very surprised with the smoke and nastiness of the W231. Thanks for all your replies. Getting close to retirement and will have more time to reload and chronograph!
