Interesting Powder for 9mm Luger

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by ChrisLL

Hi Sieger,

I never thought of this, and assumed high pressure was responsible for breach block slap and didn't give it a lot of thought, but after thinking about this a bit I totally agree. Thanks for the wake-up call.

I am trying to get a handle on these Lugers as far as reloading still. I wish it was as simple as trying one of your favorite loads, but I have limited powders available; recently all I have been able to buy is Titegroup which is pretty quick-burning. I have had decent functioning at starting and near starting loads, so I really don't believe pressure is an issue. I have seen a little bit of breach block slap though which I don't like.

Is it the burn rate that causes BBS, or is it some other powder characteristic?

I just noticed after typing this that Blue Dot is fairly slow, so maybe it is something else that causes this other than burn rate?

There has been some of the VihtaVuori powder around locally but I have avoided it as 1) It's quite expensive 2) I don't have any history with it. But ... maybe I should try some VV N330 if I can find some locally - it's right by Power Pistol in burn rate. Thoughts?

Chris

Chris,

VV 3N37 is a good powder for the 9mm, as it was designed, specifically, as a 9mm military powder. With 3N37, I get the desired velocity and the desired accuracy I'm looking for.

Tight Group was tested by me years ago. For me, it was too fast and not all that accurate; generally a mediocre powder at best. With Tight Group velocity wasn't a problem, but accuracy was.

Breach Block Slap is something you can really feel in the web of your hand. The last time I experience it was with some red hot Chinese ammo. In fact, this ammo was so hot, the pistol reacted as if it wanted to jump out of my hand!!!

For many of the faster powders, I can not reach the accuracy level I want before the system "overloads" and starts the slapping process. The medium and medium/slow powders give you more "room" to find an accurate load, that will function your Luger perfectly, before the slapping process occurs.

If you will only be target shooting, I suggest Bullseye Powder. For 124 gr. bullets, my accuracy load is only 3.7 grs. I've shot 7 touching with this load, and it develops adequate power to properly function the action reliably. With this powder, you can achieve excellent accuracy, while maintaining low, non-threating pressures and velocities.

Here is my specific load:

Winchester Commercial Cases
Remington 1 1/2 Primers
Hornady 124 gr. FMJFP (the so called Airforce Bullet)
O.A.L. 28.7 mm (critical for jam free operation
Bullseye Powder 3.7 grs.

Good shooting!!


Sieger