Best Powder for Accuracy in 9MM?

Doubs · 07-25-2003, 12:00 PM

Bob, I've used 6.0 grains of Unique for many years without a problem and it's always been a good load in my Lugers. However, if 4.8 grains works in your pistols and you are satisfied, that's all that really matters. 9mm in the US has traditionally been under loaded, especially when used in the Luger. My choice of 6.0 grains of Unique isn't my own idea.... I believe it was first written up by Maj. George Nonte who liked the 9mm at a time when it was a pretty moribund cartridge in the US. (When my father and I purchased our first Luger together in the mid-1950's, finding a box of 9mm Luger cartridges was not easy!)

I'll have to do a little research in my various reference books but 1050 FPS seems about 200 FPS low to me. I believe that the original 9mm Parabellum load was in the 1250 FPS range. I'll get back to you on it once I've had a chance to look into it further. I'm in the office at the moment.

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07-25-2003, 12:00 PM	#10
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,742 Thanks: 826 Thanked 1,788 Times in 590 Posts	Bob, I've used 6.0 grains of Unique for many years without a problem and it's always been a good load in my Lugers. However, if 4.8 grains works in your pistols and you are satisfied, that's all that really matters. 9mm in the US has traditionally been under loaded, especially when used in the Luger. My choice of 6.0 grains of Unique isn't my own idea.... I believe it was first written up by Maj. George Nonte who liked the 9mm at a time when it was a pretty moribund cartridge in the US. (When my father and I purchased our first Luger together in the mid-1950's, finding a box of 9mm Luger cartridges was not easy!) I'll have to do a little research in my various reference books but 1050 FPS seems about 200 FPS low to me. I believe that the original 9mm Parabellum load was in the 1250 FPS range. I'll get back to you on it once I've had a chance to look into it further. I'm in the office at the moment.