NEW to loading - looking for advise

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mr_verbatim

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Good morning,

I’m new to reloading and ballistics so I was hoping to get some advice in regard to choosing a powder and primers for both .45 ACP and 9MM.

I have looked around the site and found a ton of good information, but I want people opinions based on their experience; brand VS. clean burning VS. accuracy VS. velocity VS. consistency on all of the above and below.

I have a Lee Loadmaster with all of the interchangeable dies for loading both calibers. I still have to pick up a tumbler and accessories and some FMJ bullets for the range and some hollow point for hunting (stateside). I’m a bow hunter, but I will be carrying for “backup” when I’m in the states.

I also need some advice as to ballistic charts and a good loading manual; I know most people match their powder/velocity to their bullet….. What is a good load for competition vs. target etc….

So, I guess I just need a good place to start….. Powder, bullets, primers for both the range and for stopping power.

Thanks,

V
 
Hi. I use Bullseye for both. I don't use jacketed bullets at all. Too expensive. 230 grain cast RN's or FP's(flat points) for the .45. A 121 grain cast TC(truncated cone) for the 9mm.
You'll have to work up a load for each pistol. Neither are suitable for hunting anything but small game, even with HP's.
The Lyman manual is the most versatile book. It has more loads using more powders than any bullet or powder maker's book.
Check the hunting regs for whatever State you hunt in. A lot of 'em don't allow you to have a handgun or any firearm on your person when bow hunting. There are a bunch of U.S. Federal and State laws you must comply with just to take a handgun with you too.
State CCW permits for foreigners are being denied these days due to U.S. laws requiring a back ground check they can't do. A State CCW doesn't exempt you from the U.S. Federal prohibition for non-immigrant aliens possessing firearms or ammo either. A hunting licence does, but not necessarily for a "back up" handgun for bow hunting. There's a bunch of other regulations and laws as well. Go here, scroll down and read the ' Nonimmigrant Aliens' rules.
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faqindex.htm
 
Where abouts in Canada are you located? Reason is that there are several good places for picking up plated bullets if you happen to be close.

A good all around powder for both those calibres is Tightgroup. With 9mm you might not be able to get max loads with the heaviest bullets, but it is great for everything else. It also runs very smoothly through the Loadmaster.

In the US if you are going to be using anything for "backup" USE FACTORY, and preferably the same as the police are using.

I trust you are familiar with intricacies of US firearm laws? All states have different rules as to how you can transport/use various firearms and a couple are more restrictive than Canadian rules.

There is also lots of good info in the CCW Forum here, about taking firearms into the US.
 
Taken from Hodgdon's site: "Because of the unique design, this powder provides flawless ignition with all types of primers including the lead-free versions."
 
kokanee king said:
What primers would you match with the tightgroup powder or is that something that is listed in the manual?
Click to expand...

Whatever is on sale. :redface:

Titegroup was designed to be a very versatile powder and powder position in the case or primer characteristics don't make much difference. (Primers can make more of a difference when loading rifle rounds because of large volume of powder)

Generally I use Win because they are the cheapest around here. CCI uses a slightly harder metal for the cup and Federal are softer primers. If your gun has a light hammer strike, and occasional failure to fire (FTF), then Federal would be a good choice.


EDIT: Cerdan, you beat me to it.
 
Sandroad and Cerdan..........thankyou very much on the primer/powder info. I have federal primers right now and am using the W231 powder for both my 9mm and 45acp. They shoot fine together, then again im not using max powder loads. Im on the lower end of the grains scale according to my scale.

Not to high jack mr_verbatim's thread here but what about universal clays as a powder for pistols? I read on here that that is another recommendation for powder.
 
Thank you for the feedback so far.... BTW, I'm in the Windsor area. Not much around here for reloading, or archery for that matter....... Dependable archery people are basically non-existent around here actually...... Anyway, back to firearms....

I do have the form 6 completed and was planning on going ahead with the conceal carry as well, if it is still available....

I hunt with a couple of guys from Canada who also are certified instructors (hunting courses and non-restricted/restricted firearms), who carry a .45 with them while they hunt (Michigan); whether it be rifle or bow, it doesn't seem to matter.... They have been stopped, check etc. Without any problems....... :confused:

I'll have to look more closely at the "rule book"; basically I was just trying to do it one step at a time.. I'm also a CAN/US "half breed" so I'm in the process of getting a US citizenship. That should take care of alot of the red tape I assume.. I hope.... Who knows these days...

So taking things one step at a time; at least I can buy powder and ammunition and import it into Canada at this point, which is fine for now.

Any more information regarding the powders etc, would be great!

Thanks for all of the info people.

V
 
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kokanee king said:
Sandroad and Cerdan..........thankyou very much on the primer/powder info. I have federal primers right now and am using the W231 powder for both my 9mm and 45acp. They shoot fine together, then again im not using max powder loads. Im on the lower end of the grains scale according to my scale.

Not to high jack mr_verbatim's thread here but what about universal clays as a powder for pistols? I read on here that that is another recommendation for powder.
Click to expand...


No problem, good info is good info!:slap:

V
 
mr_verbatim said:
Thank you for the feedback so far.... BTW, I'm in the Windsor area. Not much around here for reloading, or archery for that matter....... Dependable archery people are basically non-existent around here actually...... Anyway, back to firearms....

I do have the form 6 completed and was planning on going ahead with the conceal carry as well, if it is still available....

I hunt with a couple of guys from Canada who also are certified instructors (hunting courses and non-restricted/restricted firearms), who carry a .45 with them while they hunt (Michigan); whether it be rifle or bow, it doesn't seem to matter.... They have been stopped, check etc. Without any problems....... :confused:

I'll have to look more closely at the "rule book"; basically I was just trying to do it one step at a time.. I'm also a CAN/US "half breed" so I'm in the process of getting a US citizenship. That should take care of alot of the red tape I assume.. I hope.... Who knows these days...

So taking things one step at a time; at least I can buy powder and ammunition and import it into Canada at this point, which is fine for now.

Any more information regarding the powders etc, would be great!

Thanks for all of the info people.

V
Click to expand...

Just a couple of minor points. You CAN'T take any ammo or components OUT of the US without a US Export Permit. Doesn't matter what citizenship you have.

There is a big difference between hunting using open carry and concealed carry. A loaded firearm in a vehicle is considered concealed carry.

The Utah CCW course is no longer available here because Utah won't issue to Canadians anymore. There are only a couple states that will now issue to Canadians.

A CCW permit for most states requires that you are a US Resident in addition to being either a Citizen or Resident Alien.
 
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kokanee king said:
Not to high jack mr_verbatim's thread here but what about universal clays as a powder for pistols? I read on here that that is another recommendation for powder.
Click to expand...

Be careful when you are identifing some of these powders. There is a powder called CLAYS and there is one called UNIVERSAL clays, both are manufactured by Hodgdon. Big difference in burning speed.

Clays is a very fast powder and an excellent clean burning powder for the 45 ACP for light to moderate loads.

Universal is a much slower burning powder.
 
SandRoad said:
Be careful when you are identifing some of these powders. There is a powder called CLAYS and there is one called UNIVERSAL clays, both are manufactured by Hodgdon. Big difference in burning speed.

Clays is a very fast powder and an excellent clean burning powder for the 45 ACP for light to moderate loads.

Universal is a much slower burning powder.
Click to expand...

Thanx for that one....I DID know about the 2 different ones, but did NOT know that "Clays" was a very fast powder and excellent for the 45acp.

Universal would be good for 9mm then?

There is much to be learned here young grasshopper.....you guys keep feeding the info, i keep taking it in :D
 
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I like the finer ball powders over the flake ones because they meter better and I get more uniform loads. W231, HS-6, HP-38 are my main ones. I avoid CCI primers for handguns because of the previously mentioned problem with them.
 
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