AA#5 for 9mm and 45 ACP?

antsi · November 10, 2002, 03:43 PM

I've had great luck with AA powders in the past, so I'm looking for (hopefully one) AA product to use in both 9 mm para and 45 acp.

Was thinking AA #5 -- anyone used it in these calibers?

I'll be loading 124 gr and 230 gr FMJ's, respectively. Both will be for range use. I want these loads to be clean burning, consistent, and accurate.

I will not be pushing these loads near the "hot" end of the spectrum... I usually try to split the difference between min. and max. loads.

Bompa · November 10, 2002, 11:40 PM

I have been very happy with AA5 in the 9mm for quite a few years..I have used a 124gr lead bullet till I got sick of the crap left in the gun from the bullet lube.. Switched to plated and or jacketed bullets and all is well,easy clean.. I don't shoot any hot loads,use 5.0 gr AA5 for a mild and easy to shoot accurate load..
Use a round nose bullet and load to OAL of 1.150..
If I remember right I tried AA5 in the 45 years ago and was pleased but had a bunch of Bullseye and continued to use that..
For some reason AA powders are hard to get in this area,but I will use nothing else for the 9mm...

sricciardelli · November 11, 2002, 02:02 AM

In your .45:
AA-5 From 6.0 grains to 9.0 grains
CCI-300 Primer

In your 9mm:
AA-5 From 4.4 grains to 6.5 grains
CCI-500 Primer

WESHOOT2 · November 11, 2002, 02:40 AM

Fine fine fine in both (usually).

stans · November 11, 2002, 07:32 AM

AA#5 is great in the 9mm and 45ACP. Burning rate is fairly close to that of Unique, but is much cleaner.

Redneck2 · November 11, 2002, 07:45 PM

Agree w/ above. It's my "all around" powder. 45LC, 45 acp, 10mm. Meters VERY well in my Dillon (no small feat)

antsi · November 11, 2002, 09:32 PM

Thanks all for the replies.

Just one lingering question:

I have had some powder migration problems with AA#9 due to its extremely fine grain, and tendency to "slip between the cracks."

The stuff works so great in 357 SIG and 180 gr 40 SW loads, I have been willing to put up with it. It does meter very consistent, and it makes great ammo, but it can get messy and clog things up. It is a bit of a love-hate thing. Love the ammo, but the fine grain ball powder does get me cussing at times.

Should I expect the same from AA#5?

If so, any tips on how to cope with this fine-grain stuff?

Poodleshooter · November 12, 2002, 03:13 PM

Yup. All AA "#" powders are very fine grained. I think #5 is the finest. The AA powder guide includes a data sheet that details the grain size for their powders, but it can also be reasoned from a bulk density chart, as found with most powder measures.

jtduncan · November 12, 2002, 04:45 PM

Here is a differing opinion.

I love AA#7 and AA#9 for 10mm and 44 mag.

But I'm not so sold on AA#5. Many of the competitve shooters here don't like AA#5 but the VV line. But VV is too expensive for me when I can get Hodgdon powders for under $14 a pound regularly and under $13 on sale.

For target velocities in 45 ACP, Hodgdon offers more diversity. Clays, TiteGroup, HP-38, Universal. And the ole standby, W231.

In 9mm TiteGroup is as fast as I go and I prefer Alliant's Power Pistol in 9mm. Like NATO velocities!

Clark · November 24, 2002, 08:50 PM

I have got some .7" 3 shot groups at 100 meters with 45acp brass, 230 gr FMJ Montana Gold, 13 gr AA#5, CCI 200 large rifel primers, in a 26" Shillen barrel blank in a Masuer action.

cheygriz · November 25, 2002, 01:46 AM

AAC#5 is an excellent powder for both calibers. It probably isn't optimum for either, but it works well for both.

I load both calibers to +P levels, and I've had my best results with HS-6. However, if I loaded midrange, I would prolly choose AAC#5 or Universal.

cliffb · November 28, 2002, 02:15 PM

Clark,
Very interesting rifle.
Will the magazine feed or do you use it as a single shot?

Regards

Clark · December 5, 2002, 01:28 AM

If that gun were any more single shot it would be a muzzle loader.

I have not cut a chamfer at the breech, so the mouth of the case hangs up and must be prodded with a small screwdriver.

The chamber is .469" with no taper, because that is what 45 brass springs back to after it comes out of a .467" Lee carbide sizer die. The problem with that is that the die can't size the web of the case which start out at .470". So I must take the case out of the shell holder and take the stem out of the die and press the case all the way into the die. It then must be pounded back out.

I need to put that barrel back in the lathe and cut a chamfer and some web relief. The rest of the case with still be very concentric to the bore and still get the great accuracy.

November 10, 2002, 03:43 PM	#1
antsi Member Join Date: April 20, 2002 Posts: 92	AA#5 for 9mm and 45 ACP? I've had great luck with AA powders in the past, so I'm looking for (hopefully one) AA product to use in both 9 mm para and 45 acp. Was thinking AA #5 -- anyone used it in these calibers? I'll be loading 124 gr and 230 gr FMJ's, respectively. Both will be for range use. I want these loads to be clean burning, consistent, and accurate. I will not be pushing these loads near the "hot" end of the spectrum... I usually try to split the difference between min. and max. loads.

November 11, 2002, 02:02 AM	#3
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	In your .45: AA-5 From 6.0 grains to 9.0 grains CCI-300 Primer In your 9mm: AA-5 From 4.4 grains to 6.5 grains CCI-500 Primer __________________ http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

November 11, 2002, 02:40 AM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 13,036	ABSOLUTELY Fine fine fine in both (usually). __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 25, 2002, 01:46 AM	#11
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,232	AAC#5 is an excellent powder for both calibers. It probably isn't optimum for either, but it works well for both. I load both calibers to +P levels, and I've had my best results with HS-6. However, if I loaded midrange, I would prolly choose AAC#5 or Universal. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

November 28, 2002, 02:15 PM	#12
cliffb Member Join Date: October 13, 2002 Location: Fallon, NV Posts: 17	Clark, Very interesting rifle. Will the magazine feed or do you use it as a single shot? Regards __________________ Cliff FPD ret., USN ret., NRA Lifer Obama. Proof positive that stupid people should not vote.

November 10, 2002, 11:40 PM	#2
Bompa Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2001 Location: western Mass. Posts: 135	I have been very happy with AA5 in the 9mm for quite a few years..I have used a 124gr lead bullet till I got sick of the crap left in the gun from the bullet lube.. Switched to plated and or jacketed bullets and all is well,easy clean.. I don't shoot any hot loads,use 5.0 gr AA5 for a mild and easy to shoot accurate load.. Use a round nose bullet and load to OAL of 1.150.. If I remember right I tried AA5 in the 45 years ago and was pleased but had a bunch of Bullseye and continued to use that.. For some reason AA powders are hard to get in this area,but I will use nothing else for the 9mm...

November 11, 2002, 07:32 AM	#5
stans Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2001 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 838	AA#5 is great in the 9mm and 45ACP. Burning rate is fairly close to that of Unique, but is much cleaner.

November 11, 2002, 07:45 PM	#6
Redneck2 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 519	Agree w/ above. It's my "all around" powder. 45LC, 45 acp, 10mm. Meters VERY well in my Dillon (no small feat)

November 11, 2002, 09:32 PM	#7
antsi Member Join Date: April 20, 2002 Posts: 92	Thanks all for the replies. Just one lingering question: I have had some powder migration problems with AA#9 due to its extremely fine grain, and tendency to "slip between the cracks." The stuff works so great in 357 SIG and 180 gr 40 SW loads, I have been willing to put up with it. It does meter very consistent, and it makes great ammo, but it can get messy and clog things up. It is a bit of a love-hate thing. Love the ammo, but the fine grain ball powder does get me cussing at times. Should I expect the same from AA#5? If so, any tips on how to cope with this fine-grain stuff?

November 12, 2002, 03:13 PM	#8
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,536	Yup. All AA "#" powders are very fine grained. I think #5 is the finest. The AA powder guide includes a data sheet that details the grain size for their powders, but it can also be reasoned from a bulk density chart, as found with most powder measures.

November 12, 2002, 04:45 PM	#9
jtduncan Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 1999 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Posts: 1,681	Here is a differing opinion. I love AA#7 and AA#9 for 10mm and 44 mag. But I'm not so sold on AA#5. Many of the competitve shooters here don't like AA#5 but the VV line. But VV is too expensive for me when I can get Hodgdon powders for under $14 a pound regularly and under $13 on sale. For target velocities in 45 ACP, Hodgdon offers more diversity. Clays, TiteGroup, HP-38, Universal. And the ole standby, W231. In 9mm TiteGroup is as fast as I go and I prefer Alliant's Power Pistol in 9mm. Like NATO velocities! __________________ The Seattle SharpShooter - TFL/GT/AR15/SGT/PCT/KTOG/SWF/RF/HKPRO/OA2/1911Forum Reloaded .223 Rem, 9mm, 40SW, 357 SIG, 10mm, 44 Spl, 44 Mag, 45 ACP Today?

December 5, 2002, 01:28 AM	#13
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 2,016	If that gun were any more single shot it would be a muzzle loader. I have not cut a chamfer at the breech, so the mouth of the case hangs up and must be prodded with a small screwdriver. The chamber is .469" with no taper, because that is what 45 brass springs back to after it comes out of a .467" Lee carbide sizer die. The problem with that is that the die can't size the web of the case which start out at .470". So I must take the case out of the shell holder and take the stem out of the die and press the case all the way into the die. It then must be pounded back out. I need to put that barrel back in the lathe and cut a chamfer and some web relief. The rest of the case with still be very concentric to the bore and still get the great accuracy.