Accurate powders, metering

chiefster233 · January 13, 2014, 11:27 AM

I have experience with A#2 powder and I LOVE the way it meters. However, some advise here that I may be better off using a slower powder. So how does A#5 and A#7 meter as compared to A#2? I have an old Lyman powder measure that usually drops loads with the A#2 spot-on. With Titegroup I'm usually plus-or-minus 0.1 to 0.2 grains. I never load to the max so I've always assumed I'm safe. But if the slower Accurate powders meter as nice as the #2, I'm going to stop using the Titegroup and go with either #5 or #7. I routinely load 9mm in 115 grain and 147 grain so I'm thinking #5 would be a good all-around choice.

Urban_Redneck · January 13, 2014, 11:31 AM

I'm using AA#7 spot on through my LnL measure.

precision_shooter · January 13, 2014, 11:37 AM

I use #5 through my RCBS powder drop and it meters very very well. I usually get 1/10 charges that is .1gr heavy or light. Like you, I don't load to max so I consider it good to go.

steve4102 · January 13, 2014, 11:39 AM

AA #2, #5, #7 and #9 are all very find spherical powders that meter great.

WESHOOT2 · January 13, 2014, 02:37 PM

I have AA2, AA2 Imp, AA5, and AA9; all meter superbly.

I use and recommend Accurate's published data; I use their #1 manual.

Misssissippi Dave · January 13, 2014, 10:48 PM

AA2 and AA7 meter just about the same if not the same. AA5 might be a little worse but it will be hard to notice if your scale only is accurate to .1 grains like many reloading scales are.

I have used several pounds of AA2, AA5 and AA7 powders. I normally will check the powder drop when I start loading and once again when I finish for the night. I test by dropping for example 5.0 grains in the pan and it should read 5.0 grains. Then I drop 3 more in the pan and it should read 20.0 (4 X 5.0 = 20.0). I get the same reading from start to finish or any time I care to check. This tells me I am fairly consistent. This is something I could never do with flake powders no matter how many times I have tried it. AA2 and AA7 are two powders you should easily get consistent results with just about any powder measure in my opinion. I use AA5 with 124 grain FMJ bullets because it has worked better than any powder I have tried so far with that bullet in 9 mm.

mmb713 · January 13, 2014, 11:51 PM

All of Accurate's pistol powders are fine grained spherical powders and will all meter as well as the #2 you are used to.

Adamantium · January 14, 2014, 12:09 AM

Quote:

I routinely load 9mm in 115 grain and 147 grain so I'm thinking #5 would be a good all-around choice.

#5 would be a good all around choice and I've used to for all 9mm bullet weights. I've used #2 for all 9mm bullet weights too. Both meter excellent. #2 works well with all charge weights, from max all the way down to where a semi will barely cycle.

With #5, it works great with all bullet weights but shooting light bullets (115/124) with low charges has given me some powder spray to my face. Hence when I use #5 I will keep it at or near max and put a good taper crimp on it. That results is a full power cartridge and a fast cycling gun. Going back to #2 feels a big sluggish.

So both have their place and there are plenty of powders that are somewhere in between as well.

armoredman · January 14, 2014, 12:18 AM

Been using #7 for years with 9mm, good results. I've used #2 and # 5 as well, and now my #2 is primarily for 38 Special.

Very good metering stuff, no issues whatsoever.

mxjunky78 · January 15, 2014, 11:04 AM

AA#2,5,7,9 all meter the same. It's the same type of powder just different burn rates. I LOVE AA#5 for .40 S&W! Happy loading.

January 13, 2014, 11:37 AM	#3
precision_shooter Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 2,475	I use #5 through my RCBS powder drop and it meters very very well. I usually get 1/10 charges that is .1gr heavy or light. Like you, I don't load to max so I consider it good to go. __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776

January 13, 2014, 11:27 AM	#1
chiefster233 Junior Member Join Date: December 23, 2013 Posts: 9	Accurate powders, metering I have experience with A#2 powder and I LOVE the way it meters. However, some advise here that I may be better off using a slower powder. So how does A#5 and A#7 meter as compared to A#2? I have an old Lyman powder measure that usually drops loads with the A#2 spot-on. With Titegroup I'm usually plus-or-minus 0.1 to 0.2 grains. I never load to the max so I've always assumed I'm safe. But if the slower Accurate powders meter as nice as the #2, I'm going to stop using the Titegroup and go with either #5 or #7. I routinely load 9mm in 115 grain and 147 grain so I'm thinking #5 would be a good all-around choice.

January 13, 2014, 11:31 AM	#2
Urban_Redneck Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Posts: 73	I'm using AA#7 spot on through my LnL measure.

January 13, 2014, 11:39 AM	#4
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,952	AA #2, #5, #7 and #9 are all very find spherical powders that meter great.

January 13, 2014, 02:37 PM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	I have AA2, AA2 Imp, AA5, and AA9; all meter superbly. I use and recommend Accurate's published data; I use their #1 manual. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

January 13, 2014, 10:48 PM	#6
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,411	AA2 and AA7 meter just about the same if not the same. AA5 might be a little worse but it will be hard to notice if your scale only is accurate to .1 grains like many reloading scales are. I have used several pounds of AA2, AA5 and AA7 powders. I normally will check the powder drop when I start loading and once again when I finish for the night. I test by dropping for example 5.0 grains in the pan and it should read 5.0 grains. Then I drop 3 more in the pan and it should read 20.0 (4 X 5.0 = 20.0). I get the same reading from start to finish or any time I care to check. This tells me I am fairly consistent. This is something I could never do with flake powders no matter how many times I have tried it. AA2 and AA7 are two powders you should easily get consistent results with just about any powder measure in my opinion. I use AA5 with 124 grain FMJ bullets because it has worked better than any powder I have tried so far with that bullet in 9 mm.

January 13, 2014, 11:51 PM	#7
mmb713 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 421	All of Accurate's pistol powders are fine grained spherical powders and will all meter as well as the #2 you are used to.

January 14, 2014, 12:18 AM	#9
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	Been using #7 for years with 9mm, good results. I've used #2 and # 5 as well, and now my #2 is primarily for 38 Special. Very good metering stuff, no issues whatsoever.

January 15, 2014, 11:04 AM	#10
mxjunky78 Member Join Date: August 2, 2012 Posts: 61	AA#2,5,7,9 all meter the same. It's the same type of powder just different burn rates. I LOVE AA#5 for .40 S&W! Happy loading.