45 acp and AA#7?

Sector001 · June 20, 2007, 11:12 PM

Greetings all.
I recently did some stepped loads using #7 based on the reload data off of Accurate's website. I went from min to max by .5 of a grain at a time. (For starters). After doing some reflecting and some research, I've found that max velocity is awful high, 979 fps for the 230 gr LRN and 1100 for the 185gr JHP. It's approaching 20k psi for the LRN at max load. Before I go and shoot these things, am I going to do any damage to the gun? I have a relatively new 4" XD. (<750 rounds) Maybe I should start out at minimum loads and keep an eye out for bulged primers as I work my way up? What do you guys think?

Thanks!!

stinger · June 20, 2007, 11:52 PM

#7 is pretty slow on the burn rate chart for 45acp. Max loads are out of the question, IMO. Stick with faster powders. If you like AA, #5 is just about as good as it gets. W231 is classic.

Oh, and ALWAYS start out at minimum loads.

Slamfire · June 21, 2007, 04:44 PM

Accurate Arms data is awful. A min load turns out to be a max load, and a max load won't function the weapon.

Get a chronograph and measure your velocities. With AA powders you are going to have to do load development. That is measure the velocity of the bullets as you go up in powder charge.

The 45 ACP was developed way back when with a 230 bullet going 800 fps. This load is appropriate for any M1911 out there. I do not shoot 230 grain stuff that averages above 825 fps. I try to keep everything just about 800. Target loads go even slower.

However when the averages start to creep up, you might get frame peening. I had that with a Colt Combat Elite, the sucker peened its frame out in 3000 rounds. All due to a factory misalignment between the barrel lugs and slide. Pistol unlocked too early. Colt replaced the frame but did not fix the unlock. But I learned that yes, if the slide recoils too fast you can have problems. I sent that pistol to Wilson firearms, who know how to install barrels, and a new barrel by them has fixed the unlock issue.

joneb · June 21, 2007, 11:40 PM

Quote:

#7 is pretty slow on the burn rate chart for 45acp.

I agree, but I have loaded Blue Dot with good results using WLP. and 230gr Speer Gold dots for my Colt 70's ser. and the Marlin camp carbine. The loads I tried with AA#7 did not perform as well as the Blue Dot loads for both guns.
AA#7 works well for my 3" .44spl but only with WLP this was not always the case, but things change. All the more reason to rework your loads with different powder lots, and to buy powder in larger quantities.
For my Colt .45 acp I have a over sized firing pin stop that I fitted to the gun for higher pressure loads, it works well and reduces the need for a heavier recoil spring.

**Mike Irwin** · June 22, 2007, 01:49 AM

I've never had a lick of problems with any of the AA powders I've tried in any of the cartridges I've used it in.

Perfectly reliable in both my 1911 and, before I sold it, my EAA Witness.

AA 7 is my powder of first choice for my .41 Mag.

Linear Thinker · June 22, 2007, 07:49 AM

Sector -
AA#7 is a wrong powder for your application. It is far too slow for 45ACP in 4" barrel. Being high-density powder, any kind of a safe load will fill that big 45 case incompletely, resulting in erratic ignition.
I use #7 for 38 Stupor, and medium-fast loads in 357.

If you are fond of Accurate powders, their #2 is perfect for a 45. It is low-density, cheap and clean. I was very pleased with #2 driving 185 SWCs.
Still, W231 is my 1st choice for 45ACP.
LT

Sector001 · June 22, 2007, 11:52 PM

Thanks for all the replies!
I have worked with 231, Unique, and Bullseye for the caliber, and have had extremely good luck with all 3. I was looking for a full-house powder for 45 acp, and liked the numbers posted by AA on their website about #7. I realize now that I should have gone with AA#5 or #2, maybe Power Pistol, perhaps even a stout Unique load. I guess I'll just shoot the rounds I've loaded so far and keep an eye on the primers, (I only loaded 13 rounds per .5 grain, which is a full clip), load it in the 357 mag, and forget about it in the 45.

June 20, 2007, 11:12 PM	#1
Sector001 Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: The buckle of the bible belt: Birmingham, AL. Posts: 23	45 acp and AA#7? Greetings all. I recently did some stepped loads using #7 based on the reload data off of Accurate's website. I went from min to max by .5 of a grain at a time. (For starters). After doing some reflecting and some research, I've found that max velocity is awful high, 979 fps for the 230 gr LRN and 1100 for the 185gr JHP. It's approaching 20k psi for the LRN at max load. Before I go and shoot these things, am I going to do any damage to the gun? I have a relatively new 4" XD. (<750 rounds) Maybe I should start out at minimum loads and keep an eye out for bulged primers as I work my way up? What do you guys think? Thanks!!

June 20, 2007, 11:52 PM	#2
stinger Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: west texas Posts: 772	#7 is pretty slow on the burn rate chart for 45acp. Max loads are out of the question, IMO. Stick with faster powders. If you like AA, #5 is just about as good as it gets. W231 is classic. Oh, and ALWAYS start out at minimum loads. Last edited by stinger; June 20, 2007 at 11:53 PM. Reason: comment added

June 21, 2007, 04:44 PM	#3
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	Accurate Arms data is awful. A min load turns out to be a max load, and a max load won't function the weapon. Get a chronograph and measure your velocities. With AA powders you are going to have to do load development. That is measure the velocity of the bullets as you go up in powder charge. The 45 ACP was developed way back when with a 230 bullet going 800 fps. This load is appropriate for any M1911 out there. I do not shoot 230 grain stuff that averages above 825 fps. I try to keep everything just about 800. Target loads go even slower. However when the averages start to creep up, you might get frame peening. I had that with a Colt Combat Elite, the sucker peened its frame out in 3000 rounds. All due to a factory misalignment between the barrel lugs and slide. Pistol unlocked too early. Colt replaced the frame but did not fix the unlock. But I learned that yes, if the slide recoils too fast you can have problems. I sent that pistol to Wilson firearms, who know how to install barrels, and a new barrel by them has fixed the unlock issue.

June 22, 2007, 01:49 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	I've never had a lick of problems with any of the AA powders I've tried in any of the cartridges I've used it in. Perfectly reliable in both my 1911 and, before I sold it, my EAA Witness. AA 7 is my powder of first choice for my .41 Mag. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

June 22, 2007, 07:49 AM	#6
Linear Thinker Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2007 Location: Blue State, NE US Posts: 202	Sector - AA#7 is a wrong powder for your application. It is far too slow for 45ACP in 4" barrel. Being high-density powder, any kind of a safe load will fill that big 45 case incompletely, resulting in erratic ignition. I use #7 for 38 Stupor, and medium-fast loads in 357. If you are fond of Accurate powders, their #2 is perfect for a 45. It is low-density, cheap and clean. I was very pleased with #2 driving 185 SWCs. Still, W231 is my 1st choice for 45ACP. LT

June 22, 2007, 11:52 PM	#7
Sector001 Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: The buckle of the bible belt: Birmingham, AL. Posts: 23	Thanks for all the replies! I have worked with 231, Unique, and Bullseye for the caliber, and have had extremely good luck with all 3. I was looking for a full-house powder for 45 acp, and liked the numbers posted by AA on their website about #7. I realize now that I should have gone with AA#5 or #2, maybe Power Pistol, perhaps even a stout Unique load. I guess I'll just shoot the rounds I've loaded so far and keep an eye on the primers, (I only loaded 13 rounds per .5 grain, which is a full clip), load it in the 357 mag, and forget about it in the 45.