AA powders

abber · April 23, 2009, 10:50 PM

I have never tried any AA products. Primarily, I load .38/.357, .44 mag, .40 S&W, and also .460 S&W mag. I am thinking of trying some AA#7, AA#9, and some 5744.

Your thoughts on these powders please. How clean do they burn? How is the performance, in a nutshell?

I was going to try some Enforcer and True Blue, but I can't find them locally, and I don't want to pay hazmat fees.

All opinions are appreciated. Happy Shooting!

btefft · April 23, 2009, 11:26 PM

I've used AA #5 and #7

I've used AA in 380 Auto (not #7), 9mm, 38 Spl (not #7), 357 Mag, 40 SW, 45 ACP and 44 Mag (not #5).

Found that they meter exceptionally well, produce nice groups and are nowhere near as dirty as Unique.

Hack

alfack · April 23, 2009, 11:46 PM

I use #2 for .380, 9mm and .45. I tried #5 for .45, but thought it was too dirty. #2 is very clean and meters good.

RamSlammer · April 24, 2009, 12:14 AM

I use #2 for .38 Special and .45 ACP and really like it. Very fine grained ball powder, meters well and burns clean.

Shoney · April 24, 2009, 12:40 AM

AA powders are very good.
AA5, AA7 - - 38Sp, 357, 40SW
AA7, AA9 - - 357, 44Mag
AA9 - - 44Mag, 460

There ae better powders for the last two, but AA9 will do in a pinch.

joneb · April 24, 2009, 01:22 AM

I have had very good results with AA#9 for .357 mag. for 158-180gr bullets.
AA#5 has been a good substitute for Unique, loading .38spl. 45acp and 9x18 Mak. at upper end loadings with heavier bullets.
I have limited experience with AA#2,but in .45acp so far the the results have been very good.

Sevens · April 24, 2009, 07:28 AM

I have a can of Accurate #7 and I will agree that it's got to be one of the best metering powders EVER made. Tiny little balls of powder... so fine, they almost look "machined" to be perfect round balls.

IMO, it's a great powder when you really want velocity and performance while staying in the proper pressure range. #7 is one of the powders I use for high horsepower in 10mm.

But if you aren't building stiff loads, it doesn't seem to want to burn all of the powder and it typically asks for a heavier charge weight than most other options in the same caliber. Heavier charge weight coupled with a powder that typically costs me a couple extra bucks per can make sure that it's not an economical choice.

It's been my experience that what I can do with AA#7, I can typically do nearly as well with Power Pistol. And Power Pistol uses a lower charge weight and is cheaper by the pound.

Still, I like AA#7. I would be happy to try #2 or #5 in 9mm, but I have enough other powders that it's an exercise I don't particularly need to do right now. AA#7 works in 9mm, but it's a heavy charge weight. I don't need to burn 50% more powder for plinking rounds in 9mm.

wingman · April 24, 2009, 08:03 AM

I use aa5 for 40 and 45acp, I like the reduced recoil in the 40 has less
"whip", I use mainly 2 powders Titegroup and AA5, for 38,380,9mm,40
and 45acp, both powders meter great.

**Mike Irwin** · April 24, 2009, 09:14 AM

I use AA7 for heavy .357 and .41 Magnum loads. I used to use it for 10mm, but I sold the 10mm.

Very good powder, but with my Lee Pro Disk measure the powder is so fine that it leaks out of the measure rather readily.

freakshow10mm · April 24, 2009, 09:20 AM

AA powder is like sand. Not as economical as other powders if that is an issue. A 135gr 10mm load is 17.5gr, a full 6.5gr more than the same max load of HS6.

#9 is right on par with Blue Dot and #2400 in burn rate.
#5 is really close to HS6 and WSF. It was designed specifically for .45 Auto.
#7 is in between those and is close to the old HS7 and W571.

madmo44mag · April 24, 2009, 09:42 AM

I have used AA powders for 38,357,44 spl,44mag, 9mm, 380,40 and 45acp
I recently switched to Power Pistol.
I have gotten better accuracy and a more cost effective load.
The down side to PP is muzzle flash and in some calibers a very narrow load range.
After working up these loads I have found it a far better powder to load with.

Just my 2 cents worth

abber · April 24, 2009, 10:22 AM

Shoney - What do you feel to be a better powder for .460?

zxcvbob · April 24, 2009, 10:33 AM

AA#7 *might* be better than #9 in the .454 Casull and .460S&W because their SAAMI pressures are so high you might run out of room in the case before you get there with #9 (or H110 or W296.) AA#7 is essentially a better-behaved Blue Dot (and it meters like water, which can be good or bad)

I bought 2 jugs of NATO pulldown powder that's supposed to cross with AA#7. I wish I had bought 4 jugs of it because it works so well in .357 Magnum. I haven't tried it in anything else yet.

Shoney · April 24, 2009, 01:57 PM

abber
W296/H110

Are you familiar with abberkeggerday???

billcarey · April 24, 2009, 08:51 PM

I've been using old AA#5 for 38/357 and have no complaints. It meters well and charges large enough to give less margin of error. I recently bought #2 for smaller charges to give econony but haven't tried it yet.

One thing that some may need to be aware of. The old Acurate "AA" powders are not the same as the new Accurate powders. Accurate says not to use the term AA on their new powers. The "newer" Accurate #2 & #5 have different specs and also lighter loads. Their guides say nothing about it and using recently dated powder with an older Accurate guide might make a problem. Some of the older AA charges are 20-30% or more heavier than the new powder...on 32 S&W Long & 38/357 anyway.

abber · April 24, 2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Are you familiar with abberkeggerday???

No. What is that? Anyway, I have used 296 and 110, just not in the .460. They are pretty dirty, but you can't argue with the power.

Pathfinder45 · April 25, 2009, 06:13 PM

.....is better than Win-296/H-110, in .45 Colt +P loadings. It has a wider spread between start and max loads.

ehb86 · April 25, 2009, 06:50 PM

I've been using AA#9 for .357 loads for awhile and find it is accurate and pretty clean. Muzzle flash is not too great either. I like it a lot and it meters well.

mnhntr · April 25, 2009, 07:01 PM

Just got done testing some 38/357 loads I used Accurate#5 and Hodgdon Tightgroup to load. I like the Accurate#5 over the Hodgdon Tightgroup for the ease of metering, but it takes more powder to load a similar load to the Tightgroup. Here are my results from today and I will post the step up loads after I test them, if interested. The pistol used is a 686 no dash 4in barrel. I am working up some defense loads in 357 and target loads in 38spl for USPSA shoots. I am going to bump up the charges and test for results.

Load 1 .357mag
10.4 grains Accurate#5
140gr JHC sierra bullet
CCI 550 primer
average fps 1250

Load 2 .38spl
5.4 grains Accurate#5
158gr LSWC
CCI 500 primer
average fps 770

Crankylove · April 25, 2009, 11:36 PM

I use AA #7 in 9mm and .45 ACP, cause I was given some. I have had no real issues with it other than it requires larger powder charges than other powders in a comparable load. Seems to burn pretty clean, and meters well for me, but I have not used it a whole lot, your experience may vary.

April 23, 2009, 10:50 PM	#1
abber Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2008 Location: PRK Posts: 735	AA powders I have never tried any AA products. Primarily, I load .38/.357, .44 mag, .40 S&W, and also .460 S&W mag. I am thinking of trying some AA#7, AA#9, and some 5744. Your thoughts on these powders please. How clean do they burn? How is the performance, in a nutshell? I was going to try some Enforcer and True Blue, but I can't find them locally, and I don't want to pay hazmat fees. All opinions are appreciated. Happy Shooting! __________________ I ain't got no safe queens. I shoots em all...

April 24, 2009, 09:42 AM	#11
madmo44mag Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: Ft.Worth, Texas Posts: 1,522	I have used AA powders for 38,357,44 spl,44mag, 9mm, 380,40 and 45acp I recently switched to Power Pistol. I have gotten better accuracy and a more cost effective load. The down side to PP is muzzle flash and in some calibers a very narrow load range. After working up these loads I have found it a far better powder to load with. Just my 2 cents worth __________________ Texas - Not just a state but an attitude! For monthly shooting events in DFW visit http://www.meetup.com/TexasGunOwner-DFW

April 24, 2009, 10:22 AM	#12
abber Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2008 Location: PRK Posts: 735	Shoney - What do you feel to be a better powder for .460? __________________ I ain't got no safe queens. I shoots em all...

April 24, 2009, 10:33 AM	#13
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	AA#7 might be better than #9 in the .454 Casull and .460S&W because their SAAMI pressures are so high you might run out of room in the case before you get there with #9 (or H110 or W296.) AA#7 is essentially a better-behaved Blue Dot (and it meters like water, which can be good or bad) I bought 2 jugs of NATO pulldown powder that's supposed to cross with AA#7. I wish I had bought 4 jugs of it because it works so well in .357 Magnum. I haven't tried it in anything else yet. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

April 24, 2009, 01:57 PM	#14
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	abber W296/H110 Are you familiar with abberkeggerday??? __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

April 23, 2009, 11:26 PM	#2
btefft Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2008 Posts: 181	I've used AA #5 and #7 I've used AA in 380 Auto (not #7), 9mm, 38 Spl (not #7), 357 Mag, 40 SW, 45 ACP and 44 Mag (not #5). Found that they meter exceptionally well, produce nice groups and are nowhere near as dirty as Unique. Hack

April 23, 2009, 11:46 PM	#3
alfack Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2009 Location: Marysville, Washington Posts: 195	I use #2 for .380, 9mm and .45. I tried #5 for .45, but thought it was too dirty. #2 is very clean and meters good.

April 24, 2009, 12:14 AM	#4
RamSlammer Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 722	I use #2 for .38 Special and .45 ACP and really like it. Very fine grained ball powder, meters well and burns clean.

April 24, 2009, 12:40 AM	#5
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	AA powders are very good. AA5, AA7 - - 38Sp, 357, 40SW AA7, AA9 - - 357, 44Mag AA9 - - 44Mag, 460 There ae better powders for the last two, but AA9 will do in a pinch. __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

April 24, 2009, 01:22 AM	#6
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	I have had very good results with AA#9 for .357 mag. for 158-180gr bullets. AA#5 has been a good substitute for Unique, loading .38spl. 45acp and 9x18 Mak. at upper end loadings with heavier bullets. I have limited experience with AA#2,but in .45acp so far the the results have been very good.

April 24, 2009, 07:28 AM	#7
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I have a can of Accurate #7 and I will agree that it's got to be one of the best metering powders EVER made. Tiny little balls of powder... so fine, they almost look "machined" to be perfect round balls. IMO, it's a great powder when you really want velocity and performance while staying in the proper pressure range. #7 is one of the powders I use for high horsepower in 10mm. But if you aren't building stiff loads, it doesn't seem to want to burn all of the powder and it typically asks for a heavier charge weight than most other options in the same caliber. Heavier charge weight coupled with a powder that typically costs me a couple extra bucks per can make sure that it's not an economical choice. It's been my experience that what I can do with AA#7, I can typically do nearly as well with Power Pistol. And Power Pistol uses a lower charge weight and is cheaper by the pound. Still, I like AA#7. I would be happy to try #2 or #5 in 9mm, but I have enough other powders that it's an exercise I don't particularly need to do right now. AA#7 works in 9mm, but it's a heavy charge weight. I don't need to burn 50% more powder for plinking rounds in 9mm. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

April 24, 2009, 08:03 AM	#8
wingman Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2002 Posts: 2,108	I use aa5 for 40 and 45acp, I like the reduced recoil in the 40 has less "whip", I use mainly 2 powders Titegroup and AA5, for 38,380,9mm,40 and 45acp, both powders meter great.

April 24, 2009, 09:14 AM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,388	I use AA7 for heavy .357 and .41 Magnum loads. I used to use it for 10mm, but I sold the 10mm. Very good powder, but with my Lee Pro Disk measure the powder is so fine that it leaks out of the measure rather readily. __________________ "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.

April 24, 2009, 09:20 AM	#10
freakshow10mm Junior member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: MI Posts: 1,398	AA powder is like sand. Not as economical as other powders if that is an issue. A 135gr 10mm load is 17.5gr, a full 6.5gr more than the same max load of HS6. #9 is right on par with Blue Dot and #2400 in burn rate. #5 is really close to HS6 and WSF. It was designed specifically for .45 Auto. #7 is in between those and is close to the old HS7 and W571.

April 24, 2009, 08:51 PM	#15
billcarey Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 273	I've been using old AA#5 for 38/357 and have no complaints. It meters well and charges large enough to give less margin of error. I recently bought #2 for smaller charges to give econony but haven't tried it yet. One thing that some may need to be aware of. The old Acurate "AA" powders are not the same as the new Accurate powders. Accurate says not to use the term AA on their new powers. The "newer" Accurate #2 & #5 have different specs and also lighter loads. Their guides say nothing about it and using recently dated powder with an older Accurate guide might make a problem. Some of the older AA charges are 20-30% or more heavier than the new powder...on 32 S&W Long & 38/357 anyway.

April 25, 2009, 06:13 PM	#17
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	In my experience Accurate #9....... .....is better than Win-296/H-110, in .45 Colt +P loadings. It has a wider spread between start and max loads.

April 25, 2009, 06:50 PM	#18
ehb86 Member Join Date: April 14, 2007 Location: Washingon State Posts: 29	I've been using AA#9 for .357 loads for awhile and find it is accurate and pretty clean. Muzzle flash is not too great either. I like it a lot and it meters well.

April 25, 2009, 07:01 PM	#19
mnhntr Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2008 Posts: 972	Just got done testing some 38/357 loads I used Accurate#5 and Hodgdon Tightgroup to load. I like the Accurate#5 over the Hodgdon Tightgroup for the ease of metering, but it takes more powder to load a similar load to the Tightgroup. Here are my results from today and I will post the step up loads after I test them, if interested. The pistol used is a 686 no dash 4in barrel. I am working up some defense loads in 357 and target loads in 38spl for USPSA shoots. I am going to bump up the charges and test for results. Load 1 .357mag 10.4 grains Accurate#5 140gr JHC sierra bullet CCI 550 primer average fps 1250 Load 2 .38spl 5.4 grains Accurate#5 158gr LSWC CCI 500 primer average fps 770

April 25, 2009, 11:36 PM	#20
Crankylove Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2008 Location: 8B ID Posts: 1,753	I use AA #7 in 9mm and .45 ACP, cause I was given some. I have had no real issues with it other than it requires larger powder charges than other powders in a comparable load. Seems to burn pretty clean, and meters well for me, but I have not used it a whole lot, your experience may vary. __________________ The answer to 1984 is 1776