454 alaskan faster powder short barrel AA #7

[zxcvbob]

Propellant type........... = Accurate No.7
Charge weight..........(gr)= 22.5 Load density......(g/cu.cm)= 0.774
Loading ratio (%)= 78.0 Projectile travel x(ft)= 2.216732E-1
**** Results calculated:
Maximum pressure ........ = 54300 psi Way of projectile at Pmax = 0.38 in
Muzzle velocity ......Ve = 1231 fps Muzzle pressure .......Pe = 17714 psi
Project. energy at muzzle = 1127 ft.lbs Fraction of powder burnt = 98.2 %
Projectile travel time from 10% Pmax to muzzle = 0.37 ms

 

[CZ57]

Outside the box, or inside the box, you gotta know your ****!

And I'm very pleased that you got #7 to ignite. That was the only question. Now, let's look at True Blue. Cowboy up?

 

[mewachee]

cz57, I just saw your post from April 07. That's funny.

I need to find True Blue. Ramshot's website lists retailers here in town, and I check one out and they didn't have it in. I need to try Sportsmans tomorrow, but I don't think I have seen Ramshot there.

 

[CZ57]

No sweat, mewachee, the #7 is working pretty good when all others give 6" groups and #7 gives you 2" groups and the velocity you need. That's why I said, "Keep digging" and you did! Like we say in Tejas, 'this ain't my first rodeo.'

 

[mewachee]

Semi-Final results

I have concluded my testing for now. Seems like it snows every day here lately, and it is always windy here. The last time I was out, the snow kept messing with my chronograph. However, I think I got enough reliable data.

again using a 335 WLNGC

26 grains of No. 9 shoots all over the place at 1310 fps. No obvious signs of pressure, but just dirty. I pushed this to 26.5 and velocity fell off.

19 grains of Blue Dot shot okay at 1200 fps. 20 grains petered out. I tried Federal magnum primers with the 19 and 19 1/2, 19 gave me 1250 and 19 1/2 gave me 1290, but with both loads brass got a little sticky, not bad.


Other than a second group loaded with 21 grains of No. 7, all other loads using No. 7 were loaded with federal primers. I tried federal magnum primers with the second load.

21 grains of No. 7 shot very well at 1200 fps. This is my most accurate load; energy is very acceptable, while the kick is nothing. My wife doesn't shoot, but I would let her shoot this load (I mean she wouldn't hit me after).

22 grains of No. 7, still accurate (no pun intended) at 1260.

22.5 grains of No. 7 at 1315. Starting to smoke a little, but nothing like the No. 9. Starting to feel the kick.

23 grains of No. 7 best guess, 1355 fps. I had to clean snow off the chrono every shot, had a couple of shots come up with a reading of 800 something fps. The brass extracted fine, but was tight, primers look like everything else.


21 grains of No. 7 using federal magnum primers gave me 1270 fps. The brass extracted a little sticky.

My conclusions: I respect opinions of those who said stay with the standards. However, I so far have concluded that the choice of a faster burning powder has given good results. Because of the warning given by Accurate for the possibility of an ignition problem, I will have to shoot more to make sure that this isn't an issue. The velocities recorded with the No. 7 were most consistent and it grouped best. I think I could push another 1/2 grain or so, but will not try.


This spring, I will try another 4 or 5 powders ranging from slowest to a little faster than I have. I can't find True Blue in town, this spring I will have Sportsmans order some for me. I will use No. 7 for spring bear and turkey.

I want to be clear, I am not suggesting that these loads will perform as well in longer barrels, I just thought there would be better loads, made with faster powders, for the shorter barrel of the Alaskan. I would like to see the results of a similar test in the short .460 S&W.

 

[Walkalong]

Good field work there. Come springtime you'll need to let us know how further testing goes. I would be interested to see how True Blue does vs AA #7, just for curiousity sake.

 

[mewachee]

Here is an update

So, I didn't realize that 1300 fps seams to be to much velocity for this gun. At 25 yards, I didn't realize that bullet is turning sideways, at 50 it is very obvious. Not completely sideways yet, but half way there.

Just not enough barrel to stabilize this bullet, at those velocities.

 

[ppro]

I found in my testing, that AA #7 was indeed a good powder for the Alaskan but I also found, that my 454 Alaskan would not stabilize any WNFP bullet over 300 gr.

When I shifted to 300 gr., I easily got 1200 fps with 21 grs. of Accurate Arms #7 pressure is fine, accuracy is good. Used Remington 7 1/2M rifle primer and Starline brass.

Paul