357 magnum and 38 spcl powders Accurate Arms

[MidLife]

Heading to the LGS this friday for powder and primers. Already have bullets and brass. I have been Internet browsing for many days and I think I will be picking up AA #5 and AA#9 and some WSP and WSPM primers. Have to start somewhere, and was looking for thoughts or other reloaders using these powders for med 357 magnum loads and hot 38 specials with the same bullet (HDY 158g XTP). Accurate has data for #5 and #9 in magnum and the #5 for 38 special. It seems Accurate's data has been reworked and on their website the primers have changed and the pressure is now in psi. I have a both a 3" and 4" bbl and their data is for 6". Would like accurate medium velocity rounds.

 

[billybob44]

Heading to the LGS this friday for powder and primers. Already have bullets and brass. I have been Internet browsing for many days and I think I will be picking up AA #5 and AA#9 and some WSP and WSPM primers. Have to start somewhere, and was looking for thoughts or other reloaders using these powders for med 357 magnum loads and hot 38 specials with the same bullet. Accurate has data for #5 and #9 in magnum and the #5 for 38 special. It seems Accurate's data has been reworked and on their website the primers have changed and the pressure is now in psi. I have a both a 3" and 4" bbl and their data is for 6". Would like accurate medium velocity rounds.

Use their data that you can pull up on line. Go with the center of the powder charge listing for mid-range loads. Use your WSP primers for the .38Spl.+#5 charge data for .357. Use WSPM primers for your .357 with #9 powder.
Your bullet speed wil be slower than listed due to your 3"+4" barrel length, while the data listed loads were fired in a 6" barrel.
The pressures will not be a factor, as long as you are loading mid-range loads.
Hope this helps..Bill..

 

[billybob44]

Accurate Arms powder..

Just checked their site. They show Mag. primer for the #5 loads. IMO a standard primer will light up #5 just fine, but that's up to you.
Remember that you will get a lot of flame/+poss. unburned powder with the #9 powder charged loads in your short barreled guns.
#9 usually works better in longer barreled guns.
If I were you, I would load both (.38Spl.+.357Mag.) with the mid-range #5 powder loads and see how they shot.

 

[Quoheleth]

I like AA#9 in full-house .357 Mag loads. My Ruger loves it with a 180gr RNFP cast lead bullet.

I've had mixed results with #5 in .38 Special. Lots of unburned flakes. When I run out of Bullseye I might try #2 for my .38 loads. I do love #5 for .45ACP and 9mm, though.

Seems to me Accurate powders often get the short-changed vs. Alliant and Hodgdon.

Q

 

[ljnowell]

When I run out of Bullseye I might try #2 for my .38 loads.

#2 is the only fast powder I keep now. It meters better than any other and its CHEAP, just like me.

 

[Hondo 60]

AA has a great pdf you can download.
Just scroll down to the caliber of your choice.

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/AccGuidev3.4version.pdf

 

[MidLife]

An associate suggested #7 for a smooth performing 357 magnum medium load. Thoughts?
So, should I just pickuop the #9 and not fodder in the #5?
I have a Ruger Gp100 4" so, a double charge 38spcl should still be okay.
I am trying to emulate the 158grain Winchester Personal protection loading, which is 158g at about 1200fps. Actually, I'd like to have a 158g around 1100fps in a four inch barrel with miniaml fouling and dirt.

 

[rg1]

AA#2 is my favorite for 125 grain .38 Special loads and AA#9 is my favorite for .357 magnum with Hornady 158 XTP's both HP and FP. I've only used AA#5 for 45ACP loads. In .357 Magnum my load is 13.0 grains of AA#9 using CCI 500 standard primers. AA's Manual #1 used standard primers while later data uses magnum primers. Shoots great in a 6" barreled pistol and a lever action rifle.

 

[TonyAngel]

I use Accurate powders exclusively for handgun. I also have a Ruger Blackhawk in .38/.357. For mild to hot .38+p loads, I use AA#2. The velocities are about the same that you'd get with #5, but for like velocities, the AA#2 has less recoil and burns more cleanly/completely. For magnum I just load #9.

 

[kludge]

No.2 for .38
No.9 for .357

No.9 > No.7. There's about 5 fps difference in the start load of No.7 and No.9 with the 158gr, but if you want to go heavier (180gr) you're going to want No.9.

But... Hodgdon HS-6 would do better than No.2 for "hot" (non-plus P and plus P) .38 loads.

HS-6 will also work nicely for light bullet .357 Mag loads.

 

[kludge]

I have a Ruger Gp100 4" so, a double charge 38spcl should still be okay.

Uh. No.

A double charge of a fast burning pistol powder like Bullseye or No.2 could be the end of your GP100. And a few of your fingers, or worse.

 

[zxcvbob]

I bought 16# of some kind of military pulldown powder that cross-references with AA#7. I love it in .357 Magnum. It measures like water, and it gives identical performance to Blue Dot but with less temperature sensitivity and less leading. What's not to like?

 

[noylj]

Ummm...I'm sorry fellows, but they call it a STARTING load for a reason. That is where you start, period.
A double charge will, in most cases, be well above a proof load and can do serious damage to your gun, you, and anyone near you.
For light .38 Special target loads, use AA2.
for normal .38 Special loads, use AA5.
For normal .357Magnum loads, use AA7 or AA9.
Use a magnum primer if your reloading manuals say to use one.
If you use a magnum or small rifle primer for a load that simply calls out small pistol, you had better knock a few percentage points off the STARTING load and work up and have a good reason to be leaving the reloading manuals' recommendations.
This is a safe sport...keep it that way.