AA#5 - Characteristics

[Iheartguns]

Hey guys -

I shot a few rounds I had loaded with AA#5 last night.
10 with 7.4 gr AA#5 behind a LRN
10 with 7.7 gr AA#5 behind a LRN
This is the starting load according to my data.

Is AA#5 REALLY smokey/dirty? After two five round groups I was amazed at how smokey my booth had become. Also, the barrel seemed very dirty.

Is AA#5 known for this?

Andy

 

[Galil5.56]

What caliber?

Like a lot of propellants, they tend to be "dirtiest" when used below max pressures, but slowish ball propellants are even worse. A lot of smoke you see will be the lubricant, not propellant. A propellant that is very similar in regard to pressure curve is HS-6, and it's filthy at low pressures.

I can tell you some folks/charts will say AA#5 is very close to Unique in burning speed/pressure curve... Not in my actual experience. AA#5 is considerably slower. AA#5 has been made by several different makers over the years, and perhaps one maker's "formula" is slightly better with regard to cleanliness from another?

 

[THe Dove]

45 ACP with A#5

I reload with AA#5 for my 45 ACP as well as my 45 Colt. I love the powder and while I can't speak intellegently about any other brand, I have never had any heavy smoke or excesive dirtyness over the past 15 years of using it. I load both factory boolits as well as my own cast boolits. I tend to agree with the previous poster that it may be the lube but I really don't know.

Here is what I get with the AA#5 in my 45 ACP:
230 gr Hornady FMJRN with 7.5 AA#5 = 750 FPS
230 gr Cast 452 RN with 8.0 gr of AA#5 - 810 FPS
230 gr Cast 452 RN with 8.5 gr of AA#5 - 968 FPS

Hope this helps.

The Dove

 

[jfh]

I've loaded a LOT of #5

in 38/357--it's the ideal powder for building "replica reloads" of the GDSB 38+P 135-gr. round. These are typically using 140LTC bullets, BTW.

I, too, have found it "dirty"--although it cleans up somewhat in these calibers when shot at MAX pressures.
When loading with jacketed bullets, it also cleans up a bit more. The conclusion I've reached is that the "dirty" issues focus on bullet lube.

Jim H.

 

[Walkalong]

I find AA #5 to be clean burning, but I switch to AA #2 or similar if I don't want top velocities in .45 ACP. I have found that AA #5 cleans up sooner (less velocity & assuming pressure) than HS 6 in 9MM.

 

[MMCSRET]

A lot of that smoke is from the bullet lubricant on your lead round nose bullets. Try a few jacketed bullets and AA#5 and make a comparison, you will see a difference.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

AA5 runs pretty sooty until you get the pressures up a bit. Not a big deal really, it wipes right off.

 

[Steve C]

A lot of smoke you see will be the lubricant, not propellant.

Yup, everyone wants a clean powder but if your using commercial hard cast bullets with their typically hard wax type lube the smoke you're seeing is practically all from the lube and the failure of the bullet to seal in the bore. Applying Lees Liquid Alox over the commercial cast helps a lot to reduce smoke and both lead and powder fouling. I've found those bullets that use the red lube seem a bit cleaner too. Don't waste your time trying different powders, look for different bullets and lubes.

 

[joneb]

What caliber?

Well that's a good question, I've had VG results with AA#5 and cast bullets, I chose it as a alternative to Unique as #5 meters better for me. It would be nice to know the cartridge you're loading.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I've found that 40 S&W loads for #5 on the accurate website, are way underpowered. I loaded 6.4 grains behind a 165 gr Ranier, as per the website, got 800 fps, instead of the claimed ~900. They list max at 7.2, seems that 7 grains would be a good load.