AA#5 in 44mag?

[edfardos]

I've been using 23.5 grains of H110 under plated 240grain bullets with great results for the last 1000 rounds through my SuperRedhawk. Using that much powder has a significant impact on the cost of a round. I've seen other people using fast powders in 44mag in newsgroups, and I keep AA#5 on hand for my 40S&W reloading, so I was wondering if I could use this in 44mag? Anyone tried it? downside? It sure would be cheaper to use 75% less powder, but I'd like the same performance (max load) H110 provides. I'm also concerned about over/double charge, which is also a nice feature about powders that fill the case.

curiously,
-edfardos

 

[MMCSRET]

It will work, pull up the load data on the Accurate site. It is roughly in the burn range of Unique+/-. You won't get quite the top end performance but for everyday use it will work well. I know of two cow elk that were toppled successfully using a 240 gr. cast SWC over a charge of A#5. Research it and make your decision based on the data presented.

 

[rcmodel]

Thats pushing a Plated bullet awful hard.

Ranier says to use lead bullet data, and Berry says to use mid-level jacketed data.


rc

 

[edfardos]

Accurate didn't post a 44mag load the last time i looked at their data. I use an "Xtreme" plated 240grain bullet, which leaves the muzzle at 1430fps. Xtreme rates the bullets to 1500fps.

 

[rcmodel]

Accurate didn't post a #5 44mag load

That's what we call a Clue right there.

AA #5 is too fast for high velocity .44 Mag loads.

It falls in between WW-231 and Unique in burn rate.
As such, it would be probably fine for reduced velocity target or plinking loads.

It would also work fairly well with lighter 180 grain bullets at full pressure & velocity.

But there is no possible way you can duplicate your MAX charge of H-110 velocity using AA #5 & 240 grain bullets without blowing something up.

rc

 

[USSR]

Agree with rcmodel, AA#5 is a "Unique" burn rate powder, and there is no way you can load full power, heavy bullet loads in the .44 Magnum without greatly exceeding pressure specs.

Don

 

[edfardos]

Okay, thanks guys. So I'd need a smaller bullet or reduced fps (or both) if I want to use AA#5. That was kindof my assumption, but I regularly read about people using Unique in 44mag. They're probably nothing more than 44special loads in a magnum case.

thanks again,
-edfardos

 

[NCsmitty]

A compromise would be Accurate #7, and their load chart shows that roughly for every two loads of #7, it would yield approximately a free round of powder, compared to the charges of H110. Granted you won't achieve the peak loading of H110/Win296, but 1300 +fps will get the job done. A compromise is all that it is though, but makes more sense than #5.


NCsmitty

 

[MMCSRET]

Go to a copy of Accurate Reloading Manual #2. It has data for A#5 in 44 Magnum for bullets of many weights, styles and composition.

 

[rcmodel]

They're probably nothing more than 44special loads in a magnum case.

Not at all.
You can get about 1,100 FPS with a 240 out of a 4" barrel.

Or about 130 FPS slower then you are really getting now I betcha.

which leaves the muzzle at 1430fps

Is that actually measured with a cronograph in your gun?
Or some load book figure?

rc

 

[edfardos]

1430fps was measured with a chrony.. 9.5" superredhawk (240/23.5 H110), max deviation 50, standard deviation 20. It's awesome to behold, as you 44mag shooters know, so I fear 10% less would leave me wanting. I'll see if i can digup AA's second manual.

thanks!

-edfardos

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Accurate has a good powder for use in the .44 Magnum but it's not AA#5, it's AA#9 or even 4100.

Like said above, AA#5 is really too fast a powder for use in the .44 Magnum. Now for the .44 Special you will have something that works quite well... I like AA#5 in the .45 Auto, .45 Colt and for loading .38 Special +P ammo.

 

[DavePuzz]

i use this load in a 629 4" barrel using a 240g jhp.

Starting Load grns. fps

from AA# manual #1 : aa#5 13.0 1217


Maxium Load grns. fps c.u.p. col

aa#5 14.4 1383 39,800 1.560"


this is from AA# manual ONE so don't get on me about why AA don't show loads for .44 using AA5.
I called them when i found this manual and they confirmed this load and said that they had deleted it because of the wide variety of magnum powders they have today.
shoots good in my magnum, clean, efficient available and cheap.
i use polyester fiber to fill the casing to hold the powder to the primer, thats just my way but you do not have to do this.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you want to use a faster powder just to save powder there will be a trade-off. There really is no way to generate top velocities with a fact powder in Magnum cartridges. You mentioned AA#7 above and that powder is on the slower side so velocity of course will be higher than with a AA#5 load but not as fast as a AA#9 load.

There are two powders out there that will generate close to top velocities while using considerably less powder when loading a 240gr bullet, that's HS-6 and IMR 800-X. Of the two I would choose HS-6 because it develops less pressure than other powders in the same burn rate range while still producing high velocities. It meters better than 800-X and is cleaner too.

 

[joneb]

I would be careful, start low and work up. Accurate powders are not the most consistent, I have noticed variations depending on the country of origin. So use the start charge or if only one charge is listed reduce it by 10% and work up.

 

[Slamfire]

If you have 44 Special cases you can easily push a 240 L up to 850 fps with AA#5. This will make a comfortable yet still powerful load.

AA#9 is a magnum powder, AA#5 is not.

[SIZE="3"]M624 4 “ Barrel

240 LSWC Valiant 8.5 grs AA#5 Lot 35 590  Mixed Brass WLP	
3-Mar-06 T = 64 °F Accurate					
		 			
Ave Vel = 790.4				
Std Dev = 30.69				
ES= 134				
High= 845.7				
Low= 711.6				
N = 32				
					
					
240 LSWC Valiant 9.0 grs AA#5 Lot 35 590  Mixed Brass WLP	
3-Mar-06T = 64 °F Very Accurate				
		 			
Ave Vel = 845.5				
Std Dev = 17.43				
ES= 51.74				
High= 869.9				
Low= 818.1				
N = 10[/SIZE]

 

[loose noose]

I know using Unique maximum loads in my Ruger .44 Magnum Carbine using 240 grain jacketed rounds that it doesn't have the power to cycle the action. I'd have to pull out some of my chronographed loading info to give you a fps.

 

[Hondo 60]

It'll work, but you won't be able to get full 44 magnum speed.
It's too fast of a powder.
You'll hit the pressure limit long before you get the speed.

Lil Gun, W296, 2400, AA9 would all work better.

 

[edfardos]

Thanks for revitalizing this thread . I completely agree, there's no realistic way to use AA#5 in 44mag. I'm sticking to H110. I've found a LGS that sells stuff on the cheap, so the cost-factor isn't as critical. And who doesn't like shooting a full-house load of H110?

r,
-edfardos