AA#5, RMR 115gr FMJ RN, 9mm

[kmw1954]

I had used AA#5 in 9mm, 380 and 45acp. In the 9mm it was with 115 and 124gr Xtreme and Berry's bullets and shot very well. Shot some in 380 with 85 to 105gr both lead and plated bullets, also did OK. In the 45acp with 185 to 230gr both lead and plated and again did well. I then switched to Ramshot Silhouette in all loads as I was finding a lot of overlap between powders and I found I was obtaining the same velocities with the Ramshot while using .5gr less powder and the guns and air at the indoor range were staying cleaner.

I could get both powders locally and the price was also the same. If I couldn't get Silhouette I would use AA#5 again.

 

[vaalpens]

I had used AA#5 in 9mm, 380 and 45acp. In the 9mm it was with 115 and 124gr Xtreme and Berry's bullets and shot very well. Shot some in 380 with 85 to 105gr both lead and plated bullets, also did OK. In the 45acp with 185 to 230gr both lead and plated and again did well. I then switched to Ramshot Silhouette in all loads as I was finding a lot of overlap between powders and I found I was obtaining the same velocities with the Ramshot while using .5gr less powder and the guns and air at the indoor range were staying cleaner.

I could get both powders locally and the price was also the same. If I couldn't get Silhouette I would use AA#5 again.

Thanks for the information. Your comment about 45acp is interesting since I looked at the Nosler load data yesterday, and for their 185gr Sporting Gun bullet, they list AA#5 as the most accurate powder tested. This is a combination I definitely want to try out also.

 

[vaalpens]

That would be my summary of W244 for both 9mm and .45ACP, except maybe the velocity per grain part. Changes in OAL caused pretty significant changes in accuracy, consistency, and burn cleanliness. Sounds like I'll just pass on AA#5...

I wouldn't pass on a powder unless I have tried it myself. That is the fun of reloading. fast powders like Bullseye is not made for 357sig, well then let's try it. Lonsghot is too slow for 45acp, so let's try it.

 

[vaalpens]

Here is a wtite up I did comparing AA#5 to Winchester Autocomp and Ramshot True Blue. AA#5 is one of my least favorite powders for 9/40. It's not a bad powder but there are better options out there.


https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/autocomp-vs-true-blue-vs-aa-5.891811/

To summarize my thoughts:

- It's less consistent velocity wise at lower charge weights than other powders.

- It delivers less velocity per grain than other powders.

- It works better when the OAL is kept right at recommended lengths. Loading long makes the powder measurably less consistent.

The load data you had listed in your comparison thread all had different COL's/bullets. What COL did you use for your testing? I assume you used one COL for the different powders.

 

[Charlie98]

I wouldn't pass on a powder unless I have tried it myself. That is the fun of reloading.

Depends on your goals... I'm not a big experimenter, I don't have the time or facility to do it. I find a load that works and run with it, at least in handguns. My last big powder comparo... W244, BE-86, and SportPistol... were pretty disappointing, none of them performed better than my old standby, Unique, or even WST (in .45ACP.)

 

[vaalpens]

Depends on your goals... I'm not a big experimenter, I don't have the time or facility to do it. I find a load that works and run with it, at least in handguns. My last big powder comparo... W244, BE-86, and SportPistol... were pretty disappointing, none of them performed better than my old standby, Unique, or even WST (in .45ACP.)

Correct. It depends on your goals. My goals are simple. Reliability, accuracy and repeatability of the accuracy. Sometimes I would look for a specific velocity, but then I would just use my normal data and make a specific velocity a priority.

Funny you mentioned W244. I am one of those that likes W244. Based on my own rankings I have a W244 load ranked at:
#1 in 40S&W
#6 in 357sig
#14 in 45ACP
#3 in 9mm

 

[Charlie98]

Funny you mentioned W244. I am one of those that like W244. Based on my own rankings I have a W244 load ranked at:

Of the 3 powders I mentioned, W244 turned out to be the better. It's actually a pretty good powder once you get the load dial in, but in my case, I really had to dink around with OAL and the charge weight to get good results... far more trouble than Unique, where you just dump some in, smash a bullet on top, and go shooting. In the end, all of my charges are at (or over) max published, and my velocities are still not what I'd like. Looking back, I wish I would have included AA#2 or AA#5 in my testing, I also have a curiosity about AA#7 for .41 and .45 Colt. I may cross that bridge some day...

 

[NWcityguy2]

The load data you had listed in your comparison thread all had different COL's/bullets. What COL did you use for your testing? I assume you used one COL for the different powders.

I was using a OAL of 1.11"

 

[vaalpens]

I tested the loads today. the loads seemed a bit smoky, but it could have been because the sun was shining towards me. The beginning loads felt very soft, but the later loads felt normal. Accuracy wasn't very good, with some of the later loads ok.

The testing was done at 15 yards using a rest and a 2x scope. From the results below you will see that the scope wasn't dialed in, so it was shooting a bit high left.

I will definitely test the +P loads also, since I think the loads started performing better at the end and you could see it in the ES/SD numbers. Following are the results from the testing today:

9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: WIN
COL: 1.125"
RMR, 115gr, FMJRN, AA5, 5.6gr, FED100
Average: 917
ES: 36
SD: 15.9
Force: 215
PF: 105
Velocities: 900, 913, 905, 931, 936
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.39"
Test Date: 10/16/2021

9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: WIN
COL: 1.125"
RMR, 115gr, FMJRN, AA5, 5.7gr, FED100
Average: 934
ES: 43
SD: 16.8
Force: 223
PF: 107
Velocities: 951, 908, 944, 929, 940
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.87"
Test Date: 10/16/2021

9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: WIN
COL: 1.125"
RMR, 115gr, FMJRN, AA5, 5.8gr, FED100
Average: 963
ES: 15
SD: 6.5
Force: 237
PF: 110
Velocities: 966, 971, 956, 958, 968
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.96"
Test Date: 10/16/2021



9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: WIN
COL: 1.125"
RMR, 115gr, FMJRN, AA5, 5.9gr, FED100
Average: 969
ES: 45
SD: 16.3
Force: 240
PF: 111
Velocities: 944, 971, 989, 968, 975
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.16"
Test Date: 10/16/2021

9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: WIN
COL: 1.125"
RMR, 115gr, FMJRN, AA5, 6gr, FED100
Average: 1007
ES: 16
SD: 6.3
Force: 259
PF: 115
Velocities: 1004, 1008, 1018, 1002, 1005
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.69"
Test Date: 10/16/2021



9mm, SP2022, 3.9"
Case: WIN
COL: 1.125"
RMR, 115gr, FMJRN, AA5, 6.1gr, FED100
Average: 1015
ES: 12
SD: 5.6
Force: 263
PF: 116
Velocities: 1020, 1009, 1010, 1017, 1021
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.38"
Test Date: 10/16/2021

 

[vaalpens]

For the next round of testing I will load some +P loads. I will use the same COL, but will start at 6.2gr and end at 6.7gr. My COL is longer than the published 1.12", so going .1gr over MAX should be fine.

Since the testing was done with my SP2022, probably for the next round I will load a few of the tested load so that I can test them with my 3.1" barrel P365X.

At some point I will test additional cartridges, but those will be under different threads.

 

[joneb]

This maybe of use if you haven't checked this source, https://reloadingdata.speer.com/downloads/speer/reloading-pdfs/handgun/9mm_Luger__115_rev1.pdf
I keep track of the temperature when working a load near max.

 

[vaalpens]

This maybe of use if you haven't checked this source, https://reloadingdata.speer.com/downloads/speer/reloading-pdfs/handgun/9mm_Luger__115_rev1.pdf
I keep track of the temperature when working a load near max.

Thanks for sharing the Speer data. Looks like my 6.0gr velocity is very close to the Speer data, and their max is 6.7gr. So looks like I'm good to go. These loads will be chrono'd, so feel and velocity will let me know if I need to stop my test before max is reached.

 

[joneb]

Somewhere around 6.5gr perhaps? published data must error on the safe side. But we must do our part and verify.

 

[vaalpens]

Somewhere around 6.5gr perhaps? published data must error on the safe side. But we must do our part and verify.

Good point. I haven't finalized my loads yet, but could go with 6.0gr-6.5gr, and also load additional rounds for 6.0gr and 6.1gr for testing with my P365X. That will retest some of the better loads and allow me to compare it to the P365X 3.1" results.