Accurate # 5 and 124/125 gr lead loads

[JO JO]

Accurate # 5 and 124/125 gr lead loads
Does anyone use this combination and how was the results , I was able to pick up a pound of aa # 5 today and have not used this before

 

[kmw1954]

I had used #5 with 115 and 124gr plated bullets and it did very well and find it has a lot of overlap with Ramshot Silhouette which is what I use now mostly because it burns well in 380, 9mm and 45ACP. For my cast lead loads I now mostly use AA#2.

Best I can say is use it, you might like it. If I couldn't get the Ramshot I would use more of it.

 

[fxvr5]

What cartridge are you loading?

 

[JO JO]

9mm

 

[41 Mag]

I've burned up a LOT of the Accurate powders over the years. I've found 5 similar to Unique in weights and velocities but far easier and cleaner. That said, it does burn cleanest at the upper charge weights.

With those weight bullets you should find some smooth shooting and accurate loads.

 

[lordpaxman]

I developed a 9mm/124/AA5 load, it was acceptable, but I settled on other powders. Their manual has plenty of load data for it.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Accurate No.5 and 9mm are made for each other.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

That said, it does burn cleanest at the upper charge weights.

The same can be said of almost all spherical powders.

 

[LiveLife]

Accurate # 5 and 124/125 gr lead loads ... 9mm

Since 9mm lead bullet weight can vary around 1 gr, I interchange load data for 124 gr/125 gr bullets. And when I cannot find load data for the bullet weight, I will reference load data for slightly heavier weight for my initial powder work up as I can always go higher.

I have found lead load data to work well for coated/plated bullets, particularly since they are sized the same at .356" (Berry's bullets are sized larger at .356").

Here are Hodgdon load data and if your max/working OAL/COL is shorter than published, consider reducing start/max charges by .2-.3 gr - https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center

• 9mm 124 gr Lead RN No. 5 COL 1.050" Start 4.6 gr (939 fps) - Max 5.4 gr (1,078 fps)
• 9mm 124 gr Berry's Plated RN No. 5 COL 1.160" Start 5.4 gr (956 fps) - Max 6.4 gr (1,116 fps)
• 9mm 135 gr ACME Coated RN No. 5 COL 1.150" Start 5.2 gr (965 fps) - Max 5.9 gr (1,065 fps)

124/125 gr 9mm Lead RN comes "stepped" or "non-stepped". Previously, 9mm 124/125 gr Lead RN came "stepped" (See Dardas/Z Cast bullets on the right) to clear start of rifling and I use 1.125" OAL for most of my barrels. But then MBC started making 124 "non-stepped" Lead RN bullets (See Missouri RN SmallBall! in picture) with shorter more rounder nose profile (ogive) that increased bullet base length (Bearing surface that rides the rifling) for greater neck tension that required shorter OAL to clear the start of rifling - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/missouri-bullet-company-9mm-oal.908857/#post-12372921

So if you are using 124/125 gr "stepped" Lead RN with more pointed nose profile that requires 1.125" OAL, I would start around 5.0 and test 5.2, 5.4, 5.6, 5.8 gr for the initial powder work up.

If you are using "non-stepped" Lead RN with shorter more rounded nose profile that requires shorter OAL around 1.080", I would start around 4.6 gr and test 4.8, 5.0, 5.2, 5.4 gr for the initial powder work up.

And since No. 5 is relatively moderately slower burning powder like AutoComp/CFE Pistol, you may find more efficient powder burn at high-to-near max load data to produce accuracy - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ith-a-similar-burn-rate.911455/#post-12435883

Slower burning pistol powders:

Unique - Universal - IMR Unequal - Vectan Ba 9 - BE-86 - Power Pistol - N330 - Vectan A1 - Herco - Vectan A0 - WSF - N340 - 800X

No. 5 - Auto Pistol/Lovex D036-03 - True Blue - HS6 - AutoComp - Ultimate Pistol/Lovex D036-07 - CFE Pistol - Silhouette - 3N37​

 

[cfullgraf]

I use Accurate #5 in many cartridges where Unique is also used. It is either my main powder for a cartridge or a back up load for a cartridge that I prefer another powder.

I’ve used Accurate #5 in 9x19 but I prefer True Blue these days. I keep #5 in inventory.

The Western Powder data is good. Hodgdon data would be another good source now that Hodgdon has taken over marketing Accurate powders.

 

[Akula69]

I did try using AA#5 in a 12GA Lee Drive Key 1oz slug load, but the recoil was...extreme (to say the least). I immediately put it back in the 9MM 124 grain FMJ rotation with the True Blue and never looked back.

 

[JO JO]

lots of good info given thanks
the projectile I will be using is 125 gr conical nose at 1.120 oal

 

[Charlie98]

I did a 9mm powder shoot-out a few years ago... my one regret is not including AA#5 in there.