My first impression of AutoComp

[Ex]

Sunday, I tried a new to me powder with 300 rds of .40 shot from my G22 and from a G20 with a wolf .40 barrel. AutoComp. Loads were slightly upper mid range with 165 gn MontanaGold JHPs.

I am not particularly pleased. While this powder IS the finest metering powder I've ever used, it is extremely dirty compared with some of my preferred powders. Usually, I load with mostly LongShot which is an exceptional powder and very clean burning.

LongShot keeps me in 3 inch groups while the AutoComp was delivering 5 to 7 inch groups. Entire gun was FILTHY after using the AutoComp. Occasionally, I may do 4 or 500 rds in a two week period with LongShot and see no appreciable contamination. The bores were black after 25 or 30 rds with AutoComp.

I need more LongShot!

Anyone here have similar or different experience with AutoComp?

 

[jwrowland77]

I absolutely love AutoComp in my 9mm loads. Gives me the best accuracy by far. It is a bit dirty, very great in metering but definitely the best powder I've used accuracy wise in my 9mm.

 

[Ex]

I may have to save it for 9mm. Haven't loaded for 9mm in years... maybe it's time.
Sure didn't like it in .40.

And yes it does meter SWEETLY.

 

[Mad Chemist]

Probably too light of a charge. Were the cases sooty? If so, either increase the charge or decrease OAL. Keep the charge reasonable and within published data.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

AutoComp, like many powders on the market cleans up when loaded up near the top of the pressure range. Remember, that powder was developed for use in compensated pistols in competition.

 

[Ex]

Load data from Winny site (hodgdon) shows data for this load,
Winchester
AutoComp
.400"
1.125"
6.3
1,051
25,900 PSI
7.0
1,171
33,300 PSI

My cartridges were smack on 1.125, 165 gn projectile on top of 6.7 gns powder. I would think this should be in the clean zone... perhaps this needs to be at max for clean...?

 

[vaalpens]

Ex, sorry to hear that you did not like AutoComp in 40. You indicated your load was at 6.7gr. What was interesting for me when I tried AutoComp in 40 was that my low (6.3gr) and high range (6.9gr-7.0gr) was the best. I tried two COLs 1.125" and 1.142" which skewed my finding a bit. So maybe you should go a bit higher in the load if you can. I just did not want to load at the high end since I could see my brass was ejected a distance at the higher end and I could feel the stout recoil.

Thanks for the report.
Be safe.

 

[Ex]

Will try a few at top end and see. But, boy do I miss my LongShot

 

[GLOOB]

I agree, try working it up to the max. Poor accuracy (caused by muzzle velocity deviation) and incomplete burning go hand-in-hand.

I have never found AutoComp to be particularly dirty nor inaccurate. The only problem I had was that some of my top end Autocomp loads killed my G27 spring in no time flat. My wrist wasn't too happy, either.

Then, again, I shoot a lot of Unique, and I have never found that to be dirty, either. Maybe it's how I load 'em, or maybe it's my definition of "dirty." All's I know is I clean my semiauto handguns practically never, and they don't look any different. The only dirty ammo I have ever shot is factory.

 

[Ex]

I also like Unique... a lot.

At my afore mentioned load in the .40, I found AutoComp to be MUCH dirtier than Unique. I haven't done much loading with Unique for some time due to availability, but I remember it to be a fair bit cleaner than AC. And, there is nothing I load for (all pistol) that Unique doesn't give decent performance.

Unique, W231, *LongShot*, Titegroup are probably my favorite powders.

 

[Mad Chemist]

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

You are using the plated bullet data for a JHP.

Hogdon data says 6.5-7.1 for a Sierra JHP. Sierra bullet designs usually have a longer bearing surface and typically have more conservative data. You are loading it too light (only .2gr above min load). Bump up the charge already. Your problems should go away.

 

[Havok7416]

I started using AutoComp for .40 and it works decently. I never care to notice how dirty it is, that doesn't bother me.

 

[Potatohead]

Yea, dirty schmirty.

Anyways, Im surprised you no likey..it works very well no matter how much I dump in a case, no matter the bullet wgt. I suspect you'll find an accurate mix as you tinker more..and remember, it could be "user induced"

 

[RainDodger]

I tried AutoComp for the first time ever just a few weeks ago also - simply because it was available. My caliber of choice for the test was .45ACP. I loaded under max of course, but on the high side. Worked fine for me and I didn't notice that it was any dirtier than my usual W231.

Maybe that's just because it was available and I was happy to have ANY pistol powder. I recently found some 700X to re-try also... haven't used that in 25 years or so, but it was available too, so.... it's going to send some lead down range also. Dirty or clean, I don't really care much about that anymore!

 

[Ex]

Have dropped a note to Hodgdon asking for their suggestion on a real JHP and the dirty/inaccurate issues. Will cut-n-paste their reply here.

 

[jwrowland77]

See, on my 9mm load, using a 115gr FMJ bullet, I use the minimum load and it is dead nuts accurate.

I shot a whole workup from min to max and there was no comparison on which one was most accurate. The min load went 10/10 in the x-ring, shooting offhand 14yards.

 

[Potatohead]

Have dropped a note to Hodgdon asking for their suggestion on a real JHP and the dirty/inaccurate issues. Will cut-n-paste their reply here.

Please do

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Too bad that Autocomp is dirty. If I wanted a dirty powder, I would use Unique.

If you want a clean-burning powder for medium to heavy loads for .40cal and others, get Longshot. It is my new "goto" powder for .40 cal, and I will be taking a look at other calibers with it.

 

[Ex]

Dirtier in my load (both guns) than Unique. I like Unique. If I wanted a dirty powder, I would use Unique. And thus far for me, Unique is more accurate though the AutoComp meters much better.

Will be upping to higher midrange with the AC just to see. I know pressure makes a difference.

I'll drop a note again after next weekend when I build a few with more powder.

Too bad that Autocomp is dirty. If you want a clean-burning powder for medium to heavy loads for .40cal and others, get Longshot. It is my new "goto" powder for .40 cal, and I will be taking a look at other calibers with it.

 

[Ex]

Wouldn't have it any other way!!!

Please do

 

[guncheese]

folks sure get wound up over a bit of spooge from the powder!
its a gun! guns be dirty!!
Auto Comp isnt going to be happy unless you get it up to the 30,000 psi point
it was designed for high end fast loads in compensated gaming guns
where they want lots of gas to help keep the front end under control
Power Pistol and Auto Comp are in the same league there
i wouldnt be using either of those powders as i dont need the gas output and it would double the cost of my powder charge, im shooting about 400 rounds/week of 9mm right now and i know in a dollar amount it doesnt mean much but i can stretch a pound of powder twice as far using something else
if i dont need the gas ill let it pass hehe poetry

 

[GLOOB]

it would double the cost of my powder charge,

That's the strange thing about AutoComp. It is seemingly a very energy dense powder. The charge weights on my loads are very similar to Unique. Nearly always within a couple of tenths in my common calibers.

In 40SW, for example, you can get pretty close to Longshot performance on your top end loads with significantly lighter charge. No, it ain't BE or TG stingy. But on the speed chart, you ought to be comparing it to PP and LS. For a top velocity performer in 40SW, it is an absolute miser. It also stores away in half the space of Unique, if you combine bottles.

 

[guncheese]

it ain't BE or TG stingy

yeah, but i am!