Unburnt accurate powders in my pistols

[smartshooter.45]

Ive been using accurate #2 and #7 powders to work up loads in different calibers. Ive noticed that there is quite a bit of what looks like unburnt powder left over in the chambers of my autoloaders. they look like pieces of sand. Sometimes it gets so bad that rounds wont cycle.

Im using cci primers, correct oal's, medium power loads.

When I fire factory loads you never see pieces of unburnt powder... What am i missing?

 

[FWest]

Same here. I have tried AA7 in many 9MM loads, have yet to find one that does not leave yellowish unburnt powder around. My loads were mid to upper of the range with lead and FMJ. I have switched to some other powders.

 

[Walkalong]

I have not used any AA #7, but AA #2 does indeed leave partially burned bits if the pressure isn't up there enough. I have not experienced it to the point of tying up guns though.

If you are getting unburned, or mostly burned, bits of powder, the pressure is not high enough. You can bump up the charge, assuming the data allows, or use a faster powder for that load.

AA #5 seems to burn well over a wide range of pressures. It may work better for you where you are using AA #7. Universal is worth a try as well, along with Unique, N340, or WSF.

W231, WST, Clays, Competition, American Select, Red Dot, or Bullseye may work better for you where you are using AA #2.

But again, bumping the charge up a bit may eliminate the unburned powder as well, without having to buy a different powder.

 

[Overkilll0084]

If you wish to continue with those powders, try running them a bit hotter (within published limits of course.) They will probably clean up some. Some powders just don't come into their own at low pressures. Unique & 2400 are good examples.
I use a lot of AA#5 in some fairly tepid .357 loads, and it's pretty clean. My general purpose load for 9mm is built on a mild charge of Bullseye, also clean (for Bullseye anyway).

 

[smartshooter.45]

Thanks guys, that makes sense. I will try turning up the heat. I usually load at the lower power range for target shooting.

 

[rfwobbly]

Thanks guys, that makes sense. I will try turning up the heat.

You got some good advice. Here's some more.....

Since you are already at the mid-range of the load you need to realize that the powder-pressure relationship is NOT a straight line. What took 0.2 or 0.3gr of powder to make happen at the lower end of the range may only take 0.1gr at the upper end. This is because the efficiency of the powder burn rises with increased chamber pressure. Therefore at a certain (unknown to you) point, the reaction becomes sort of self-feeding.

It's sort of like pressing the accelerator to the floor in 2nd gear at low engine RPM, versus doing the same thing at the mid-range RPM. Same car, same fuel, totally different response simply because the energy is being converted more efficiently.

So if you got to the mid-range load with "giant leaps", this might be a good time to start taking "baby steps".

Be safe.

 

[1SOW]

Vit n320 will run clean with light target loads in 9mm and others. Costs a little more, but uses less powder.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have to agree with the above comments. Most powders will run a little dirty unless up near the top of the pressure range.

smartshooter.45,
Please list the calibers, powders and charge weights that are giving you the most problems and we might be able to better advise you. I will tell you one thing, IMO AA#7 is too slow a powder for use in the 9mm and I feel AA#5 is a much better choice. AA#2 is a very fast powder in line with Clays and Bullseye so I would be careful when adding additional powder because small amounts can cause big pressure swings especially in small cases. (although AA#2 seems to be more stable than Clays and Bullseye)

 

[SHR970]

I have burnt several pounds of AA#7 in my 9's and a little AA#2(old Formula).
Old AA#2 did not cycle my P89 correctly (short stroking the slide) but their flyer said there could be problems with some 9mm loads and certain pistols. I had one load that was extremely accurate but wouldn't reliably run the P89. In my Sig 239 that same load ran like a champ. So I stopped using #2.

Went to #7, got so so performance with 115 gr. loads. Went to 124 gr. plated and FMJ and it performed much better. Pushed the loads to the max. and they run very nice. #7 was originally developed for Sub machine gun ammo using heavy projectiles. So much so that you can not overload the case and overpressure (for NATO spec) the round with 147 -158 gr. projectiles. With max. rounds and my Laseraim compensated barrel on the P89, the muzzle goes down when the gun is fired. If you run the pressures up, the loads will clean up with jacketed bullets. This powder doesn't work so well with 9mm lead bullets... at least 115 and 124 gr.

This powder also makes for good snub 357 ammo in my SP101....basically it's a good Blue Dot replacement where you want a powder that isn't as touchy / peaky at the top. It also has far less flash than BD.

YMMV, but I buy it 8 lb.s at a time now.

 

[zeke]

Use a fair amount of AA-7 in 357 mag and 9mm. In the loads being used, it has shown a preference for mag primers and higher pressure loads.

 

[armoredman]

Never had any issues with #7 in 9mm, even with light cast lead loads, dirty, yes, but it really didn't seem to be much dirtier than factory ammo. Hmm, I'll look closer next range trip.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have burnt several pounds of AA#7 in my 9's and a little AA#2(old Formula).
Old AA#2 did not cycle my P89 correctly (short stroking the slide) but their flyer said there could be problems with some 9mm loads and certain pistols. I had one load that was extremely accurate but wouldn't reliably run the P89. In my Sig 239 that same load ran like a champ. So I stopped using #2.

Why would you jump to AA#7 from AA#2 and skip AA#5? Did you try AA#5? Did anyone posting they are using AA#7 in the 9mm try AA#5?

 

[SHR970]

Why would you jump to AA#7 from AA#2 and skip AA#5? Did you try AA#5? Did anyone posting they are using AA#7 in the 9mm try AA#5?

My first work was based on a Hornady manual and all of my work with AA#2 had cycling problems, W231 worked just fine. A few months later I got my hands on an Accurate Arms load guide and it stated that AA#2 and AA#5 had issues with some loads in 9mm with some guns. Since I wasn't loading much 38 Spec. at that time and had stock of W231, I saw no need to try #5. I also had found several good loads with #7 in 9mm, 357, and 44 Mag. so I stayed with it. A couple of years ago, I grabbed a lb. of #5 and recently loaded a batch of 115 gr. 9mm HP's but haven't had a chance to run them due to work travel.

For the record, I have tried Red, Green, BlueDot, Unique, 700X, and 800X in 9mm over the years. I have yet to try Longshot but that is in the near future. In 9mm, I keep going back to W231 for plinking, and AA#7 for performance loads.

 

[armoredman]

I tried AA#5, and while it was good for generic loads for both 38 and 9mm, #7 just seemed to do better. Never had the chance to try anything else.

 

[gamestalker]

Switch to either Longshot or HS6 and you'll be pleasantly surprised, I promise! LOngshot can be difficult to find the data for, but it is avaible on Hogdon's loading site.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Switch to either Longshot or HS6 and you'll be pleasantly surprised, I promise! LOngshot can be difficult to find the data for, but it is avaible on Hogdon's loading site.

Now there's something I can totally agree with. My son just loves shooting 9mm ammo loaded with Longshot, it's his favorite... I like W231 for practice ammo.

 

[flashhole]

It was already mentioned but you might triy a heavier bullet to get the pressures up, maybe even a bit more on the taper crimp. I use AA#7 in my 40 S&W without issue shooting 175 grain cast bullets, burns real clean and accuracy is very good.