Experiences with Accurate No. 7

ScottJ · Oct 23, 2011

Posted this over at Castboolits but I thought I'd ask here as well:
Anyone have much experience with No. 7 in the .44 Mag?

I decided to start load development for the Lee 214-SWC I got off eBay some time back.

I had 18 lubed with mule snot (Lee Liquid Alox). Did the first 6 over 10gr Unique:
Lee 429-214-SWC
10gr Unique
629 Classic 6.5"
Avg: 1224
Hi: 1258
Lo: 1184
Es: 74
Sd: 24
1184, 1258, 1232, 1223, 1234, 1216

Then on a whim I had loaded 12 over 15.7gr Accurate No. 7 which is the start load for 210 j-word in the Sierra book I have (well, the book lists 15.6 but my auto disk delivers 15.7).

The results were impressive:
Lee 429-214-SWC
15.7gr Accurate No. 7
629 Classic
Avg: 1319
Hi: 1354
Lo: 1235
Es: 119
Sd: 33
1293, 1300, 1311, 1336, 1310, 1323, 1235, 1342, 1336, 1346, 1354, 1350

That's close to the same sort of velocity I get with a 200gr boolit over 24gr WW296 but without nearly so much blast.

I know it's only 18 rounds but there was little leading to speak of and it came right out when I brushed.

I didn't evaluate accuracy but I have about 100 more to load and this batch is lubed with NRA formula. Unless anyone reports major headaches with 7 I might load up this batch as above for evaluation.

Skip Sackett · Oct 23, 2011

ScottJ said:
That's close to the same sort of velocity I get with a 200gr boolit over 24gr WW296 but without nearly so much blast.

I know it's only 18 rounds but there was little leading to speak of and it came right out when I brushed.

I didn't evaluate accuracy but I have about 100 more to load and this batch is lubed with NRA formula. Unless anyone reports major headaches with 7 I might load up this batch as above for evaluation.

I am "lead_her_fly" over there. One thing I would challenge you to do with these loads next; use conventional lube and size them to your firearm. THEN stand back and watch for some really cool results!

Thanks for the report.

p.s. Accurate Arms powders are really lead friendly. Enjoy!

semperfi71 · Oct 23, 2011

I have been loading AA7 in +P .38 Special loads, .38-44, .357 Magnum, and .44 Special loads

My desire is to find a load that drives a 158 grain bullet (in the .38 Special) to about 1,000 fps. And a 158 grain in the .38-44 and .357 to about 1100/1200 fps. And a 240 grain bullet in the .44 Special to about 1,000 fps.

AA7 has shown a propensity to load to these levels without pressure signs and in some of my handguns accuracy was sufficient, and in a couple of others accuracy was the "best".

It's a great powder I think for loads that fall just below the "magnum" loads but give less recoil than a charge of the magnum type powders.

fredj338 · Oct 23, 2011

I've never tried it in the 44ma, but see no reason to not use it for midrange to upper midrange vel levels. I think you have to push it hard for top end loads, but yeah, why not AA#7?

running iron · Oct 23, 2011

I really like AA#7 for mid-range loads in my 44 mag 629 with a 3" barrel. Also works great for high end loads in my 44 special ruger blackhawk with a 4 5/8" barrel. The only down side as some of you know, AA#5 and 7 are not the cleanest powders out there, but that is a small price to pay for a powder that does work really good when applied to the right situation. I have never had any of my revolvers tie up due to those little tan balls in AA powder, but I guess it could happen with a real tight gun.

papajohn428 · Oct 24, 2011

I started using AA#7 in medium to full magnum loads after several bad experiences with Blue Dot, and I still love it. The residue seems a little gummier than most, but it cleans up fairly easily and the ballistics are pretty good. Charges closer to maximum seem to burn a bit cleaner, as is true with many powders. I use AA#7 and Longshot in my .460 Rowland Carbine, and the consistency is excellent, standard deviations are almost always under 20fps.

running iron · Oct 26, 2011

I just got back from checking out some loads with AA#7 in my new 3" 629 from Talo. A 210 Remington JHP with 17.4 grs of AA#7 goes 1273 fps, ave. for 5 rounds. While the same load in a 71/2" Ruger Bisley did 1406 fps. Same 5 round ave. This is the least amount of velocity loss I've seen so far in testing for the 44 magnum and 3" vs. 7 1/2" barrels. With lighter loads it's closer, but when real 44 magnum loads are used, the difference has been much greater for me so far. That is why I like AA#7. Very accurate too. With that load the bullet traveled a good foot into wet magazines and mushroomed perfectly.

Experiences with Accurate No. 7

ScottJ

Member

Skip Sackett

US Veteran

semperfi71

US Veteran

fredj338

Member

running iron

US Veteran

papajohn428

Member

running iron

US Veteran

Similar threads

Latest posts