Experiences with Accurate No. 7

ScottJ

ScottJ

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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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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!
 
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.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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