AA #9 in 357

[aalmcc4]

Anybody load 357s with Accurate #9 powder? How does it compare to 2400 or H110? I generally shoot 158gr lead SWC.

I have a bunch of #9 and have never used it in 357. So far I just used it in heavy bullet 45 Colt.

Thanks...

 

[aalmcc4]

Anybody load 357s with Accurate #9 powder? How does it compare to 2400 or H110? I generally shoot 158gr lead SWC.

I have a bunch of #9 and have never used it in 357. So far I just used it in heavy bullet 45 Colt.

Thanks...

 

[jibjab]

What firearm will you be using ? I use AA#9 for a 2.75" Ruger SS and a 4" Colt Trooper with very good results. I mostly load it behind 158 and 180gr jacketed bullets with small pistol primers.

 

[aalmcc4]

I'll shoot it in a M28 or a 586

 

[Wheelgunner840]

It is slower burning, which means that it will work better with heavier bullets like the 180. I know that you said that you have a lot on hand, but AA#s 2,5 & 7 are a better choice for the .357 according to all of the sources that I have checked.

WG840

It is my go-to powder for the .44 magnum though.

 

[jibjab]

I use a hard cast lead bullet like OT's laser cast and #9 works well in my 2.75" and 4" guns, I also had good results with Cast Performance 180gr WNFPGC with #9.
http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/Accurate%20v322%20web%20publication.pdf

 

[8emem]

I have found that AA #9 in my .357 revolvers shows excess pressure signs (flattened primers and quite sticky extraction) well below published maximums from AA and other load sources. Something going on there that I do not comprehend. Not being a risk taker, I have since switched to H110 for full power loads and find better accuracy, more complete burning, and no pressure signs even when loading close to maximum.

 

[Steve C]

I've used AA#9 in the .357 mag and it works well with both 158gr hard cast bullets and jacketed bullets. Charge weights are similar to 2400 minus 1 gr but its a finer and higher density powder so it doesn't fill the case as much.

A load of 12.2grs behind a hard cast SWC lit by a CCI550 small pistol magnum ran an average of 1,268 fps from a 4" S&W M66. With a 158gr Remington JSP bullet and 13.0gr of AA#9 using a standard Winchester WSP primer from a 3.5" S&W M27 the velocity was 1,102 fps and from a 6" Colt Trooper it was 1,289 fps.

I've also used it in loads for the .41 magnum.

 

[aalmcc4]

Any opinions whether the ball powders like AA#9 accelerate top strap flame cutting?

 

[jibjab]

I have found that AA #9 in my .357 revolvers shows excess pressure signs (flattened primers and quite sticky extraction) well below published maximums from AA and other load sources.

That's what I found when working up loads for the Colt Trooper with 158gr JHPs and WSP I started at 12.2gr and at 12.8gr I had sticky cases(not stuck) and flattened primers. At 13.2gr the shells fell out and the primers looked fine, I settled on 13.6gr. In my Ruger Security Six I use 13.9gr of #9 with 158gr XTPs with no sign of over pressure.

 

[Dusty Miller]

Originally posted by aalmcc4:
Anybody load 357s with Accurate #9 powder? How does it compare to 2400 or H110? I generally shoot 158gr lead SWC. I have a bunch of #9 and have never used it in 357. So far I just used it in heavy bullet 45 Colt.Thanks...

What does your reloading manual say?

 

[bigt5150]

At one point the Accurate manual stated that #9 shouldn't be used or is discouraged in 125 gr. weight bullets.

 

[Wayne M]

I use #9 exclusively in the 357 case. Good power, great accuracy, burns clean. 158gr cast TC's are great with #9 as are any jacketed bullet I've tried. Usually buy it two 8lb'ers at a time.

 

[MTAustin]

I forget my exact load, but before I switched to heavier bullets and 2400 exclusively, I used AA9 behind a cast 158 grain SWC in my M28 with excellent results.

 

[John R]

I've used quite a few pounds of AA-9 in the 357 Mag loads with no problem at all.
AA-9 really shines in the 44 Mag though.
IMHO it burns very clean in the heaver loads.

I think it's pretty close to H-110

 

[johngalt]

Originally posted by jibjab:

I have found that AA #9 in my .357 revolvers shows excess pressure signs (flattened primers and quite sticky extraction) well below published maximums from AA and other load sources.

That's what I found when working up loads for the Colt Trooper with 158gr JHPs and WSP I started at 12.2gr and at 12.8gr I had sticky cases(not stuck) and flattened primers. At 13.2gr the shells fell out and the primers looked fine, I settled on 13.6gr. In my Ruger Security Six I use 13.9gr of #9 with 158gr XTPs with no sign of over pressure.

I don't quite understand something here...

If you had flattened primers and sticky extraction at 12.8 gr, why did you keep going up? It's odd that your apparent pressure when down as you increased the charge.

 

[John R]

I think that when the powder burns at a hotter, and higher pressure it is more stable.
What your most likely getting with a reduced's load is carbon blowing back between the case and the charge holes in the cylinder.
Causing hard extraction.

 

[jibjab]

If you had flattened primers and sticky extraction at 12.8 gr, why did you keep going up? It's odd that your apparent pressure when down as you increased the charge.

It's odd indeed, but I think John R's post may help explain this, my notes also tell of black case mouths.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Just remember that ball powders and high pressures with revolvers are a good combination to make flame cuts.

I don't run ball powders in my magnum and maximum class revolvers for that reason. Do some searches on the 357 maximum and light bullets to see the problem.

For this reason I would stay away from AA9 in the 357 magnum.

 

[Ahab]

I use it with 180gr Jacketed, burns clean and consistent.