Alcan AL-8 in .357 ??

[Win]

In checking under the "bench" I find I have about 1/2 pound of 1970's AL-8 that still seems fresh and new in all respects. I need to load up 100 rds of new .357 brass with some 125 jhp tips.

Any of you folks have some of the older loading manuals laying around that would have data for that powder.. with that tip in a .357 ?? This will be shot in a model 28....I'm not trying to blow the gun up, but I am looking for "full speed ahead" type loads...not mid range. Thanks

 

[Watergoat]

According to the Speer #8,1970, 14.0 AL8 gives 1273, 16.0 gives 1406 behind a 125 gr. round nose soft point. Speer brass, CCI 500 primer. I don't think they have made that bullet in many years.
Speer #9, dated 1974, has a more modern looking flat-nosed hollow point 125 grain. 14.0 gr. AL-8 gives 1321, 15.0 gives 1412.
As always, start low, work up. Remember, this is 35 year old data, and your powder is probably close to that, if not more. Also, pressure testing was nowhere near as precise back then as it is now. Be discreet.

 

[Paul5388]

Here's the data from the 2nd edition of Speer #8, 1971.

It might do better with a 158 gr LSWC or other heavier bullet, where it will develope as much velocity as the lighter bullet will.

I've used Speer #8 data with Sierra 125 gr JHCs for over 35 years without a problem (in a M28-2).

 

[Win]

After adjusting the powder throw for about 15 minutes, I finally got a consistant 15.4 grains of Alcan AL-8 to meter thru. I started loading the Sierra 125 jsp and will take the ammo, the Chrony and the model 28 to the range next week-end and see what I get. Thanks for the help.

 

[Win]

Took a trip to the range today. If anyone else needs the data, 15.4 gave 1310 fps with 125 jhp and 11 grains of Alcan-8 gave 1090 with the same tip....this from a 6 in model 28. Interesting how a 4.4 grain increase in powder only yielded a little over 200 fps in additional speed. The 15.4 grain load seemed a little stout, but very managable in such a big gun, while the 11 grain load, just slightly above 38+p, was very nice to shoot.

 

[Paul5388]

Win,

I went back and looked at the hard copy to see what that 16.0 gr fps was and found 1406 fps shot out of a 6" M27. Half way between the 14.0 gr load and the 16.0 gr load would be 1335 fps, so you're maybe 25 fps slower than what they got. Of course, their AL-8 was almost 40 years newer than yours.

 

[mkk41]

Wow , I haven't seen Alcan powder in years. Powder was square flakes and metered like crap. Made in Scotland IIRC. They made primers too.

 

[Polar Boy]

AL-8 was once my all time favorite powder. I used it in my 10 gauge shotgun and my .41 magnum. Accuracy in the .41 with 220 grain Speer SJWC bullets was amazing.

Broke my heart when it disappeared from the marketplace. I recently stumbled upon a note that I made in one of my reloading manuals: "5/15/77, today @ 1634 the AL-8 became extinct".

Consider yourself very fortunate to have even a small amount of AL-8.