Dirty As Ever

[ColColt]

Yesterday at the range I brought along some reloads consisting of the 185 gr Sierra JHP behind 9.5 gr of AA#5 and about 50 rounds of the 200 gr GDHP's behind 7 gr of Unique.

The AA#5 looked like a fireball at the muzzle as you could really see muzzle flash big time. Unique, on the other hand, was dirty as always. I'm curious about this load as to why such muzzle flash from the AA#5 as I don't recall it blasting out such a fireball before when I use to use it years ago. Moreover, this is the same lot of powder I used back then as I had a stash of it.

 

[Rule3]

Caliber?


plus 2 characters =10

 

[cp1969]

Lots of people blink, right at the moment of the shot. I've seen people shoot H110 loads that were creating a huge fireball who claim to not see it.

Could it be that you were blinking earlier and have now gained enough experience that you keep your eyes open? Because if you're using the same lot of power, the same bullet, etc., the fireball was probably there before.

 

[ColColt]

Caliber?

.45 of course. Is there something else? I haven't noticed it with the 9mm or 40 quite as bad but I don't reload for the 9.

Could it be that you were blinking earlier and have now gained enough experience that you keep your eyes open? Because if you're using the same lot of power, the same bullet, etc., the fireball was probably there before.

Earlier would have been about 15 years ago as that's the last time until the past few months I was able to get back into shooting once again due to various reasons. I'm sure I would have seen it before but don't recall it or it wasn't a big deal to me then. Maybe the time lapse blurred my memory. I don't think prior experience from 15 years back and now would make a lot of difference as I've been shooting since 1966 when introduced to the M14 by way of the Army but, not pistols until around 1970.

I don't know, guys. I thought it odd such a fireball from one powder and not another.

 

[cp1969]

Guns can make you wonder. Consider this:

My Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt would flash horribly with 2400 using a 250 gr. Hornady JHP. Yet, when using a 255 gr LSWC, produced no flash with the same powder charge. This gun had large cylinder throats and my theory was that the lead bullet obdurated to seal them whereas the JHP could not.

It's not unusual for some powders to flash and others not. H380 out of a .225 Winchester used to produce giant fireballs easily visible during the day. My experience is that Ball powders are more inclined to flash.

 

[oldRoger]

I never shoot or load 185 gr (200 or 230 only). But it occurs to me that 9.6grs AA#5 is a lot in that bullet weight.
I think that I would recheck and perhaps back off a bit. Probably will not change the velocity much but will cut back on the flash and roar.

I found myself a bit over on my #5 200gr lead load, a friend ask me if I had a flame thrower in my P220. Cutting back a bit cured that.

 

[Rule3]

I never shoot or load 185 gr (200 or 230 only). But it occurs to me that 9.6grs AA#5 is a lot in that bullet weight.
I think that I would recheck and perhaps back off a bit. Probably will not change the velocity much but will cut back on the flash and roar.

The Acc Guide online shows 9.2 to 10.2 for #5 and the 185 bullet. Speer 14 shows 9.5 to 10.6 for their GD bullet, so another reloading mystery.

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/Acc%20Guide%20v3.3%20version.pdf

 

[Skip Sackett]

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The Acc Guide online shows 5.5 to 6.1 for #5 and the 185 bullet. Based on that, 9.6 is perhaps a tad over but Speer 14 shows 9.5 to 10.6 for their GD bullet, so another reloading mystery.

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/Acc Guide v3.3 version.pdf

Roy,
I think you need to check that link again, buddy. I cannot find the data you mention. In 45ACP it says:

No.5 185 HDY XTP 9.2 970 10.2 1,102 19,900 1.210

And:

No.5 170 MCB SWC 8.1 945 9.0 1,074 17,800 1.130

I didn't check any of my other sources but imagine the AA#5 loads aren't that far out of line. Their last published data went all the way to 10.8gr for +P with an 185gr XTP!

 

[Steve C]

The fireball is a result of more powder and the resulting larger amount of burning gas going out the muzzle usually along with lower light conditions. You will not notice how much light a candle gives off in a lighted room but dim the electric lights and you will notice it.

I think anyone who shoots Unique and complains its dirty should take some time and shoot a black powder pistol or rifle with real black. After cleaning them then tell us how dirty you think Unique is.

 

[oldRoger]

Lyman says 9.2 max, Speer 11 says 9.1max, Nosler says 9.6 max, old (2003?) AA info shows 4 185 gr J bullets with variously 9.5, 10.2, 10.2, and 10.4 maximums. Also old AA says 10.8 is +p max.

So what’s a feller to believe??
If you have a means to chronograph the load I would suggest doing so, then try at say 9.3 and check velocity drop and flame.

 

[Treeman]

Increased flash without a notable gain in performance and decreased ability to obtain accurate chronograph readings is attributable to the Obama administration

 

[cp1969]

Are you sure it's not Bush's fault? Everything else is.

 

[ScottJ]

Interesting you're getting such flash.

I'm using 8.3 of #5 behind a cast 140gr SWC and it's a nice light magnum load (heavier than .38 +P but not a full-house .357 boomer). Not much flash at all.

I tried 9gr while developing the load but it gave me a slight bit of leading and was less accurate than 8.3.

And, trust me, I know flash. I have some 125gr jacketed stuff sitting over 19.5gr of WW 296 that I shoot out of my SP101 snubbie somtimes.

 

[Rule3]

Roy,
I think you need to check that link again, buddy. I cannot find the data you mention. In 45ACP it says:


And:


I didn't check any of my other sources but imagine the AA#5 loads aren't that far out of line. Their last published data went all the way to 10.8gr for +P with an 185gr XTP!

They must have updated their web site when I wasn't looking

You are correct, I read the wrong line. I corrected my original post. Thanks for correcting me.

 

[ColColt]

I never shoot or load 185 gr (200 or 230 only). But it occurs to me that 9.6grs AA#5 is a lot in that bullet weight.
I think that I would recheck and perhaps back off a bit. Probably will not change the velocity much but will cut back on the flash and roar.

I worked up to 9.5 gr according to AA's manual which states a starting load of 8.7 gr of #5 with the Sierra 185 gr and a max of 9.7. I stopped at 9.5 gr. This is from the latest manual. There was no flattened or pierced primers and no other indication of pressure but, I stopped there anyway.