Let's talk about AA #9

[BC38]

I'm sure it has been discussed before, but how do you search for #9 or for accurate, and not get a gazillion threads to wade through?

So, anyway, I picked up an unopened one pound jug of AA # 9 today for a whopping $10 at the gun show. In pistol cartridges it looks like it is mostly good for magnums. The 2016 Western Powders Loading guide shows loads for 357, 41, & 44 magnum, but nothing for 38 & 44 specials or 9mm or even 45 acp.

So is it pretty much a magnum-only powder? Looking at the burn rate charts it looks like it is a little faster than Alliant 2400 and a little slower than Hodgdon H110. From that I'm assuming that it is best not to load it with light-for-caliber bullets, especially at higher velocities? I did notice that the recommended loads have a nice, broad, 10%-12% high to low charge weight range - unlike H110 where the recommended charge weight ranges are very narrow and seem to vary only 3%-5% between high and low.

Since H110 and 2400 both have the reputation of eroding and damaging forcing cones in K frames with hot loadings under light bullets, I'm thinking the same issues would probably apply to AA #9 as well?

 

[rg1]

AA#9 is my favorite and most accurate powder for .357 Magnum with 158 gr. bullets and is what I use for both revolver and a lever action carbine rifle. I see no issues with flame cutting the top strap unlike Win 296/H110 which has shown flame cutting to some degree in my 44 Mag. Ruger Super Blackhawk. I prefer Hornady 158 XTP's and AA#9 just slightly less than Accurate Arms maximum data. I have found Accurate data to be realistic. Accurate Arms Manual #1 used CCI 500 primers in .357 Mag while later Accurate data tests with CCI 550 magnum primers. I have had best accuracy with the standard primer. Again I think AA's data is "accurate". I have a load with Win 296 for 44 Magnum that shoots so well in my pistol and Winchester 16" Trapper rifle that I just haven't tested AA#9 in anything but 357 Mag. It is too slow for anything but magnum calibers.

 

[BC38]

AA#9 is my favorite and most accurate powder for .357 Magnum with 158 gr. bullets and is what I use for both revolver and a lever action carbine rifle. I see no issues with flame cutting the top strap unlike Win 296/H110 which has shown flame cutting to some degree in my 44 Mag. Ruger Super Blackhawk. I prefer Hornady 158 XTP's and AA#9 just slightly less than Accurate Arms maximum data. I have found Accurate data to be realistic. Accurate Arms Manual #1 used CCI 500 primers in .357 Mag while later Accurate data tests with CCI 550 magnum primers. I have had best accuracy with the standard primer. Again I think AA's data is "accurate". I have a load with Win 296 for 44 Magnum that shoots so well in my pistol and Winchester 16" Trapper rifle that I just haven't tested AA#9 in anything but 357 Mag. It is too slow for anything but magnum calibers.

Some good feedback, there rg1. Thanks.

Anybody else use AA # 9 ?
Anybody used it for anything other than 357 magnums?

 

[bluelund79]

I am close to 2k miles away from my data, but I use #9 for 357mag, both with 140gr and 158gr Hornady XTPs, both for rifles and revolvers. I tried it in 44mag, but 2400 and W296 produced better results with jacketed and lead bullets. There are better powders for 38 and 44 special, which I use Unique and Universal the most, with the exception of Trailboss for 240gr lead loads that my wife loves to shoot. If I was closer, Id double your money on that pound. My youngest son shoots a 357mag HandiRifle, and we are starting to go through powder, primers, and projectiles in preparation for his first deer season this fall.

 

[BC38]

I am close to 2k miles away from my data, but I use #9 for 357mag, both with 140gr and 158gr Hornady XTPs, both for rifles and revolvers. I tried it in 44mag, but 2400 and W296 produced better results with jacketed and lead bullets. There are better powders for 38 and 44 special, which I use Unique and Universal the most, with the exception of Trailboss for 240gr lead loads that my wife loves to shoot. If I was closer, Id double your money on that pound. My youngest son shoots a 357mag HandiRifle, and we are starting to go through powder, primers, and projectiles in preparation for his first deer season this fall.

More good feedback, thanks.
I have lots of AA # 2 that I like for my 38 & 44 specials. Pretty good for 9mm too.
I have 3 pounds of W286 too, so I'll probably load a few 44 mag with each and see if my results match yours.

 

[rwsmith]

I have only tried.....

I've only tried Acc#7, but if the others are anywhere near as good, they have some impressive powder.

I get that Acc #9 is about equal to Blue Dot? Anybody else hear that?

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Anybody else use AA # 9 ?
Anybody used it for anything other than 357 magnums?

.

It's closest to 2400 in burn rate but it's a ball powder, vs. a flake powder.

I tried a pound several years ago experimenting with it when 2400 was scarce. Did fine in everything until I tried some in 45 Colt cases (+P loads) in a 454 Casull revolver & had two squibs, the only ones I ever had. Short story, use magnum primers or read the long story here.

AA#9 Squibs in 45 Colt cases

.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like Accurate powders but unfortunately they are not available where I live. AA#9 is a very good magnum powder that meters well and does not require a magnum primer.

I like AA#5 for the 9mm and .38 Special +P loads and sometimes in the 45 Colt too. If you load for the 40 S&W you will like AA#7 and for the .38 Special and .44 Special AA#2 is great.

Since Accurate powders are not available by me I'm using W231, HS-6 and W296 instead. I'm going to try W572 soon too.

 

[muddocktor]

I've been using Accurate #9 since the early to mid 90's and like it a whole lot. It's a bit quicker than 296/H110 and slower than Blue Dot. It meters very well in my Dillon powder measure but my Lyman 55 doesn't like it at all and binds up. It gives velocities a little lower than 296 but it is an accurate load. And it is a lot less "flashy" than 296 too, so I think they use some flash suppressant in it. I load it in 357 and 44 Mag and it performs admirably in both for me. I'm 800 miles away from home, but looking on my phone I see I have a little data to share.

Out of my Rossi 92SRC (20" barrel) rifle, 11.2 grains averaged 1480 ft/sec with a SD of 14. That's with a MBC 180 grain Striker bullet

Out of the same rifle, a 140 grain MBC Zinger bullet averaged 1604 ft/sec with a SD of 23 with 12.5 grains. With 13.5 grain the velocity went to 1769 with a SD 20.

 

[fredj338]

Some good feedback, there rg1. Thanks.

Anybody else use AA # 9 ?
Anybody used it for anything other than 357 magnums?

I haven't given it a run in my magnums yet but do like it for max 357sig & 10mm loads. It is my fav in 10mm with 200gr bullets, very accurate & 1200fps in a stock Glock. When I get around to it I'll give it a go in my magnums. It should do just as well as 2400 for just under max effort loads.

 

[hammer 1]

It is my powder for 357, and 41 mag, actually started with it, because it is easy to get in my area. I use hard cast 158 swc's, in 357, and 215 swc's, in 41mag. Do not see any reason to change.

 

[M E Morrison]

I used it when I was hotrodding 9mm loads with 147 gr bullets.
I was shooting it in a TC Contender, and won't reveal the exact load as it would probably damage or destroy a regular autoloader if it found its way into the gun.

I was getting just under 1200 FPS from a 10 inch barrel, and the brass held up for ten reloads before I retired it.

 

[TGaryT]

I also happen to like AA#9, but have had to stop using it in 454 with WSR primers. Recently tried CCI Mag small rifle primers, which have been tough to obtain until this year, and this solved the powder ignition problems. I had the same problems with 1680 and WSR primers, so if you shoot 454 use the magnum primers small rifle primers with AA#9.

 

[mtgianni]

I like it in the magnums but only with heavy bullets and a stout crimp. I had a squib with it in the 44 mag and 250 gr bullets. It could have been a weak primer but it stuck in the cylinder and forcing cone locking it up. Powder looked funky as though it partially ignited. One load out of several thousand but I use it for 250 + in the 44 and 158 + in the 357.

 

[BC38]

Good feedback guys, keep it coming!

So is there pretty much a consensus to not only limit it's use to loading magnums, but to use magnum primers to insure good ignition?

 

[muddocktor]

I've always used magnum primers with it and never have had any problems. All Accurate's present data has it being lit off with magnum primers in both 357 and 44.

 

[BC38]

I've always used magnum primers with it and never have had any problems. All Accurate's present data has it being lit off with magnum primers in both 357 and 44.

Good point. Personally I've pretty much always used regular primers in my light target 357 & 44 mags. But I haven't loaded many full power loads or used any powder that is specifically meant for those full-house loads either.

I think that my small stock of magnum primers will be used for this powder and my IMR 4227.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Save your magnum primer for AA#9. I4227 doesn't need it as it'll have residue not matter what you use.

.

 

[fredj338]

Good feedback guys, keep it coming!

So is there pretty much a consensus to not only limit it's use to loading magnums, but to use magnum primers to insure good ignition?

Not so much magnums only but high pressure rounds. It is the powder of most shooting 357sig. I prefer it to anything else with 200-220gr bullets in the 10mm. It would probably be a good. Choice for top vel in 40 w/ 180gr bullets but i havent gone there.

 

[cowboy4evr]

It is actually a bit faster than 2400 on all my burn rate charts and according to the load data of both . I use std pistol primers in 357 , Winchester L pistol primers in 41's and 44's . It is " THE " powder IMO for the 357 sig using a 124gr jacketed bullet , and I use a std small pistol primer here . I would not try to use it in low pressure rounds like 38spl , 44 spl , 45acp and 45 Colt . There are much better powders for those calibers and even into +P territory .