200 gr xtp AA#9

[Shaines88]

I?ve seen others on the forum getting up to 13.0 grs of powder in the case.  I?m maxing out on capacity at just 12.1 gr at a coal of 1.260. However, this gives a 1200 fps mv out of my factory 6? g40.  AA9 seems to be extremely inconsistent from lot to lot I wish I had bought a larger quantity.

[sqlbullet]

You will also find threads about crushed noses and bullets backing out.

I find a few gentle taps to help the powder settle can make a difference.  I have burned about 2-3 lbs of #9 over the years, mostly in 10mm, but also in magnums.

I like the velocities and the safety margin in 10mm with heavy bullets.  As your post indicates, it is hard to get enough powder in the case to be over-pressure with #9 in 10mm.

I don't like the price.  #9 is already a premium price in my parts running about 50% more than Alliant or Hodgdon powders.  Add to that the fact that I have to use 25% more to get similar velocity to Longshot, Blue Dot, Power Pistol or BE-86 and #9 is very much not the economy choice.

However, it appears it will also be a top performer in 9X25 and I was surprised to see I was out last week when creating some test loads in that calendar.  I will be picking up another lb of it soon.

[The_Shadow]

Accurate #9 has undergone several revisions in formulations over the years. 
My very first jug of accurate #9 was the Microbeads of Win 820


Then they added 10% Winchester 350 to the formula


Later they added some AA#7


The newer formula is a flatten ball powder

[gnappi]

Accurate #9 has undergone several revisions in formulations over the years. 
My very first jug of accurate #9 was the Microbeads of Win 820


Then they added 10% Winchester 350 to the formula


Later they added some AA#7


The newer formula is a flatten ball powder

Holy cow! I thought that changing gun powder formulations was anathema in gun powder making! Are these your pix or AA's?

[sqlbullet]

Not only do they change formula, there is often a fair bit of variation between lots even when using the "same" formulation.  Just how the chemistry works out at an industrial level.

The key is the expected burn characteristics.  If the burn rate falls within the acceptable parameters at the defined temperatures and pressures, which are determined by the published load data, then it is released under the same label.  If it doesn't, then it ends up as a bulk powder run sold to an ammo maker who calibrates specific loads from the powder that fall within saami spec for the cartridge(s) they are loading.

This illustrates two very important, but oft ignored, concerns for the handloader.

1.  An "off-book" or "over-max" load that was safe when you worked it up, but not be safe in the next lot of powder.  You may be creating temperature/pressure conditions that fall outside the test parameters used by the powder manufacturer.

2.  Pull-down data can be a valuable asset, but it should also be understood that though a powder may be visually identical to a canister powder, it could be a run that failed to meet full canister powder criteria.

Of course, both of these are handily covered if a handloader is diligent about reducing 10% and working back up when switching between lots of powder.  But, I will be the first to admit that this doesn't always happen.  In fact, I have only recently started tracking lot# of powder and primers in my loading process.

[Graybeard]

Not only do they change formula, there is often a fair bit of variation between lots even when using the "same" formulation.  Just how the chemistry works out at an industrial level.

The key is the expected burn characteristics.  If the burn rate falls within the acceptable parameters at the defined temperatures and pressures, which are determined by the published load data, then it is released under the same label.  If it doesn't, then it ends up as a bulk powder run sold to an ammo maker who calibrates specific loads from the powder that fall within saami spec for the cartridge(s) they are loading.

This illustrates two very important, but oft ignored, concerns for the handloader.

1.  An "off-book" or "over-max" load that was safe when you worked it up, but not be safe in the next lot of powder.  You may be creating temperature/pressure conditions that fall outside the test parameters used by the powder manufacturer.

2.  Pull-down data can be a valuable asset, but it should also be understood that though a powder may be visually identical to a canister powder, it could be a run that failed to meet full canister powder criteria.

Of course, both of these are handily covered if a handloader is diligent about reducing 10% and working back up when switching between lots of powder.  But, I will be the first to admit that this doesn't always happen.  In fact, I have only recently started tracking lot# of powder and primers in my loading process.

Totally agree. It also illustrates the utility of buying 4 and 8lb containers of the powders one uses most. It's all the same lot (obviously) and therefore more consistent than a lb here and there.

[Shaines88]

I?ve had multiple lots of the SAME powder and mixed them all to be uniform before using and working up any loads with it.basically creating my own single uniform lot of powder. Now with this powder of obviously different makeup I?m not so sure I?d even do that. Looks like it?s back to square one when these few lbs run out!

[Shaines88]

BTW for anybody that?s watching this post. The version I have is the all flattened ball AA#9.  With my dies and the 3 different brands of brass I?ve used 12.1 gr will just barely start to make seating plug rings on the 200gr xtps. Any more than that and rounds would be deformed enough I wouldn?t wanna use the load.  Albeit it seems I?m getting good velocity with the 12.1 loads as opposed to others using more powder. 1200 fps for a 200gr bullet is plenty hot enough for anything I need to do!  Accurate too!

[The_Shadow]

Accurate #9 has undergone several revisions in formulations over the years. 
My very first jug of accurate #9 was the Microbeads of Win 820


Then they added 10% Winchester 350 to the formula


Later they added some AA#7


The newer formula is a flatten ball powder

Holy cow! I thought that changing gun powder formulations was anathema in gun powder making! Are these your pix or AA's?

Most of the pictures come from the National Center for Forensic Science smokeless powder data base:  https://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/search.php

https://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/index.php

[sqlbullet]

I?ve had multiple lots of the SAME powder and mixed them all to be uniform before using and working up any loads with it.basically creating my own single uniform lot of powder. Now with this powder of obviously different makeup I?m not so sure I?d even do that. Looks like it?s back to square one when these few lbs run out!

You do you and what you are comfortable with, but this would create a challenge if they recalled one of the lots you used in your mix.

[gadabout]

Just found this thread but shot aa9 this morning and a few days ago. I have a few Power Pistol rounds in the 6.5 neighborhood and found these 12.5 aa9 rounds I had loaded when I received 200g blue bullets a while ago. Anyway when I shot the aa9 rounds it scared me a little in the Kimber. a lot of recoil but checked all brass and it was fine. I can load more as I have the stuff to do it and nothing for 9mm. I will lighten it up a little though.  Craig