AA #9 - just got some

[sstewart]

My test loads so far:
165 gr penn (lead 165) TC with 13.5 gr of #9 powder. - very accurate. Some smoke (less than titegroup) is this the best I can do. Commercial loads of Remington 9mm smoke about the same as this. But my titegroup loads do not smoke with plated bullets. (Rainer & Berrys)

180 gr Berrys with 12.1 This showed no signs of stress. My front sight came loose during this session so I don't know about accuracy yet. No smoke

I know that AA #9 is preferred by more than a few members of this forum. Looking for answers about the smoke on lead bullets and some options to prefer with bullets. AA#9 cost me 25.95 per lb. The cheaper lead bullets make up for that extra cost, but cost isn't my only goal.

Appreciate the advice in advance.

[nickE10mm]

Hey there. I just bought a pound myself although i'm between houses right now so I can't load any up yet. I have a thread over on GT 10mm Reloading Forum you can check out too.

[sqlbullet]

smoke on lead bullets is more often than not caused by lube more than the powder.

Casting them yourself, and if so, how are they lubed?  Are the bases free of lube?

[Driftwood]

I just shot my first AA#9 loads last weekend.  I don't have a chronograph, so I have no idea about velocities, but every load functioned flawlessly.  I fired a few different loads with different bullets.  I shot some 180 gr. Gold Dots loaded up with 12.8 gr. AA#9 at an OAL of 1.255.  These shot nice.  I recovered 1 bullet in the frozen hillside and it expanded nicely.  Next up were some 180 gr. XTPs in loads of 13.1 gr, 13.3 gr, and 13.5 gr all loaded to a OAL of 1.25.  Of those, the 13.1 was most accurate, but no signs of pressure in any of the loads.  Lastly, I shot some 180 gr. Xtreme plated hollow points with 13 gr. at an OAL of 1.26.  Again...no issues and no signs of pressure.

Here is the Gold Dot that I recovered

[sstewart]

smoke on lead bullets is more often than not caused by lube more than the powder.

Casting them yourself, and if so, how are they lubed?  Are the bases free of lube?

These are 165 grain TC from Penn bullets. They have a red band in the middle, which may indicate the lube.
(Not to me though)

[sqlbullet]

Lube groove with red lube in it from a commercial mfg means a hard lube most likely.  That should also mean very little lube on the base of the bullet.

Lead bullets tend to be a little dirtier than bullets with a gilding or jacket.  You can mitigate that some with alloy, size and lube, but not eliminate it.

[sstewart]

Sounds like I am getting as good a results as can be expected then.
I made up some more test loads with various powder weights on the lead 165gr bullets.
Hopefully I can shoot them tomorrow evening.

[attrapereves]

My nuke loads are 14.3gr of AA#9 over 180gr Zero bullets. They usually put out right under 1300fps out of my Glock 20. No overpressure signs.

AA#9 is such a great powder for 10mm and 357SIG as you probably can't fit enough in the case to blow up anything.

[Yondering]

I know that AA #9 is preferred by more than a few members of this forum.

It is preferred for full power high velocity loads, for it's almost perfect burn rate for the application, and very low flash. If you're looking for cheap plinking low pressure loads, you bought the wrong powder. Titegroup has a completely different application than #9, and sounds like it's more suited to what you want.

[sstewart]

Not wanting cheapest. When I want that it would be lead bullets and Titegroup. TG with the Penn Bullet shot fine, I didn't like the excessive smoke from the lube. The AA9 produced nice result with less smoke, but costs more. I haven't pushed AA9 at all though. 14.3gr with 165 bullet is as high as I have gone.
Life is full of trade offs, it's all good.

[Taterhead]

I know that AA #9 is preferred by more than a few members of this forum.

It is preferred for full power high velocity loads, for it's almost perfect burn rate for the application, and very low flash. If you're looking for cheap plinking low pressure loads, you bought the wrong powder. Titegroup has a completely different application than #9, and sounds like it's more suited to what you want.

Exactly right about A9 preferring to be pushed. And it likes a tight bullet to case fit. It got me wondering if anyone has seen severe indications of excessing pressures in a 10mm case with A9? I think Shadow did with one of the bottleneck derivatives of the 10mm (357 sig or 9X25) and a long Barnes bullet.

People sometimes joke about being able to just fill the case to the top with A9, and dump a little out to fit a bullet in. That doesn't seem to be too far from the truth. I'm, of course, not advocating this method of charging the case.

[hammeredbean]

**disclaimer*** the loads I mention here are from memory only.  Use a manual when reloading!!! 

I just started reloading 10mm with AA9 and Power Pistol with Xtreme 165 bullets.  Here are my thoughts so far.  AA9 is awesome because it has no smoke and a pleasant (factory ammo type) smell.  The smell is a big deal for me because for me, just a little whiff of the wrong scent makes me get a fast and LARGE headache.  The starting AA9 load is 13--13.5 gr...is accurate and pleasant out of my G29 (gen 4).  The max load is 15 gr but I have only went up to 14.5 and have found it to be super accurate, CLEAN, and not excessive recoil.  I am positive that your smoke is from the lube.

Power Pistol.   Alliant's starting load  (9 gr??) was vicious for me.  I perceived it to be more felt recoil and blast than the 14.5 AA9 load.  So as far a useful 10mm I am DONE with Power Pistol...HOWEVER, it was a darling when I went and loaded a starting 40 s&w load in 10mm brass.  Talk about fun and economical!  Recoil is a joke, accuracy is stellar, and all the brass hits me in the chest and lands at my feet....just enough to cycle the action.  I never have been big on downloading...using 38's in 357's etc...but this really exemplified the versatility of the cartridge for me.  For this reason I will continue to use PP with low-mid .40 cal loads in 10mm brass for times when I don't want/need the big noise.

This isn't very scientific, but I hope it gives yet another perspective.  I plan to settle on 200 gr (1000 fps +/-) or 180 gr lead bullets in the future.  I never meant to shoot any jacketed or plated bullets...but the 165 gr xtremes were so cheap that I bought them instead.