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Thread: Alcan Powder

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    Alcan Powder

    I am in need of data on reloading Alcan powders #5,7,and 8. Can anyone help?

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Some of the older Speer manuals and Sierra have handgun data. I have used AL5 in the Swede and 7.62x54R with cast. Send me a PM and maybe I can scan a couple pages of data for you.
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  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
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    I think I have some old manuals that list some of the Alcan powders in some of the loads. If you would post the caliber or calibers you are needing the information for I would look and see if I could find any information for you.
    What this Country needs is more unemployed politicians

  4. #4
    Boolit Master Rocky Raab's Avatar
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    First, welcome.

    I have and use all four Alcan powders. I use them in handgun loads exclusively, but can help with pet loads if your cartridges and mine match.

  5. #5
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    I have some data for Alcan powders what cartridge do you need data for?
    Reloading Data Project - (in retirement)
    http://sourceforge.net/projects/reloadersrfrnce/

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
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    Depending on the cartridge, I have a lot of old Lyman and Alcan books.

    BUT, Rocky Raab is the best source. Let us all know what cartridges that you are trying to load and just watch the info pour in.

    Steve

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

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    Lyman Cast Bullet Manual #3 also has data...Ray
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  8. #8
    Boolit Master

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    Yep, the older manuals list it. I have a few of them...

    Propellent Profiles list some...

    As several have indicated, maybe if you list the cartridge of your concern, we could list some starting info...

    I purchased a keg of it from Bartlett about 10 years ago and he indicted it was a new lot of Alcan 8. He also suggested using Blue Dot starting data...

    I have done that and had no problems--handguns only...

    But, I don't know if your lot # would reload the same--might be a bit iffy to try...

    Good-luck...BCB

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    I've used AL-8 in 30 Carbine and cast.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    I have a big jug of AL-8 that I bought from a surplus dealer and it has "use Blue Dot data" written on the jug with a Sharpie. I have done so in 44 mag without disaster so far, but I haven't even come close to the upper limits. FWIW

    My old Sierra bullets manual from the late 70's has a number of the Alcan powders listed. I'll happily send you info if you'll tell me the cartridge you're interested in.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master Rocky Raab's Avatar
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    I think maybe the OP is a one-post-wonder.

    AL-8 is a wee bit slower than Blue Dot, which is why it is permissible to use BD data. It falls between BD and 2400 - or at least my cans of it do. Like some other slow handgun powders, it likes a hot primer, a heavy bullet and strong bullet pull to burn well.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master


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    The OP wanted shotgun data.
    Charter Member #148

  13. #13
    Boolit Master Rocky Raab's Avatar
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    I certainly could not have guessed that from his post - or the fact that he posted it in a cast bullets forum.

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by Rocky Raab View Post
    I certainly could not have guessed that from his post - or the fact that he posted it in a cast bullets forum.
    I couldn't have either, as you can see from my post directly under his OP, but that is what he PMed me.
    Charter Member #148

  15. #15
    Boolit Master Rocky Raab's Avatar
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    That's what I thought. In hindsight, perhaps his chosen screen name may have been a hint, also.

    In any event, sorry I couldn't help him.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
    Ed in North Texas's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rocky Raab View Post
    That's what I thought. In hindsight, perhaps his chosen screen name may have been a hint, also.
    Only in hindsight. It could have meant he was involved in trapping as well as shooting.

    The old Lyman manuals included shotgun data (my really old ones are not where I can get to them for a while). Of course matching components for a safe load could be a problem with the old manuals.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master Rocky Raab's Avatar
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    Amen to that. Good luck finding .125" nitro over-powder and Feltan BlueStreak spacer wads.

    I loaded so many cases of trap loads when I was competing back then (1961) that I can STILL remember the load. WW waxed paper hulls, Alcan Max-Fire primer, 18.0 RedDot, the two wads mentioned above, 1 1/8 oz of 7½ shot and a star crimp.

  18. #18
    Boolit Grand Master


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    "18.0 RedDot," There's the problem you should have been using AL120!!
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  19. #19
    Boolit Master Rocky Raab's Avatar
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    Perhaps, but at age 13, I was kinda at the mercy of whatever my Dad bought. We lived 20 miles from the Alcan plant in East Alton, Illinois. Every six months, we'd drive up there and get a half-ton of shot, kegs of powder, cases of primers and cartons upon cartons of wads. (All of which would ring up about a $300 tab. But that was when gas was 29 cents a gallon, too. You could reload a box of those loads for $1.23 - or pay the princely sum of $1.95 for factory...)

    Two months after I won the Grand American Handicap as a Sub-Junior in 1961, I shattered my left arm and never shot trap again. The plant later became the Winchester plant, and only recently closed due to Illinois' oppressive taxes and gun laws in order to move to Mississippi.

    I haven't loaded a shotgun shell in almost exactly half a century.

  20. #20
    Boolit Buddy Carolina Cast Bullets's Avatar
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    Any ideas on where I can get a pound of AL-120?

    I used to use it in 380 ACP. Worked pretty good too

    Jerry
    Carolina Cast Bullets
    Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional ! ! !

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check