Winchester AA Lite

[Calamity Jake]

Anyone using it for pistol/revolver loads?

[dbosman]

Interesting question since it's faster burning than W231, Bullseye, RedDot, and Hi-Skor 700x.
http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

[Calamity Jake]

According to the winchester burn rate chart it is the second fastest after Norma R1 http://www.wwpowder.com/burn-rate.html

It should be a good 38/45acp light load powder, I'll find out as I have 2 bottles of it.

[PbHurler]

Please let us know how it works out for you Jake,

I'm a BIG fan of Vihtavuori powders in 45acp. AA Lite is right adjacent to one of them, on the faster side. With the uncertainty of the future of Vihtavuori powders, I may need to find a substitute.

[Westwindmike]

I know this is an old thread, but what ever happened to the testing on AA Lite in handgun calibers? Any results, good or bad to report?

[Calamity Jake]

I haven't had time to do any testing with this powder, I do have some loaded in 38SP, I'll try to shoot some soon.

[Westwindmike]

Thanks Jake.

[leadman]

I spoke with Hodgdon tech today and this powder is being discontinued, along with SR4759, 7625, 4007, 780, AA Lite, and pyrodex pellets.

[Westwindmike]

That's pretty amazing about the Pyrodex pellets. I thought that was "the" go to propellent for ML hunters.

[sandman228]

That's pretty amazing about the Pyrodex pellets. I thought that was "the" go to propellent for ML hunters.

I think that the triple 7 pellets are the go to now there a little cleaner than pyrodex and if im not mistaken a little hotter as well

[Westwindmike]

I've been using the Triple 7 in powder form and it does give more velocity for the same amount(100 gr).

[Patricklaw]

Wow! That's some thread drift ^^^^^^^. Carry on gents.

Now to the question at hand...

Anyone using it for pistol/revolver loads?

This fall, I happened upon a deal that I could not refuse on 12#'s of AA Lite. The seller assured me that I could find data easily, I made him an offer reflective of my doubt in his statement and he accepted. Two 4# cans and four 1# cans later, I'm in the experimenting business. ALL DISCLAIMERS APPLY. Safe in MY gun, when I did it. Blow yourself up and it's not my fault.

It's been too cold to go to the range much but here is what I've found when I did on one trip.

9MM Lee 356-125-2R Shake and bake with Harbor Freight Red powder shooting over my trusty red Chrony
Laddered 3@3.0 (900,905,927 slidelock), 5@3.4(1022 chrono error), 5@3.6(1035,1029)
I use 3.8gr that averages 1049. Primers are flattened but not riveted.

9MM Lee 356-105-2R Shake and Bake with Harbor Freight Yellow. I might have used a wet with Acetone shake. Is that the "Piglet" method?
4 Gr averaged 1211.
This load cycled my EAA Witness Gold Team Match, that is sprung for 9 major loads. It shot fine in my SW9VE (Sigma) but I'll probably dial it back to 3.7 or 3.8. (Or to the minimum to lock the slide in my wife's Gen 4 G17 since this will likely be our Steel Challenge load next summer.)

9MM Berry's thick plated hollow base 124's. These were my typical 9 major bullets. ( I'm not sure if the heavier plating increases engraving pressure or not. ) They would not cycle the 9 Major pistol but worked fine in the G17.
3 gr yielded an average of 976 fps.

I'm calculating about a 20% reduction from BE charges.

Again, if you use this data, you're on your own. I'm a safe, careful reloader but unless you're loading on my bench I have no control over what you do. No warranties expressed or implied, period.

rlp

[Westwindmike]

Thanks for that info. I guess I'll start with 3.0 and the 124Lee and work up from there. Or just use the 3.0 if it functions ok.

[Patricklaw]

Thanks for that info. I guess I'll start with 3.0 and the 124Lee and work up from there. Or just use the 3.0 if it functions ok.

That should be a great starting point.

[bobthenailer]

I have been using WSL1 ( super light, silver label) in the 45 acp with superb accuracy for many years !@5.0 grs
CAUTION !! I dont think if its the same powder as WW lite.

[Patricklaw]

I see a "WAAlite" and a "Super Handicap". Mine is black label NOT silver.

http://www.wwpowder.com/burn-rate.html

I guess Hodgeon is discontinuing this powder (see above). With this kind of name confusion, I'm not sad.

Enjoy.