Alcan AL-5 in 357 Mag

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Last September, at the local gunshow, I scored 5 can's of old powder (all different types, some full, others near full), no prices on them, I offered $10 for all 5 cans, he took my offer. One of those cans was this 8 oz can of AL-5

Attachment 216531



Besides Lyman #3 handbook which has some data, I have this photocopy of Alcan data I found somewhere. So yesterday, I loaded some NOE 358-128-SWC (sized to .358, lubed with SL68B) with 7.9gr of AL-5 (that is what dropped from a .71cc disk) into 357 Mag cases (OAL=1.600). I guesstimated this 7.9gr load to go about 1100fps. (shown in photo of Data, 8.0gr is MAX load for 38 spl for 125gr RN pushing 1150fps).

It was a sunny 30º day. I fired off a box of this ammo through my GP-100 (4" SS). I didn't bring any paper targets, Just a steel spraypaint can. I have only had this gun to the range once before, and I was reminded why ...it has a horrible crunchy/creepy trigger. The load is PEPPY (for a 38spl load), but cold weather always amplifies felt recoil.

I have never adjusted the sites on this Gun, so after a few shots in the snow, to find out where it was hitting, I was able to "find" the can fairly consistently, and I had fun. I only wish I had more than 8 ozs of this AL-5 powder.

[Jedman]

WoW ! That brings back fond memories when I was a teenager and loading 12 ga. shotshells with a Lee loader hand tool and Alcan AL 5 powder. Also used AL 7 in duck loads, good stuff !

Jedman

[Gewehr-Guy]

John Wootters recommended 10gr. in the .357 using the 157gr. Lyman 357446 cast of linotype, to reach 1,265 fps. That load is listed in Propellant Profiles, third edition, as one of the author's pet loads. I had a 4# keg for awhile, until a buddy found it worked well in his .45 Colt and borrowed most of it

[richhodg66]

Dad gave me a big ol' drum of Alcan 120 I have been using up for a couple of years now. I managed to find enough load data (120 was never real popular in anything it seems) to figure out it burns like Red Dot, so I have been using Red Dot starting data in all kinds of stuff with decent results. There was at least four or five pounds of it in that can, and it was in good shape, there was no way I was just gonna pitch it because it was old and data was slim. I have maybe a pound and a half left and will use it up, then switch to others.

He gave me a similar drum of Alcan 7 and that stuff has a lot of data for magnum handgun loads, so it'll be getting used too.

[farmerjim]

I have a can of AL-5 sitting on the shelf 3 feet to my left. It still has the $1.18 faded price tag on top from when I bought it from Globe discount store back in the 60's. I used it in shotgun loads until I found a 28 grains of Herco under an Alcan NO. 1 one piece wad column with 1 5/8 oz of shot in a 2 3/4 Winchester hull. Best duck load I ever found.