Are these two powders usable for cast boolitt loading?

[koger]

I was recently gifted two partial cans of powder in great shape, not familiar with them, have not heard of them for over 30 years. One was a #6 keg of Alcan AL-7 with 2# left in it, the other one was a #12 keg of Dupont PB-SS, with #8 left in it. All replies appreciated.

[skeettx]

Yes for PB
Alcan what? There were many different Alcan powders
I have loading data and for PB you can use the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook #3

[koger]

Yes for PB
Alcan what? There were many different Alcan powders
I have loading data and for PB you can use the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook #3

Thanks for catching that it is AL-7, I changed the original post.

[G W Wade]

Surprises me I see loading manuels that still show PB data, Been gone for many years it seems. Alcan powders are long gone. Had a chance to buy a keg of AL something and declined. Mostlt do to age and the shape of the grains. If you dig deep enough you will find. Good Luck GW

[koger]

I got a Lymans 3rd edition cast bullet reloading book on the way.

[stubshaft]

Dupont PB was the very first powder I used for cast boolits, way back in the 60's.

[skeettx]

AL-7 is listed in the Second copy of Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook

[curiousgeorge]

Sam,
AL-7 was the holy grail for 3--3/4 x 1-1/4 12 ga loads in the late 60's and early 70's. When they stopped making it many bought as much as they could and hoarded it like it was gold. It has application as a medium to heavy load in 357 and 44 magnum in particular. I still have some AL-8 left, but the AL-7 ran out decades ago. AL-7 is slower than Unique but faster than 2400. I have an old Alcan reloading book that has info on it if you're interested. Some of the older trap shooters back then used PB in their trap loads, but I started with 700X and Red Dot, so no personal experience with it.
Steve

[Rapier]

PB is a powder often seen for 38 Spl cast loads, so will work in 357, 9mm, etc. The original Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook has PB loads in it.

AL-7 is most associated with shotgun reloading but can cross over to handgun loads.

You may need an older reloading manual to find the AL-7 load listings. Seems like, to my feeble old memory, the Phil Sharpe book has AL7 loads in it, it is a 30s publication

But PB or its equivalent is still being sold. Ran across some the other day, listed as similar to PB, in a surplus powder, PB is used like 231, not exact same loads, just the same application, primarily as a mid power powder load.

[relics6165]

There's lots of Alcan AL7 handgun loads in Speer #8 from the early 70s.

[koger]

I got a Lyman #3 cast bullet reloading manual today, has a lot of PB data in it. Seems like most rifle data, was 1 to 1.5 grains less than Unique.

[P Flados]

The old IMR manuals have lots of PB load data:

http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Freebies/RM/IMR.html

[Chill Wills]

Also, look in Lyman's 45th loading manual for both powders. The AL-7 is good powder. I still have some and it is in great shape. Check yours to be sure your powder stock is good too. Find handgun loads using the AL-7, it won't disappoint. It works well in the carbine rifles like 357 Mag and 44 mag. too.

[Txcowboy52]

Lots of good information here ! I was given a 1# can of PB about 6 months ago . It’s just been sitting on the shelf. Have a much better idea of how to use it now.

[atr]

older SPEER manuals have shotgun reloading information for AL-7

[freddyp]

I too was gifted a six pound can of Alcan Al-7 powder. The only load I have developed has been in the 9mm Luger. I used a 125gr plated bullet seated to standard length.
6.0gr = 1030 fps
6.5gr = 1140 fps

Hope this helped you.

[15meter]

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...2-Alcan-manual

This may help, there's data in older manuals, I just finished a can of Alcan 8 in a batch of 30 carbine. Cycles the action and drops the brass right at my feet. AL-8 is larger flat squares of powder, it metered well enough through the powder measure on a Dillon 550B.

I've loaded AL-7 in shotgun, don't remember how well it metered through a MEC 9000, they all went off with no blown up guns or squib loads. So it must have been acceptable.