.45 ACP and 9mm Loads for American Select

[dookamoto]

I got 1# bottle of American Select in a deal with some W231. I have very sparse load data for it from the Alliant website. I shoot light loads and wonder if anyone had experience with:

.45 155 SWC
9mm 155 LRN or LSWC
9mm 147 TC moly coated (Bear Creek)

I'd appreciate any inputs.

Thanks in advance,
Dave

[john16443]

You might try http://handloads.com/ You can access the load database from the link in the upper left portion of the page. Enter caliber, bullet weight. You can then narrow the search for specific powder manufacturers. Good luck.

[dookamoto]

Thanks, John 16443.

Been there and there is no info for AS powder. It must either be newer or very unpopular, which is probably why I got it in the package deal!

Thanks.

[Jim Watson]

You have some odd bullets there, it is going to be tough to find recipes for uncommon bullets and an uncommon powder.

I looked at some of the available data and noted that loads for AS are close to Bullseye. I would not fear using a Bullseye STARTING load for AS and working up until I got reliable function and no more. Of course I cannot recommend that on the Internet, you might blow up a gun.

[snow]

Originally Posted by Jim Watson

You have some odd bullets there, it is going to be tough to find recipes for uncommon bullets and an uncommon powder.

I looked at some of the available data and noted that loads for AS are close to Bullseye. I would not fear using a Bullseye STARTING load for AS and working up until I got reliable function and no more. Of course I cannot recommend that on the Internet, you might blow up a gun.

+1 I'm not finding anything for AS, and have not used it myself.


Brief quote form Lyman, " American Select was designed as a clean burning shotgun powder that also has many applications as a handgun powder. It fits between Red Dot and Green Dot in burn rate."


I can say after having read that, that although they feel it has many applications as a hand gun powder, they certainly did not use it in many applications in the making of their manual


On their Relative Burn Rate Chart, with number one being the fastest, AS comes in at #10, between Tightgroup at #9 and Solo 1000 at # 11.


Red Dot comes in at #6 and Green Dot at #14. Which as they stated, puts AS right in the middle of the two. Bullseye, is at #4.


Do you have a burn rate chart in your manual? There is more to powder than just burn rate, but it is a handy chart to have.


There is much to learn about working up a load and we reloaders do not have the equipment and specialized knowledge the factories do.
I think as a beginer, one would do well to use components you can find exact recipes for. Powder and bullets are cheap. Just sayin........

[john16443]

It appears that the burn rate for American Select is right up there with Bullseye and Titegroup. In the One Book/One caliber books, BE, TG and AS are ranked 7, 8, 9. In the Hodgdon ranking they are 13, 14, 15.

It sounds reasonable to start at the BOTTOM end of the Titegroup listings.

[dookamoto]

Thanks,

I didn't think to make those comparisons and derive a start load. I may even go more conservative and start 10% or so below start loads to see how the gun behaves and will work up from there. Wish I had a friend with a chrono!

Thanks again for sharing the thought process.

[noylj]

Very strange bullet weights. The first two a very strange. For that heavy a bullet in 9x19, be sure to run at a COL as long as you gun will accept. You are pretty much on your own.
Burn rate is basically:
006. Bullseye (Alliant)
007. Solo 1000 (Accurate)
010. Red Dot (Alliant)
011. Promo (Alliant)
012. Titegroup (Hodgdon)
013. No. 2 (Accurate)
014. American Select (Alliant)
016. Clays (Hodgdon)
017 N320 (Vihtavuori)
018 Competition (Ramshot)
020 WST (Winchester)
022 231/HP38 (Winchester/Hodgdon)
024 PB (IMR)
025 Zip (Ramshot)
026 700X (IMR)
027 Green Dot (Alliant)

Based on this, you could use Red Dot or Bullseye as a starting point or you can use data for a heavier bullet as a starting point.

45 ACP
Bullet Weight Powder Weight Velocity Start/Max Power Factor COL
Lead 155 Red Dot 5.7 1133 Start 176
L-SWC 155 Red Dot 5.8 1155 Max 179
Cast Lead 155 Red Dot 5.8 1155 Max 179 1.270
Lead 155 American Select 5.7 1083 Start 168
Cast Lead 155 American Select 6.0 1125 Max 174 1.270
Star L-SWCHP 185 American Select 4.0 Target/Favorite

Some loads I have tried:
Bullet Designation Nominal Bullet Weight Actual Bullet Weight Bullet Type Powder Powder Weight Primer COL Gun Accuracy
Lane Bullets 155 153 L-SWCBB Red Dot 4.9 WLP 1.250 Colt GC w/PDP5 1.063
Lane Bullets 155 153 L-SWCBB Red Dot 4.9 WLP 1.250 Colt GC Commander 4.000
Lane Bullets 155 153 L-SWCBB Red Dot 4.9 WLP 1.250 Springfield w/Fire Point 2.406
Lane Bullets 155 153 L-SWCBB Red Dot 6.0 WLP 1.252 Colt GC w/PDP5 2.530
Best powders were 452AA (dead now), Unique, and Silhouette

9x19
Lee L-SWC 158 Red Dot 3.6 970 Max 153 start at 3.2

Cu-PHP 147 Red Dot 3.1 826 121 1.115
L-CP 147 Red Dot 3.4 900 132 1.125
Cu-PHP 147 Red Dot 3.5 891 131 1.115