The Last of a Fine Old Powder AL-7

[jds holler]

Yeah, it's prolly time for me to join the 20th century -- now that it's the 21st.


I've been using this stuff for years in my 38 spec. loads, and I'm finally down to my last half pound. I started with a 3 pound can that a dying buddy gave me a long time ago, and when I really liked it, I'd replenish with cans I'd find at our local gun show. I'd just thoroughly mix the new with the old, and keep rolling.

This stuff is pretty fine grained, and goes through a measure nicely, and used to be a stand-by for both pistol and shotgun. Of course no manuals in the last twenty years or more show data for it, and I suppose that's why I've had pretty good luck finding it at the show. I haven't seen any in awhile, so I suppose it's time to call it quits on this one. jd

 

[snert]

Sent you a PM buddy

 

[muleystalker]

I used a bunch of that back in the day, but my favorite was the ALCAN AL-8 I used to load 3" 12ga loads and my 3 1/2" 10ga 2 1/2oz of shot, the grains were so big I had to hand measure each load with a spoon and my scale because they wouldn't feed through the powder bar on the reloader. They where abouts an 1/8" square and flat.That load was a goose bustin SOB! My dad had a bunch and had all the Alcan fiber wads, Alcan "Air Cushion" over the powder wads, Fiber/cushion combos. I loved using those wads they worked great and I had all different sizes. He even had an attachment that came with his TEXAN reloading press were you reloaded 209 primers, it would punch the silver primer out of the 209 copper base and then seat a center fire primer in the used 209 base. I can't remember if they were pistol or rifle primers you use.He also had a Roll crimper I would use sometimes

 

[SeabeeKen]

Never used it but remember it listed in manuals

 

[centershot]

Acme loaders also had that primer "cap" setup.

 

[centerlineseal]

WOW! That takes me back over 60 years! My Dad loaded 16 gauge for his Model 2 with that powder. Lot of "whackin'" with the poly hammer on those wads. He started me on my handloading journey with a Pacific 12 gauge loader and a Lee boxed set for 30-06.

Thanks for the memories!

 

[jds holler]

The AL7 is pretty fine grained, more like 4756.. On the data I've got, it is typically shown to give some of the highest velocity for a given bullet weight. Pretty good case fill also. jd

 

[muleystalker]

WOW! That takes me back over 60 years! My Dad loaded 16 gauge for his Model 2 with that powder. Lot of "whackin'" with the poly hammer on those wads. He started me on my handloading journey with a Pacific 12 gauge loader and a Lee boxed set for 30-06.

Thanks for the memories!

Thats great. It was about 48 years ago my dad started me reloading. His shot shell reloading manual was an old old Lyman that I still have, it didn't even have loads for conventional plastic wads because they didn't exist when it was written and had load data for another my favorite powders, my dad had that isn't produced anymore, Winchester 540 MS. It was different from the 540 now produced.

 

[Doug Casner]

I remember dad had some AL-8 sitting around. I was little and dont remember what it was shot in. He loaded Red Dot in 38 specials. REAL LIGHT. Always had red dot sitting around for shooting trap. Doug