Pistol Loads for Alcan AL-120?

[GaryL]

Anyone have any data on old Alcan AL-120 powder? I picked up a small box of reloading goodies for cheap and scored a couple 8oz cans of it.

 

[Walkalong]

When I was younger I used a lot of Alcan powder.

Still have some Alcan 7 left. My buddy sits on a can of Alcan 8 for some reason. Mostly because there was some steel data for it at one time.

But Alcan 120? The only data I have (back to 1982) seems to indicate that is of the same density and composition as VIHTAVUORI's N 310.

This is all I can offer.

From MEC "Close Approximation Sheet" that came with my Junior when it was one of the newest loading machines available: 12 gauge

32 Bushing, Alcan 120, 3 dram load 1 1/8 oz 19.1 grains 2 3/4 hull Hi Base Wad Column "PU" or

36 Bushing, Alcan 120, 2 3/4 Dram in 1 1/8 oz load at 21.8 grains 2 3/4" hull 3/8 wad Col High Base or 3/4 wad base in low base

alcan -120????????? Got to be more info on the can someplace! I suggest you sprinkle it in the flower bed or veggie garden, but not in the tomato patch. The high levels of nitrogen will give a lot of leaves and stalks but little fruit.

Weight per unit of volume

Despite of rather high content of potassium nitrate, powder N 310 is among the least dense modern "smokeless" powders. One Cubic Centimeter (1.0 CC) of factory-fresh powder weighs just 0.50 grams or 7.7 grains; scooped with Lee Powder Measure Kit dipper along with directions and some years of experience.

Users of Powder Measure Kit may still find a column for ALCAN AL-120 powder from "slide rule" of that kit. Column is the last one at right on the side of quickly burning powders in a slide with a text "Copyright 1982". One Cubic Centimeter of AL-120 weighs the same 7.7 grains or ½ grams, just as N 310. According to hearsay it WAS Finnish N 310, but -- please -- NEVER trust on hearsay, gossips and other unconfirmed data, when developing handloads !!

I used to use Alcan powders a LOT for reloading handgun cartridges. Got some REAL NICE results using AL-120 in .44 Special. Used AL-8 in .44 Magnum with real good results as well.

Best loads I had for .44 Specials was using Alcan AL-120 powder. But that has long been discontinued. Recently I have tried using Bullseye and gotten excellent results out of a 3 inch barreled S&W 629 Trailboss.

THE COMPARATIVE BURN RATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
AL-5 =UNIQUE
AL-7 =HERCO
AL-8 =BLUEDOT
AL-120 =REDDOT

This is stuff from around the web. Use Caution as you are on your own!

 

[GaryL]

Thanks Walkalong. I found a couple of those posts you quoted. I thought I may get lucky and catch someone with some old data. I won't toss it out as some suggested. If it's similiar to Red Dot I could probably work up a light plinking load in something relatively safe to experiment with.

If nothing else, the cans are kind of cool looking, and I didn't pay much for them.