I have a bunch of LBT 330 gr gas check bullets and want to try some real light "fun loads" for my SRH Alaskan clone (bobbed in the garage). I'm looking for minimal noise and recoil, and decent accuracy, kinda a ".480 Special" load. I would prefer plain based bullets but my supplier doesn't have any yet. I just want to do some extra shooting without so much discomfort or powder expense as my full-house 400 gr loads.

I would like to test some ammo using AA5 (which is real close to Unique in burn rate) and AA7, both of which I have in ample quantities. I like them because they meter real well through my Uniflow measure - I'm not a fan of flake powders.

Anyway, does someone here have experience with AA5 and AA7 and light cast bullets in the .480?

I have been extrapolating from published data, which isn't real safe, and figure to start at 10.0 gr AA5 and go up to 12.0 gr in 0.5 gr increments, and see what happens on my chronograph. I haven't decided about the AA7 yet - I may not even test it if the AA5 shoots nice and easy...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, before I blow myself up...

John Davies
Spokane WA

Can't help you with those powders but I am slowly moving to TiteGroup for all of my milder loads in 38 WFC to 475 Linebaugh with most everything in between. The powder always delivers exceptional accuracy.

Hodgdon shows a starting load for a

355gr lfn gs with 5.0grs of IMR Trail Boss at 16,700 psi.

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

That Hogdon load is the kind I am looking for, tho that one is TOO pokey - the MAX load is just 740 fps. I wonder if you can feel anything at all when it goes off - maybe a big whooosh and a gentle nudge at the grip?

John Davies
Spokane WA

Moi. VihtaVuori has the new N-32C "Tin Star"-powder for Cowboy Action Shooters. It has low bulkdenssity, less free space in the case. Burning rate betwin N-320 / N-330.

In my 480 I am also using titegroup. I use a little over 9 grains with a 325 grain jacketed for almost 1100 fps. Very little recoil muzzleflip but not much actual recoil.

The most accurate load I ever fired from my 480 was a 310 gr LFN from a 4 cavity ballisticast mold I misplaced over 9.7 gr of Unique, for 950 fps from my 7 1/2" SRH. 25yd groups were one hole, 50 yds 1" for 5 shots, and at 100 I put 3 into a 1 1/2" group (I chickened out on the last 2 shots

That 100 yd group was spread horizontally with less than 1/2" verticle dispersion. I think with a better rest that load would put 3 into a 1" 100 yd group or less, but I was definately the limiting factor.

I've tried to find an equally accurate 700 fps load, but it seems the lighter bullets need to be driven about 1000 fps to tighten up the groups, and I've tried 3 or 4 different powders. Unique and blue dot being the best I've tried.

One of these days I'll see if I can't find a good 700 fps load with my 275 gr swc and bullseye.