45 ACP load data with Alliant American Select

[Cult Hero]

I picked up a couple of pounds of Alliants American Select powder during the shortage and loaded up 50 rounds of 200 grain CMJ-FP last night with what I am fearing now might be a really hot load.

I ramped up in groups of 10 from 6.4 grains all the way up to 6.8 grains.

Alliant doesn't have much data on this powder for 45 ACP, the closest they have is Unique, which although is another shotshell / pistol powder isn't exactly the same.

The recipe on the alliant website calls for 6.2 grains with a 185 grain Speer GDHP. I am running the FMP 200 Grain CMJ-FP's

I don't want to blow myself up, any suggestions.....

I don't know enough about powders to really determine burn rates etc across different powders, but the recipe I used that I found was this one:

http://www.practicalhandgun.com/alliant-unique-powder.html

[rm1911]

Alliant has only data for 185's. Looks to me like your loads are probably too hot.

Why did you start at 6.4?? Seems a bit much. Powders and their data are not interchangeable. Just because one powder has a similar burn rate only means that. Nothing else. Charges should never be compared or used among different powders. Each powder is unique in its own right.

Get a bullet puller and pull bullets. Start off with something around 5 grains. See if it cycles. Then maybe work up .2 gr at a time.

No reason why tht powder shouldn't work but it doesn't seem to be a good choice for 45. I've used bullseye for 20+ years. It's the go to 45 powder for sure.

Scour the web for recipes. Might find some info. Of course use with discretion.

Shotgun powders do work well in non mag handgun rounds. Red dot, unique, et al, all are great 45 powders. Fast burn rate, low pressure rounds. And yes you can always load develop but always start very low. Even say 4.5. You won't get a kaboom undercharging bullseye or other type powders. I wouldn't say the same for something like blue for or #9. Those will create pressure spikes.

I know powder selection has been tough the last year or so. And you can't be super picky. But start low and work up.

[Cult Hero]

That is the conclusion I have come to. Most likely not a good 45 powder. I have some 40 loaded up with it that I will chrono tomorrow but I think I am ditching it for the 45.

I have some IMR SR 7625 that I think I will try if someone has a decent load?