Alcan AL-8 question

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  • Last Post 11 December 2016
rhino72 posted this 09 December 2016

I bought reloading stuff from a local estate, and it included a can of Alcan AL-8, that had been opened and partially used.  It doesn't smell deteriorated.  I thought about using it in 44 Mag.  Would I be better off just dumping it out?  

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David Reiss posted this 09 December 2016

I have powders from the late 60s & early 70s which have been stored inside my house and they are still good. In my experience you can tell when a powder has deteriorated by smell. You can try a load or two and see if it works. If it is deteriorated, then your load will be weaker than normal and you will need to check the barrel for stuck bullets. If that happens its trash time.

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
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oscarflytyer posted this 09 December 2016

Have 3-4 cans of AlCan in my stock.  Inherited from FIL.  It is still good

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rhino72 posted this 09 December 2016

I use a few old powders too, from my dad.  Probably '70's.  Herco for one.  I think my main concern is what if he switched it out for Bullseye for some reason?  The estate belonged to a hunting guide/gun writer, so I don't have any reason to believe he'd do that.  Is there any way to easily tell if it's at the approximate (slow-ish) burn rate?

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David Reiss posted this 09 December 2016

No way to tell that I know of.

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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4060may posted this 10 December 2016

The only info I could find on AL-8, it is close to Bluedot in burning rate

I have 38 special and 357 data

guess I will find out about posting pic's

 

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4060may posted this 10 December 2016

try again

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10Speed posted this 10 December 2016

The velocity for loads for 38 Special 148gr wad cutter look really fast.

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rhino72 posted this 10 December 2016

Thanks for posting that!  Those are some pretty high velocities for 38 wadcutter.  

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4060may posted this 10 December 2016

some more data

from Speer Manual Number 9

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David Reiss posted this 11 December 2016

Just moving the thread back to the latest.

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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