ADI AP100 pistol powder

Alternative reloading powders for handguns


Q: Since ADI stopped making pistol and shotgun powders, I’ve come to a standstill with my reloading. 

Some of my guns that I feed AR2205 powder to are .22 K-Hornet, .310 Cadet, .32-20 WCF, and handguns in .357 Magnum, .45 Colt and .44-40. 

All of these cartridges need fast-burning powders and the fastest that can be bought in WA is AR2207. I know AR2207 is too slow, but at least it will go bang.

Can you suggest some loads for AR2207? I know it can be used in the .22 K-Hornet. There is a brand of powder available in WA called Reddit 5050, but there’s no load data for it, and anyway, it is hard to get. If you recommend it, I’ll get some.

I’ve been told to buy shotshells, cut them open and use the powder, but what weight to use? It would be a do-and-try!

My .45 Colt is a Pietta stainless-steel single-action and I’ve loaded a starting load with 20gn of AR2205 and a 250gn bullet, with no sign of excessive pressure. In fact, the outside of the case was sooty, indicating the case was not sealing the chamber.

I’ve been reading Sporting Shooter for 56 years. Ask the Gun Editor is the first thing I read and I try to answer the questions to see how close I can get to your answers.

Terry Cowley

A: Every handgunner who reloads is crying out for pistol powders, and the good news is ADI will beginning manufacturing its APS (Australian Pistol & Shotguns) powders in late 2024 or early 2025. 

I don’t have any data for AR2207 in the K-Hornet but 11.5gn behind a 45gn bullet in the standard Hornet gets 2400fps. You can work up from there. 

I have never heard of Reddit 5050, so cannot comment.

Cutting open shotshells to use the propellant sounds suicidal to me since all factory ammo is loaded from bulk lots blended to give the required ballistics, and not from canisters. Also, working up loads would take a lot of work and a lot of powder.

 

 

 


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Nick Harvey

The late Nick Harvey (1931-2024) was one of the world's most experienced and knowledgeable gun writers, a true legend of the business. He wrote about firearms and hunting for about 70 years, published many books and uncounted articles, and travelled the world to hunt and shoot. His reloading manuals are highly sought after, and his knowledge of the subject was unmatched. He was Sporting Shooter's Technical Editor for almost 50 years. His work lives on here as part of his legacy to us all.

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