Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading Alcan AL-5 Uses

Stumbled upon, would like to try. Anyone point to specific manual(s) to seek data, or someone have sourced data to share? 38spl/158gr cast, 45Colt (SAA & S&W)/255gr-300gr cast, 9mm/115gr jacketed, 45acp/230gr jacketed in mind.



Secondly. Considered a can of AL-7, too, but a quick google pretty much revealed mag pistol and (iirc) 1 1/4 oz 12ga, not much else. Wonder if would work well in 44mag (marlin slow twist, prolly <300gr cast). Anyone recall getting good utility from AL-7 in something?

Approach with caution very old data

AL-5 DATA

Speer #6

.38 Special - Western case - CCI 500
146-gr Speer .357-146-HP - 6.0 to 8.0 - 824 to 1079 fps
160-gr Speer .357-160-SP - 6.0 to 7.0 - 870 to 994

.357 Magnum - Western case - CCI 550
146-gr Speer .357-146-HP - 9.5 to 10.5 - 1167 fps to 1396 fps
160-gr Speer .357-160-SP - 9.0 to 10.0 - 1185 to 1267

Speer #8

.380 ACP - WW case - CCI 500
90-gr JHP - 5.0 to 5.5 - 951 to 1014 fps
95-gr cast RN - 4.7 to 5.0 - 900 to 1003

9mm Luger - WRA case - CCI 550
125-gr Speer SP - 6.0 to 7.0 - 957 to 1105 fps

.38 Super - WW case - Alcan small pistol
90-gr JHP - 8.5 to 9.5 - 1407 to 1495 fps
125-gr Speer SP - 7.5 to 8.5 - 1145 to 1269

.38 Special - Speer/DWM case - CCI 500
158-gr Speer SWC or RN - 6.0 to 7.0 - 908 to 1046 fps
140-gr Speer HP - 8.0 to 9.0 - 1060 to 1212
146-gr Speer HP - 6.0 to 8.0 - 811 to 1111
160-gr Speer SP - 6.0 to 7.0 - 867 to 1000

.357 Magnum - Speer case - CCI 500
158-gr Speer SWC or RN - 9.0 to 10.0 - 1209 to 1299 fps
110-gr JHP - 10.5 to 11.5 - 1380 to 1453
125-gr Speer SP - 9.0 to 11.0 - 1145 to 1317
146-gr Speer HP - 9.0 to 11.0 - 1182 to 1250
160-gr Speer SP - 8.0 to 10.0 - 1027 to 1141

.41 Magnum - Remington case - CCI 300
210-gr case SWC - 9.0 to 10.0 - 975 to 1059
200-gr Speer HP - 10.5 to 12.5 - 1093 to 1236
220-gr Speer SP - 9.0 to 11.0 - 933 to 1115

.44 Special - WW case - CCI 300
215-gr cast SWC - 10.0 to 11.0 - 880 to 965 fps
250-gr cast SWC - 8.0 to 9.0 - 767 to 866

.44 Magnum - WW case - CCI 350
225-gr Speer HP - 12.5 to 14.5 - 1197 to 1341 fps
240-gr Speer SP - 11.0 to 13.0 - 1074 to 1238

.45 ACP - Federal case - CCI 300
225-gr cast RN - 7.5 to 8.0 - 837 to 882 fps
230-gr FMJ - 7.5 to 8.0 - 795 to 833

.45 Auto Rim - WRA case - CCI 300
240-gr cast SWC - 7.0 to 9.0 - 822 to 994 fps
200-gr Speer SP - 11.0 to 13.0 - 1040 to 1175

.45 Colt - WW case - CCI 300
200-gr Speer LSWC - 11.0 to 12.5 - 933 to 1037 fps
250-gr cast GC - 9.5 to 10.5 - 786 to 870

Those powders were obsolete before I started handloading 47 years ago! That said, I've never used any of them except some AL-8, I might even have a half pound of it around here someplace. I had a friend who swore by the stuff in .41 Mag, and went to TN and killed a boar with the Lyman 410459 and a stiff load of AL-8 from a 4" M57 Smith.


That said, the Speer data provided above seems very similar to Herco loads in those applications, you might be able to extrapolate some of that data for the elderly Alcan stuff.

Thank you for the thoughts and data fellas.

I use AL-7 & AL-8 in rifle cast loads. It produces good groups for me.

I have about 2lbs of AL-5 left, from an 8lb keg my Dad bought sometime in the 60's. I've been using it in a Sig P238 (380acp), Ruger Security Six (as 38Spcl.), and a couple of 9mm, for many, many years.

The load data that Swifty52 published, is what I follow for 38Spl, 380ACP and 9MM, and have had no problems at all.

Well, do tell - what cartridges do you load with it? Might have a reason here to try it.

Hello! Just found this thread. I have unopened cans of AL-5 and Bullseye powder. They are most likely from the 70's. Anyone have a guess about what they're worth? Pics are too large for me to post on this forum. Thanks!