doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Alcan 6

Yes Alcan 6. At the risk of being told it doesn't exist like last time....
I have from an estate a bunch of alcan powder all still smelling fresh.

Some of it is Alcan 6 (not 5,7 or 8, yes 6)

It has been a few years since I asked this with no help, but I am trying again... I
can't find any data on it in the stuff I have going back 35 years or so.... I hate to waste it. Does anyone have any data on it?

Jerry

Good Morning Jerry,

I have found some 12, 16, and 20ga info from 1967 on AL-5,7,8, and 120. I am old school, so once and a while I still shoot 12ga. heavy loads using AL-5, which is pretty peppy stuff and not very politically correct these days. I will keep looking, but so far no luck on AL-6.

See if you can find a first or second edition of Lymans Shotshell Handbook dated 1969. They list quite a number of loads using Alcan powders in all gauges except .410 using all of the hulls popular at that time. Many of the primers listed are long out of production and there are very few loads that use modern wads so it would be prudent to send any loads with component substitution to a reputable facility for pressure testing especially if you are going to shoot them in a vintage gun.

I just checked thru a first edition of the Lyman Shotshell Handbook and AL-6 is not listed under the Alcan powders (AL-5,7,8 & AL-120)

I browsed the loads anyway 10ga to 410 just because and didn't see it listed for any,,not that I expected it to be.
I still have some left over AL-7 from those days.

Is the can similar to the AL-5 & 7 in picture below? I'm trying get an idea as to how old and what vintage it is.

OK, I know of Dupont #6, and use 5066 and am NOT familiar with AL-6 Alcan powder.

http://digital.hagley.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p268001coll4/id/3065

A picture of the container would be most helpful.

If you can get picture and do not know how to post it here.
Just email it to me and I will do the do
See email next to notify at the bottom of this post.

Mike

Here is the picture, the last time I asked this I had to post a picture to prove I really had AL-6

This link says some (earlier??) Alcan powders were made in Italy by
Baschieri & Pellagri with the names of Nike & Super M Balistite

The 'AL' powders were made by Bofors in Sweden if I read the info right.

http://gunlore.awardspace.info/gunknow/alcan.htm

I see that the AL-6 powder can says 'Made in Italy'
Maybe a contract was started with the Italian company then cancelled,,,never marketed in the US,,,an experimental lot for lab testing??

I got this powdwer from the estte of an old member of our duck club. I know he reloaded at least 12 ga and 28 ga. He also own 16 and 20 ga guns, but I don't know if he reloaded for them. In the estate were AL-5, 6, 7, and 8!

I assume it is in between 5 and 7 in burn rate, but that and a dollar will get me on the local transit (bus)

Still hoping somebody here used or had a listing for it.

Jerry

Jerry,

Even though the word has recently been rejected as legitimate, Alcan 6 is 'ungoogleable', something I'm sure you are already aware of.

Your best bet is going to be looking for old Alcan advertisments or better yet, looking more closely into the paperwork that may have been in the estate you acquired the powder from. I cannot imagine that the previous owner didn't keep some sort of record what he was using the powders for & it is quite likely that he had the data you seek from Alcan in his ref library or loading records.

FWIW, I'd think the canister & its contents quite rare. In the same breath, I'm sure it was known in Italy under another name. That too might be a line of inquiry worth pursuit.