.223 AA2230 a few insights please?

[NCsmitty]

Powder is AA2230 Charges are 23.5, 24, 24.5 as a ladder to check where I should do further testing.

According to the Accurate powder site, those loads are ok for 55gr. bullets but 22.5gr of A2230 is the listed MAX for a 64gr bullet. I believe you need to go to a slower burning powder for the 69gr. SMK. You are way over MAX with your loads that you mentioned, according to the site.

NCsmitty

 

[JRadice45]

Thats odd because my book says 22.5 is starting load and 25 is max for aa2230. Lyman 49th I believe. I will check out accurate's site though... good thing I didnt go shoot today eh?
-edit- I emailed the tech over at accurate powder and gave them the specs of my load and the loadbook I obtained my info from. Will let you guys know what he/she says. Good thing I only have to pull 24 bullets...... ugh!

 

[JRadice45]

Well I pulled all 24 rounds *sigh* and I got an email from Johan at Ramshot powder... here's what he has to say -

"Jason.
We suggest the following.
Caliber: .223 Remington.
Barrel length: 24”
Powder: Accurate -- 2230.
Bullet weight: 69 grains.
Start load: 20.0 grains (2475 – 2575 ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 22.3 grains (2775 – 2875 Ft/p/sec).
Regards
Johan Loubser
Ballistician
Ramshot/Accurate Powders
Tel: (406) 234 04 22 email: [email protected]
Western Powders Inc -- Miles City – Montana."

Armed with this information I am going to do another load workup on this. I figure 5 rounds in each weight -20, 20.5,21,21.5,and 22.
Will I run into problems if I seat the bullets at 2.23" instead of 2.26"? The measureable difference does not seem like much to me.

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

I did a test load using AA2230 under 69 grain Sierra BTHP Match King bullets starting at 19.5 grain of AA up to 24.5 grain at .5 of a grain intervals and with a COL of 2.20" (+/- .10") and didn't find one that I really cared for in my AR.

But, then again, all guns are different and someone else's might love any of those loads.

BTW....FWIW...all of my primers were flatened also. But I see that as no consequence since I know the loads I loaded were within specs.

 

[JRadice45]

thats good to know. I'm hoping for something accurate as I would like something heavier than 55gr so I can shoot longer distances, however the 55gr softpoints I feel I'm getting close to the sweet spot soon and will definately make a bunch more of those. Just have to load and see.

 

[NCsmitty]

Well,JRadice45, you finally got info you can sink your teeth into. Thanks to NavajoNPaleFace's workup info and Ramshot's confirmation email, you can make a more informed decision which direction to go. I believe the 69gr. bullet might be the ragged edge of your barrel twist. There are some good 60-62gr. bullets that may work the best in your rifle. Here's a site that you can buy samples of bullets to try so you don't have to buy a whole box. Check it out.
http://www.bulletsamples.com/

NCsmitty

 

[cliffy]

From posts, I see no mention of Alliant RL-10x

I exclude all other powers I've tried in .223 Remington Prowess from 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenades through 60 grain Nosler Partitions. With 1-in-12" twist rifling, RL-10x can exceed the need, whilst nothing else to date can. 3400 fps muzzle velocity with 55 grain fare is easily obtainable with Alliant's contribution to perfection, and this at a mere 70 degree Fahrenheit ambient temperature. Grains of powder weight will be crucial to development. I have specific loads for my rifle dependent upon ambient temperature in ten degree increments and bullet grain weights. I only accept the best performance, so please don't make 10x scarce by over-purchasing. CCI 450 primers merely top-off the extreme performance scenario. I avoid compressed loads, since they only exacerbate perfection. Compressed load can NEVER best my top .223 accuracy loads, yet compressed loads prove positively that one chose poorly. Choose wisely and challenge me at the 100 yard range. cliffy

 

[JRadice45]

Well I tried all of my loads and it was an experience. The range I went to went to only 75 yards but from what I learned there I made up a smaller range of final test loads to see which round is going to be cranked out of my little lee.
The 69 grain bullets did not do badly at all. On a few targets two impacts would touch, one double impact was one ragged hole, with the other rounds not far away. I do believe however it was me and my bench technique as I didnt have a nice platform to be firing from.
Overall I liked the 55gr softpoints the best, those groups were in essence MONEYSHOTS!!!! and for what I paid per 500 of them, $47.99 that is truly awesome plinking ammo.
Anyhow the charges I went with are as follows;

55gr softpoint flat base - AA2230 23.7gr and 24.2gr with a slight favor of the 24.2 because it should go a little faster and the group was nicer, although my technique sucked so that is why I'm having a face off with these two charges.

69gr OTM BT - AA2230 21gr and 21.5gr I am not sure which of these I favor yet because both had some two impacts touching or being 1 ragged hole.

Overall all of my test rounds for that day had no pressure signs. I used brass that I had sized AFTER I readjusted my resizing die so I believe all previous loads used had the shoulder bumped back more than nessecary causing the primers to flatten and back out.

Well I'm looking forward to heading to the range next sunday to see what happens.