Accurate 2230 in .223 Rem.-Opinions on old data?

[WaywardSon]

Not sure exactly what I have going on here & would like some advice from those experienced with this powder/caliber combo. Long story short, I picked up a Remington Model 7 in .223 yesterday with the intent of working up some cast bullet loads for it, as well as having something to shoot a quantity of reloads I made up years ago for my AR which I rarely use.

In taking inventory of my ammo I found about 150 rounds of my reloads dated 1994 using a 55 gr. JHP and Accurate 2230 powder. About 50 of these loads are marked 26 gr./2230 and about 100 show 27.3 gr./2230...this makes me more than a little nervous. I have an Accurate pamphlet from 2003 showing a max charge of 24.7 gr., and the current data shows a max. of 25.0 gr. This makes my loads at least 2.3 gr. over max using current data.

I am not in the habit of loading anything over the recommended max...but am also aware that much of the available data has become more conservative over the years, and these were loaded almost 20 yrs. ago. FWIW...there are some fired cases in the box, (which would have been fired in my AR), and while the primers would indicate a warm load, there is no cratering. So...anybody got any OLD data for Accurate 2230?

Your thoughts? While I am not really interested in pulling 150 bullets...I am really not interested in blowing anything up.

Thanks in advance...........John

 

[osprey176]

If the charges were only a fraction of a grain over the latest published max's I might be temped to shoot them.But at over two grains above max,I would be inclined to start pulling.The maximum loads have dropped in recent years due to more accurate pressure measuring techniques being used,not because of lawyers,as some insist.

 

[ssyoumans]

Yeah, AA has expanded their 223/5.56 data in their latest loading guides. I think they use a lot more bullets with more data than about anyone else. It is odd how much the max charge listed can vary between same weight bullets.
55gr VMax maxs out at 23.5
55gr VNE FMJ maxs out at 25.0

I have loaded and shot 55gr Vmax bullets using the older AA3.3 load guide which showed 25.0gr max (51k psi) for a 55gr Nosler BTip. That was the only 55gr bullet used in that older guide. Speer and Sierra (5th edition Service Rifle) showed 26.0/26.1 gr max for their bullets, so based on that I had worked up loads from 24 - 26.0gr. Sierra lists 25.8gr for a bolt action.

Fired from my 16" AR15,
25gr gave 2,951 fps
25.5gr gave 3034 fps
26.0gr gave 3107 fps

This is pretty hot, and into the NATO velocities I get with Fed Brown Box (3141).
Factory Hornady 55gr Vmax runs 2875fps.

In my rifle, none blew any primers, and are probably around 62k psi, but now I typically load at 24.5gr when I load AA2230.

I wouldn't shoot any of the 27.3gr loads you listed.
I've shot 26.0gr, but every rifle is different.

 

[steve4102]

I picked up a Remington Model 7 in .223 yesterday with the intent of working up some cast bullet loads for it, as well as having something to shoot a quantity of reloads I made up years ago for my AR which I rarely use.

Is your AR a 5.56? My guess is that yes it would be.

Your new Rem rifle is most likely a 223 not a 5.56. Loads that were safe in your AR/5.56 may be to hot for your new 223 chamber.

AA 2230 has changed over the years and is now the same powder as Ramshot X-T. I have no load data that old, but I'll bet Joahn at Westen Powders does and could help you out.


I have seen data for 2230 with 55gr up to 28.5gr, but I don't remember where.

 

[steve4102]

Never mind, found it.

http://stevespages.com/224_8_55.html

 

[splithoof]

I use lots of old data, and AA 2230-C works great.
The load on the container lists 26.0 grains for 55FMJ, 24.5 FOR 69 HPBT. Beware that the loads listed are maximum, and should be reduced 10% for starters.
This powder also works well for .308/7.62mm.
From your Model 7 that should be no problem; I have used that data in a variety of rifles and never experienced any problems.
I like 2230 because it meters easily through a Dillon loader, and burns very clean, and has given good accuracy through a variety of rifles.