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aa2520 .223 53/55g Vmax Q's

johnfkingmatrix

hi!
have a big predator hunting trip coming up. coyote/fox anywhere from 6k-10.5k ft, -10 thru +30* F

doing load development in 1kft +50thru60f

decided on 53-55g vmax out of 16" 223 due to pelt friendless/killing power. wanted to lean towards the heavier end but read that 60+ vmax may have limited expansion out of 16" at range...or simultaneously destroying a fox up close.

i have a TON of 2520 and 75g bthp
was wondering if i could get away with using my 2520 on 53g vmax, i found some data but only lists 55g flat base..was gonna do 53 for the BT

also curious on how this would likely perform, due to the temp and variables.

does anyone have any experience/thoughts/ alternative suggestions on powder&bullet? is this a viable load, or am i spinning wheels and should just pony up for the hazmat/new powder $$

i also have a ton of 1680 powder, but data for that is dubious at best at these weights. any idea?

thank you!!
 

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cool, i see some data, i also see data for that range in my attachment.

i kind of got the impression that its on the lighter end for that powder, and that it might be pushing max case capacity/compressed load? so i was wondering if im trying to "make something work" or if it's a reliable combo

thank you for your time
 
Well, since you have the powder, why not give it a try. Easy enough to put a spent primer in a sized case and put a near max powder charge in and see how far up it comes. Should be about same speed as the 4895's, R15, etc. In the Accurate world, 2230, 2460 would be my first choice for that weight, but it worked great back in my 308 150/168 loads. May not be perfect but will probably be good!

Frank
 
I’d try it- at mid data load-
Temp is gonna effect it, as humidity, case density, etc…

I’d load couple up and see where you wanted the velocity to be, go from there-
Vertical on target either go up or down on powder-
Flyers- seating depth..

Read your target, you’ll know if it’ll work or not..

& if 2 don’t touch-5 won’t touch- no need to waste components!!!


I used 2520 to fireform some 6BR-6brai.. should have carried that to a match….
 
johnfkingmatrix said:
hi!
have a big predator hunting trip coming up. coyote/fox anywhere from 6k-10.5k ft, -10 thru +30* F

doing load development in 1kft +50thru60f

decided on 53-55g vmax out of 16" 223 due to pelt friendless/killing power. wanted to lean towards the heavier end but read that 60+ vmax may have limited expansion out of 16" at range...or simultaneously destroying a fox up close.

i have a TON of 2520 and 75g bthp
was wondering if i could get away with using my 2520 on 53g vmax, i found some data but only lists 55g flat base..was gonna do 53 for the BT

also curious on how this would likely perform, due to the temp and variables.

does anyone have any experience/thoughts/ alternative suggestions on powder&bullet? is this a viable load, or am i spinning wheels and should just pony up for the hazmat/new powder $$

i also have a ton of 1680 powder, but data for that is dubious at best at these weights. any idea?

thank you!!
Click to expand...
You aren't telling us if you plan to load for a bolt gun or AR. That will make a difference in just where you land on powder charges.
AA2520 is good powder, very dense and close to Varget on burn rate. I used it in 223 Ackley Improved with heavy bullets and the velocity numbers were pretty amazing.
It does, as most AA powders do, have some temperature sensitivity but I think the altitude ranges you'll be hinting at will have more effect on POI than temperature. At those temps I hope the air is dry. I saw a Benelli shotgun freeze up in 8 below when it got just a little moisture from coming out of a warm truck to a cold blind.
 
true! it's AR platform. it will be SW /SCentral Utah, thinking pretty dry

and yeah good point @ condensation. ill just keep it in bed of truck. thx

"Vertical on target either go up or down on powder-
Flyers- seating depth.."

meaning, a vertical deviation is fixed by tuning powder load, and sideways flyers is a seating issue?
 
Both powders you mentioned, i.e., 1680 and 2520 are spherical powders. While I never used these specific powders, my experience with ball powders is that they do not perform well in temperature extremes. By that I mean consistent POI.

Perhaps those who have used those specific powders in those kinds of temperatures can provide better information.
 
johnfkingmatrix said:
interesting. so that's like a slower/lighter loading?
like slower than avg 30-50 grainers?
Click to expand...
I have a 7.5 inch AR pistol. The muzzle blast was substantial even with a can on. So I downloaded .223 rounds. Now it is nice to shoot with a can, had to lighten the buffer and make the gas block adjustable. I load 55 grain FMJ cause they are cheap. Like I said I have no idea what the velocity is, don't really care as long as they kill what I'm aiming at.
Even loaded a few with poly copper matrix 50 grains to shoot steel targets at close range. Only shot a few, fun!
 
You might want to also post this topic on the varmint/hunting board on this site. They don’t always visit all topic areas.
 
johnfkingmatrix said:
true! it's AR platform. it will be SW /SCentral Utah, thinking pretty dry

and yeah good point @ condensation. ill just keep it in bed of truck. thx

"Vertical on target either go up or down on powder-
Flyers- seating depth.."

meaning, a vertical deviation is fixed by tuning powder load, and sideways flyers is a seating issue?
Click to expand...
No way of knowing the altitude where you'll do load testing and zero the rifle.
Remember the thinner air of those high altitudes let bullets fly higher downrange. Example, I live at around 400' ASL and when I travel to WY for Praire Dogs I am usually shooting at 4-6000' ASL. My rifles normally shoot 3" or so higher at 100 yards there than my zero here.
Using 3,000 FPS as a velocity I ran simple example in JBM. IF you have a 100 yard zero at 6000 ASL then at 250 yards the bullet drops roughly 7.5" and that only changes by about .5" when you get to 10k ASL. BUT add in your difference in zero due to varying altitude and it may mean a lot of missed fur.
Adding to my caution on keeping that AR running in bitter cold, I would research how the rifle should be made ready for it as even the choice and amount of lube can make a difference in how (or if) your rifle performs.
My point of all this is to caution you to prepare as much (or more) for what the elements will throw at you as the ammo your shooting.
 
In my testing side by side in my 20PPCAI with AA2520 and RL15 there are very close, real close.
 
With 2520, a medium burn rate powder with a 53 gr V-Max you are going to have about 20% unburnt powder in a 16" barrel based on Gordon's Reloading Tool. That's going to be a lot of muzzle flash and it will probably not give you a lot of accuracy.
 
Hodgon site has a 35gr Nosler listed @ starting 26.5gr-29.5 gr max load


A 90gr Sierra
21.2starting load to 23.6gr max load


So if you haven’t looked on Hodgon reloading data site.. ya might want too…
 
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