Accurate Arms 2520
- Thread starter Fishjager
- Start date
This will probably create a firestorm but looking for accuracy, and precision I don't believe Hornady is at the top of the list when it comes to bullets. I don't mean that they are bad but the reality is that most competitive shooters who shoot for score at distance tend to depend on Berger or Sierra or specially made bullets. Federal doesn't use Hornady in their GMM ammunition.
In the case of the 223 with the 75 I have heard people swear by them and at them. A lot of those were the PSA AAC 75 grain rounds. One of the issues may be that Hornady advertises this bullet has a secant ogive shape. This usually makes a bullet more sensitive to seating depth. I would try one of the 77gr bullets (Sierra or Nosler) before I ruled out the powder.
In the case of the 223 with the 75 I have heard people swear by them and at them. A lot of those were the PSA AAC 75 grain rounds. One of the issues may be that Hornady advertises this bullet has a secant ogive shape. This usually makes a bullet more sensitive to seating depth. I would try one of the 77gr bullets (Sierra or Nosler) before I ruled out the powder.
US shooters should be aware that there have been at least three 2520s within living memory and they are different from each other, albeit all are ball powders within the same burn-speed bracket.
The very original version was a surplus Israeli military powder bought by the onetime Accurate Arms Co in the 1980s. This was the version that earned the name 'The Camp Perry Powder' as it was reportedly THE powder for 308 in M1A/M14 service rifle shooting.
Perhaps because of its great reputation, that lot soon sold out, and as it was a one-off lot AAC sourced a similar replacement from Explosia a.s. in the Czech Republic and used the same name and packaging. It was neither the same as the original lot, nor did it do well in 308 Service Rifle, as John Feamster (iirc) wrote in Precision Shooting magazine having just bought an 8lb jug of version #2. AAC continued to advertise it as 'The Camp Perry Powder', which in my humble opinion was dubious if not downright dishonest.
Ca. 2003 Western Powders bought the Accurate Arms Powder Company and ditched Explosia as its supplier of nearly all 'Accurate' brand powders switching to General Dynamics Valleyfield in Canada for extruded grades and General Dynamic St. Marks in Florida for 'sphericals'. So today's 2520 is version #3 (or maybe even #4 or higher!).
The #2 post 2003 version continued on sale in Europe as Lovex D073.6 and continues to be available over here today, but was no longer available in the US until a few years ago when Shooters World adopted it and several others grades from the Czech manufacturer and packaged / retailed them under its own names. This is now called SW Match Rifle and is again available in the USA.
https://shootersworldpowder.com/match-rifle/
If that is the Accurate Arms #2 manual published in 2000/2001, all powders and loads in it are for the late AAC era Czech sourced powders, not the current US Accurate branded Valleyfield / St. Marks products. Western Powders specifically warned against using older AAC data for its powders and Western / Accurate data for European Lovex powders - they are NOT the same things.
Just to muddy the waters more, Hodgdon bought Western Powders a couple of years ago and data for the former Western marques (Ramshot and Accurate) should now be obtained from this company's website.
The very original version was a surplus Israeli military powder bought by the onetime Accurate Arms Co in the 1980s. This was the version that earned the name 'The Camp Perry Powder' as it was reportedly THE powder for 308 in M1A/M14 service rifle shooting.
Perhaps because of its great reputation, that lot soon sold out, and as it was a one-off lot AAC sourced a similar replacement from Explosia a.s. in the Czech Republic and used the same name and packaging. It was neither the same as the original lot, nor did it do well in 308 Service Rifle, as John Feamster (iirc) wrote in Precision Shooting magazine having just bought an 8lb jug of version #2. AAC continued to advertise it as 'The Camp Perry Powder', which in my humble opinion was dubious if not downright dishonest.
Ca. 2003 Western Powders bought the Accurate Arms Powder Company and ditched Explosia as its supplier of nearly all 'Accurate' brand powders switching to General Dynamics Valleyfield in Canada for extruded grades and General Dynamic St. Marks in Florida for 'sphericals'. So today's 2520 is version #3 (or maybe even #4 or higher!).
The #2 post 2003 version continued on sale in Europe as Lovex D073.6 and continues to be available over here today, but was no longer available in the US until a few years ago when Shooters World adopted it and several others grades from the Czech manufacturer and packaged / retailed them under its own names. This is now called SW Match Rifle and is again available in the USA.
https://shootersworldpowder.com/match-rifle/
If that is the Accurate Arms #2 manual published in 2000/2001, all powders and loads in it are for the late AAC era Czech sourced powders, not the current US Accurate branded Valleyfield / St. Marks products. Western Powders specifically warned against using older AAC data for its powders and Western / Accurate data for European Lovex powders - they are NOT the same things.
Just to muddy the waters more, Hodgdon bought Western Powders a couple of years ago and data for the former Western marques (Ramshot and Accurate) should now be obtained from this company's website.
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2520 is good for people who sell barrels.
It may HAVE BEEN "da Camp Perry Powda", but Varget, RE15, and 2000-MR will do alllllll your little-black-rifle-that-could can do with heavy bullets; those'll span ya well from 65-73 grainers, up through the 90s.
Varget is a fantastic powder, and the best there is with 65-73ish grainers, but not quite as good at the 300+ yard mid-heavies like 75-82 grainers, as is RE-15.
RE-15 does very well in that 5-700 yard bracket, with the 80 class, but it gets too hot before it gets fast enough with the Hi-heavies like the 90 grainers, so 2000-MR solves that, if you "need" to shoot 800+.
Just be aware 2000-MR only really wants to go fast... FASSSST. Fast enough to blow up your ****. Like PPC, though, will not shoot well, if you try to dog it.
-Nate
It may HAVE BEEN "da Camp Perry Powda", but Varget, RE15, and 2000-MR will do alllllll your little-black-rifle-that-could can do with heavy bullets; those'll span ya well from 65-73 grainers, up through the 90s.
Varget is a fantastic powder, and the best there is with 65-73ish grainers, but not quite as good at the 300+ yard mid-heavies like 75-82 grainers, as is RE-15.
RE-15 does very well in that 5-700 yard bracket, with the 80 class, but it gets too hot before it gets fast enough with the Hi-heavies like the 90 grainers, so 2000-MR solves that, if you "need" to shoot 800+.
Just be aware 2000-MR only really wants to go fast... FASSSST. Fast enough to blow up your ****. Like PPC, though, will not shoot well, if you try to dog it.
-Nate
Loudenboomer
Silver $$ Contributor
As Laurie mentioned 2520 is very similar to Shooters World Match rifle. A very versatile powder for 7.62 and 5.56. I'll bet you'll find a load you'll like for your 75 or 77 gr bullets. Data from shooters world could also be helpful.
Lost me with the comment " 2520 is good for people who sell barrels " 2520 burns much cooler than Varget.
Lost me with the comment " 2520 is good for people who sell barrels " 2520 burns much cooler than Varget.
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My experience with 2520 is If you want to go fast this is the powder, hands down. Now, if you want tiny groups, there are many better powders than 2520. As an added bonus the temperature sensitivity will drive you crazy! Good luck.
Paul
Paul
L.Sherm
Silver $$ Contributor
Paul not quite an apples to apples comparison but AA2520 shoots really small in my 20PPCAI. When I tested it side by side with RL15 they were really close but 15 I couldn't get enough in the case to reach full potential.
As far as temp sensitivity i haven't seen it to be that bad but its primarily a rat patch gun.
As far as temp sensitivity i haven't seen it to be that bad but its primarily a rat patch gun.
Fishjager
Silver $$ Contributor
I wish that some other people here would not mind sharing their 223 loads with a 75 BTHP and 2520. I went through the whole suggested loadings in the Hornady book with starting and max load. Loaded to the correct specs as well. I tried two rifles an AR and a Remington 700 SPS heavy barrel both with 1:8 twists. I am per plexed. I just sent some bullets from this lot to Hornady today for inspection. I bought them from Powder Valley in bulk, and PV stated they were in fact Hornadys. They were not sold as seconds either. PV said they got them from a business that was closing shop...................................
L.Sherm
Silver $$ Contributor
Who's specs? I suggest a different bullet if that dont work you may have to try different powder- primer combo.
Indeed.
There is no "correct" from a manual. There is only what works in your rifle, and everything else that does not.
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