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

[runfiverun]

your load was for the higher 5.56 service rifle pressure data and not the 223 load data.
ar's will do just fine with the 223/25.0 max load data.
I would pull them or save them for a 5.56 chamber.

[Larry Gibson]

Concur with runfiverun.....I use 26 gr as a "go to" load with AA2230 under 52 - 55 gr J bullets in my own .223s and 5.56s. In LC cases it most often equals M193 velocity and psi's whether from .223 or 5.56 chambers. I would be leary of that 27.3 gr load if you aren't sure what your chamber is.......223 or 5.56.........suggest pulling those and starting over.

Larry Gibson

[Hardcast416taylor]

I`ve been using 2230 for a looooong time in .223 loadings with 55 gr. sp and fmj thru both a Savage varmit rig and an 2nd yr. production Mini. I stayed with 24 gr. loadings with CCI primers and LC Mil. brass with both rifles with no problems and very acceptable accuracy with both.Robert

[dougader]

25 - 26 grains is what I used to load in my Colt AR15 with 55 grain fmj, but IIRC correctly it was cut to handle the 5.56 NATO round.

[WaywardSon]

Thanks for the continuing education guys. I was aware of the difference between commercial and military brass. My understanding being that the military stuff was thicker walled & therefore had less capacity. I was not aware of a difference in the chambers (if that is what you are saying)...and had always treated them as one and the same.

What little I have loaded for the .223 was 20 yrs. ago and intended for use in my Colt AR-15 A2 HBAR. I would almost bet money that even the 27.3 gr. load was under the listed max at that time. That or I screwed up

At any rate...if the consensus is that the load of 27.3 gr./AA2230 is not safe...especially in the Remington Model Seven, then I will just pull the dang things & take it as a lesson. Ain't the first.

Thanks to all for your comments...........John

[Screwbolts]

Waywardson, This is a good read : 5.56mm NATO versus 223 Remington Chamber Differences

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=55149

[lotech]

Some Accurate Arms data from years ago is now considered to be unsafe; it probably is. However, I saw indications of this with cartridges other than the .223 . I seldom use 2230 anymore, but used a lot of it for years. In several .223 bolt action rifles, 25 - 25.5 grains appeared to be maximum with 55 grain bullets. Listed maximum in their #1 manual from about twenty years ago was 26 grains. I found 2230 to be an excellent cast powder powder for several .30 cal. cartridges including the .300 Savage, .30-40 Krag, .308, and .30-06.

[WaywardSon]

Waywardson, This is a good read : 5.56mm NATO versus 223 Remington Chamber Differences

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=55149

Thanks for the link....cleared up some misconceptions on my part. Looks like I can use either military or commercial cases for reloading and fire the ammo in either the AR-15 or the Remington Model Seven....as long as I stick with data for .223 Remington.

Unless of course I have everything backwards again

[runfiverun]

nope that is correct.
my go to load for just shooting at things in whatever 223/5.56 type rifle that happens to go is 24.5 grs of aa-2230 and a 50-55gr bullet.

[chirodr1]

24 grains with a 55 grain FMJ shot very accurately in my Kimber 223 with no signs of excessive pressure.

[REDTAIL]

I need the loading Dada for AA2230 S Powder for the Rem 223 With a 55 Gr Bullet's Max Load, I have some loaded cartridges that I Loaded years ago, With 24 Gr's of this Powder, Just want to make sure it's safe for my Bolt Action Savage Axis Rifle, Any help, Will be Appreciated etc

[rockrat]

I have used 26.5 gr 2230 and a 53gr vmax with excellent accuracy in my rem xr100 223, but I consider that max. Hard on cases, but thats what the gun likes as it shoots groups in the .3's. I would also consider your 27+gr load way too hot. Maybe for a 40gr bullet it would be OK. My gun also like the 62 gr bthp from midsouth, with TAC powder. Same group size.

[REDTAIL]

This is AA2230 S which is no longer made, they say to reduce the loads of the AA2230 Regular Powder by 4 % For loads using the AA2230 S powder etc Which the load I used is 24GR'S Max etc