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Bullshop
01-27-2006, 06:39 PM
I am looking for a source to resupply a reserv of PSA. This as I understand was made in China and was supposed to duplicate AA2230 for mil contract. I read that it had too much flash so was rejected but I have found that its burn rate is quite some faster than AA2230 and even possibly a tad faster than 3031 at least in my application so also may have contributed to its being rejected. I have been using it in straight wall rifle cases like 45/70 for the higher end performance loads in my commercial ammo line. Here are some of my results.
case - RP
boolit - RCBS 430gn FNGC - ACWW - .460" SG lube
primer - Fed # 215
powder - 49.2gn PSA
average velocity 1850 FPS extreem spread 5 shots 15 FPS

case - RP
boolit - 500gn NEI paper patch 30/1
primer - Fed #215
powder - 43.5gn PSA
hi-1689 lo-1675 es-14 av-1682 sd-9 5 shot

case - RP
boolit - RCBS 525gn FNGC @ .459" @ bhn 15 SG lube
primer - Fed #215
powder - PSA 43.5gn
hi-1710 lo-1706 es-4 av-1708 sd-2 5 shot

All loads fired in a Marlin 1895 pre micro groove. Grouping was excellent.
If anyone has a clue where some is available I would shure like to know. Perhaps it was/is available under another label. My lot # was PSA lot # 94-1
I am loading a volume for the spring gun show that will use up my supply. Doubtless I can rework with another powder but as you can see this one is excellent in this application. Thanks for help!!!
BIC/BS

Buckshot
01-28-2006, 06:15 AM
.............Wish I could help but I haven't seen it in awile. I believe it was Bartlett that my buddy bought his from a couple years ago. He too was using it in a 45-70 and a 40-65 predicated upon it's speed being close to IMR3031.

All these numbers seem to come and go and some never return.

.....................Buckshot

Bullshop
01-28-2006, 10:18 AM
Well if PSA is gone for good, and since it was a mistake I suspect it is then I mourn its passing. You can see from the data that for the energetic loads in the 45/70 it gave very low extreem spreads, at least with the heavier weight boolits. I did find a slightly faster powder did better with boolits under 400gn. I have been using Scott 4197 for those weights. That is another one that is no longer available as such, but I strongly suspect that when AA took over the Scott label they changed it to AA 2015 which in my testing comes up a dead ringer.
BIC/BS

Ricochet
01-28-2006, 10:25 PM
I'll mourn my single jug of PSA when it's finished. I've been using it mainly in .45-70, too. I find 54 grains of it under a #457122HP a perfect heavy hunting load for the Marlin, though it might start a forest fire. It's obviously got good applications in .223, .30-06 and others, as well. I have recently been thinking it'd be perfect for the 8x57. But when it's gone, it's gone. I wish I'd bought a lot more when I could.