In looking through a number of manuals, they often show XMR-2015 powder as giving the most velocity with acceptable pressures in the 223. It appears to be an extruded powder, but I've never known anyone who sells it or uses it.
What is it good for?
What other powders does it compare to?
Temp sensitive?
Easy through the measure?
Favorite uses?
I'm thinking it's Accurate Powder's new letters/numbers for their old AA2015br. its short grain extruded powder that goes through a measure real well. I used it years ago in a bolt 223 gun. Looks to be close in the burn rate chart to RL7 and BenchMark.
The best there is for 22-250 & 220 swift 40 grain bullets
my 220 gets 4468 fps and very accurate.
No letters anymore just 2015. Think this is Western Powders new policy.
17 Fireball 20gr bullet, extremly high vel with published data, so so accuracy. Backed off a little accuracy improved, vel more in line with other powders.
20 Vartarg 32gr bullet good accuracy & vel fair.
221 Fireball 40gr excellent accuracy, low vel, case full to top. 55gr good accuracy fair vel.
22 PPC 50 & 52gr most accurate powder used in that Ruger, vel very good.
222 Rem 50gr excellent accy very good vel.
223 Rem 50gr, excellent accuracy, never could dup published vel. Probably the lot of powder being used ??
6PPC 60 & 70gr pretty good accuracy and vel. Couple of other powders worked better in that rifle.
300 Savage 125gr excellent accuracy, vel as high as I wanted to push in an older 99.
45-70 300gr excellent accuracy, good vel.
Seemed to me to burn somewhere between RL7 and H322 in most cartridges I tried, acted a lot like 3031 in the 300 Sav. I like the powder, meters well burns pretty clean, can't say it's better than many other powders but may be worth a try.
I used it in a 35 Whelen a few years back and found it excellent with 225 gr bullets. I wish we could get it easily but it's tough to find around here, it is a great powder.
223 Rem 50gr, excellent accuracy, never could dup published vel. Probably the lot of powder being used ?
My results are the same. Excellent accuracy in my CZ527 with 52gr Nosler competition bullets. Regularly shoots 3/8, and usually less groups for 3 shots.
Some 6PPC shooters have been using it instead of VV N-133 trying to find an edge.
One thing I haven't heard much about, but have noticed myself is good barrel life. With just over 1K rounds through this rifle, the lands haven't moved more than .002, which is likely within the range of error of the measuring tools. I don't rapid fire, so YMMV.
My normal load is 25.2grs with the Nosler Competition bullet.
Loads well in everything mentioned above, plus some others.
I used to load it in an old 222 sporter weight Sako with a Bofors bbl that would give benchrest type accuracy with it.
Back then the old standby for the 222 was 4198 powder, but the 2015 would definately shoot better in that gun with Sierra match bullets.
I've used it in the past when it was still labeled 2015-BR. It gave me good velocity and accuracy in 35 Whelan with 200 and 220 grain bullets. It also gave real good results in a 14 inch Contender 7-30 with 120 gr. bullets. Bought a couple pounds of the BR version, but haven't used either in many years. Now have a 222 Rem that I'll give it a try with. Seems like most of the reviews I've seen have been favorable.
I have used it in a 308x1.5Barnes and a 7mmBR with excellent accuracy. Velocity was not as good as with IMR-4198.Rick.
I just experimented with it in .222. I didn't see that it did anything that couldn't be gone with other powders.
The older XMR-2015 was manufactured in the Czech Republic in recent years manufactured in different countries, it has just been in the last year or so that it has been manufactured in Canada. different burnrates and characteristics do load developement on whatever lot you have, the Czech stuff is not close to the Canada stuff. Be wary of the powder manual with this powder.
Some 6PPC shooters have been using it instead of VV N-133 trying to find an edge.
This is true, but they are only using the newly manufactured Canada powder and most will only use lot3
BTW, A benchrest shooter by the name of Lou Murdica has been working with "Western Powders" Accurate with the Canada made 2015.
They have developed a new powder called Accurate LT-32 that is becoming available right now. dont know if they will continue to make 2015 but the benchrest shooters will be using the new LT-32.
As always, you guys are a great source of information--thanks.
Honestly, it sounds to me like I will stick with some powders that I already use, as the velocity gains in the 223 seem illusory.
I have shot it in a 223 and 223 AI with 50 and 55g Bullets with outstanding accuracy, velocity on par with benchmark.
Shoot it (the old AA2015BR) version in .222 Rem with 40's. Does pretty well.
In the past I even loaded some 70 gr bullets in the .243 Win with it with good accuracy, but lagging velocity. It works great in the .223 Remington with 40 gr and 50 gr bullets. There does seem to be quite a disparity in loading data with Accurate 2015. For instance, the Lyman No. 49 manual lists max loads of 27.0 and 25.0 gr with the 40 gr and 50 gr bullets, while other manuals and Accurate's own data ahows 25.5 gr and 24.0 gr. I have loaded up to 27.0 gr with the 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip and have chronographed them at over 3800 fps on a warm day out of a 26" Remington SPS Varmint. I have also clocked the 50 gr Ballistic Tip at over 3400 fps using the Lyman data. It doesn't meter quite as nicely as TAC, but it certainly can provide great performance with lighter bullets.
I have had real good luck with it in the 6x45 with 70gr SMKHPBT out of the AR.
There have been at least 3 Variations of 2015 Powder . I used the original AA 2015 BR in a Custom 223 ( mostly with 40 Gr Vmaxs ) and it was excellent . About equivalent to H322 and V 133 for Accuracy . Still have some left , but already have some XMR ready to go when I run out of AA . A source I consider reliable tells me the newer stuff requires maybe 0.5 Grains or a tad more to reach the Velocity of the AA Lots , but I have not yet tried any yet .