Does anyone have any loads for a 405g cast bullet, using AA2015? I only have the smallest amount of Varget left to experiment with, and no signs of getting any more.
Sir Roo, AA-2015BR is a great powder for Sir Dennis with hardcast FN at a bit under 2000 fps for venison harvesting. It is a bit bulky for getting top velocity with the long monometals, despite its fast burn rate. But it seems to be the cat's meow with a short COL load of a stubby 400-grain jacketed. Western powders data showed a jacketed 400-gr Barnes Original SSSP at 3.140" COL, 24" barrel, Win. brass, F215: 68.4 grains AA-2015 >>> 2172 fps 76.0 grains AA-2015 >>> 2468 fps <<< 57,584 psi Try 63.0 grains AA-2015 for about 2000 fps with your 405-gr hardcast. Use a foam wad filler cut from caulk backer roll to work down to accuracy, or work up for higher velocity. That reminds me to try for 2500 fps with my BHN 25 400-ish grainers, gas-checked and PC-painted. 2100 to 2200 fps is good with those, using the bulky and slow AA-2495.
Yep, I agree Sir Ron;
I'm sitting here in a swivel chair, at my desk, surrounded by all kinds of paraphernalia, a good part of which I'll never use again. But near my left elbow there are hundreds of bullets in .458", and below that several cans of powder suitable for the GREAT .458 Winchester Magnum, that will outlast me! The main propellants for the .458 in hand are: H4895, H335 and H4198. I still have an old can of 2230. Others suitable are H322, A5744, Rl-15 and CFE-223. Plus, I still have several hundred WLRM primers, so I've no need to cry over the politics of Canada or the USA in that regard. But having just settled on CFE-223 for the Whelen, I was hopeful for another can as a backup - but I haven't yet contacted all sources in this area. For the 9.3 x 62, I use RL-17 exclusively, which could also be used in the Whelen in a pinch. I did use that one in an early trial of the Whelen with a 225gr X-Bullet, and it worked well enough, but just a tad too slow. I still have about 75% of that can left, and only use enough to create some new reloads for the 9.3 Mauser when needed for hunting, so will have some left over as a spare for the .35 Whelen if push comes to shove.
Getting ready for bear baiting. Season starts Sept 1 and runs to Nov 30. Wolf/coyote, Sept 15 to Dec 31. Then a new license (if wanted) to Mar 31/23.
