Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Accurate Arms 2015 in .223 Rem

Anyone burning this powder with 50 to 55 grain projectiles? General comments/knowledge about the combo would be appreciated.

Because I had excellent performance with 2015 in the 22PPC I ran some trials in the 223. I tried it with the 50 Nosler and the 55 Hornady, Rem. cases and Fed 205 primers. I achieved good accuracy and velocity with the 50gr. bullet. Not so much with the 55, with groups running in the 1 1/16 inch and larger range, velocity was lagging a bit but I didn't push it past any book max even though pressure appeared mild. I suspected that I had a bullet problem more than a powder problem. I experienced no surprises as I worked up from about 5% below suggested max. Velocities were very uniform and groups with the 50gr. bullet stayed under an inch (5 shot) for most loads. It metered well through my measure and burned clean. Trials were limited but I would consider useing it if I didn't already have many pounds of H335 and Tac to burn up.

I shoot AA 2015 a great deal. It has performed well in my bolt guns in 223 with bullets from 40 to 55 grains. I shoot quite a few of the 50's. Charge weights are always hovering around the 24.5 to 25.0 range depending on the bullet weight. I found that 24.5 was a perfect with the 50 BT's in my rifles. YMMV

I have also used it quite a bit in my AR's with the same load data out of an OLY Ultra Match and it shoots lights out too.

It meters well and I have been pleased with it over the past 10 years or so.

Greg

My CZ loves this stuff. I use 25.2grs behind a 50-52gr bullet and get groups between 3/8-1/2" everytime I shoot it. The primers are Fed205M, and WSR work well also.

I can't exactly prove it since it is only a sample of one, but my barrel life has been excellent using this powder. The lands haven't moved more than .002 in over 800 rounds that I have used this powder.

I have used quite a bit, it was my favorite .223 load for a while, 25.0 gr AA-2015, 50 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, RP 7�, Winchester case (or anything else). Gave good velocity in 24" 1 in 12" twist barrel. Still like it with the 40 gr bullets, gives outstanding velocity at Lyman manual max charge of 27.0 gr which appears to be safe in my rifle and chronoed over 3800 fps out of a 26" Remington SPS varmint. I have turned to Ramshot TAC with the 50 gr bullets just because it shoots so clean and meters so nicely in the powder measure. It performs very close to the AA-2105 loads in accuracy and velocity with the 50 gr bullets. But TAC can't quite match the velocity of AA-2015 with the 40 grainers.

For years AA2015 has been terrific in a 26" .223. In 20yrs it's changed a couple times but each version has shot very well. I use that powder with 40's and 50's. The 50gr load is 3640..... with one more grain of powder, 40's are going 4000. It's a very good barrel, 14 twist that shoots about any 40-55gr bullet really well. The only powder I've tried that's as accurate and even faster with a 40-50gr bullet in my rifles is VV133.

My favorite for a 223. I don't run my loads that hot though. I run between 23.6 and 24.5 for the 40Vmax 50 Nosler, 52 Amax, 52SMK &55 Nosler bullets. Using mainly LC brass and Remington 7 1/2 I manage 1/2" and smaller 5 shot groups. Avatar is 40 Vmax with 24.2 grains at around 3600fps.

2015 and Hornaday 60 grain Vmax works very well in my M700 heavey barrel.

Those are pretty light loads. Even the manuals go higher than that, and they're conservative. You could be getting quite a bit more from the cartridge. My loads using IMI and 7-1/2BR's aren't real hot.

Hornady only gives 23.6 for a max load for the 40 but I run between 24.2 and 24.5 according to the brass. Lyman gives 27 for the same bullet and Nosler give 25.5 for their variant. 24.2 giving me excellent accuracy at 3600+ but I have loaded a lot hotter but accuracy not near as good. Lyman is usually my go to for looking for max loads, because they don't have an iron in the fire. However above 26 gr in my rifle almost locked the bolt down.

BigG: I have never tried the AA 2015 powder with 50 or 55 grain bullets in any of my 223's but it sure does an excellent job in 3 of my 223 Varminters with 40 grain projectiles.
Best of luck to ya - and be sure and keep AA 2015 in mind if you try out the 40 grainers.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Thanks for reminding me, I picked up another 2 lbs of Accurate 2015 at Wholesale Sports tonight. Have at least 500 of the Nosler 40 gr Ballistic Tips to load up, and only had about a pound left.

I have shot 2015 in several 223', 223 AI's, and 22 PPC's with the 50 and 55g Bullet.

Accuracy is well below 1/2"!

Accuracy is usually about .5g Below what you would call a Max load for your rifle watching pressure signs.

I do use Rem 7 1/2 Primers.