6x6.8 AA2200 Powder

Houser in NC

Houser in NC

New member
I have been using XBR8208 for my 6x6.8, 55gr NBT loads. They're very accurate but velocity seems a little slow at 3100 fps with a charge of 31.3grs

Since I had some Accurate Arms AA2200, I looked at their 6mm PPC load data and decided to give AA2200 a try in my 6x6.8. Their max charge of AA220 in 6mm PPC is 31.4 grs.

I settled on 31.4 grs. Anything more and I was beginning to see a little cratering of primers but no swipes or any other signs of high pressure.

Here's what amazed me, velocity averaged 3532 fps out of my 18"TO barrel from Ritch. That's over 400 fps faster with my load of 31.3 grs of 8208! Accuracy was acceptable for me at .84" 130 yards using a 2x8 Weaver scope.

There's very little info that I could find of guys using AA2200 with the 6x6.8 but I was wondering why it's not used or even tried more?
 
Wow well that’s a good find. How is that powder for temp stability? I switched from 8208 to h322 and I’m shooting 58g vmax at 3550 or so with 31g of h322. 8208 was 3400-3450 with 31.7g.
 
2200 gets spikey fast. I only tried one batch with the 6X6.8 and way over did it. I need to revisit it. You are pretty slow on those 8208 speeds. I'll look at some data later for you.

Greg
 
Originally Posted By: zr600Wow well that’s a good find. How is that powder for temp stability? I switched from 8208 to h322 and I’m shooting 58g vmax at 3550 or so with 31g of h322. 8208 was 3400-3450 with 31.7g.

According to what I could find, like most ball powders, there is some pressure difference with temperature changes. I may have to adjust my charge for summertime temperatures or settle for a lower charge for both winter and summer.
 
Originally Posted By: GLShooter2200 gets spikey fast. I only tried one batch with the 6X6.8 and way over did it. I need to revisit it. You are pretty slow on those 8208 speeds. I'll look at some data later for you.

Greg

I didn't experience any spikes yesterday, 65° and sunny. Velocities were pretty consistent with charge increase. ES averaged 18-30 and SD 8-15.

I also thought 8208 speed was slow. If I increased the charge a 1/10 grain or 2 above 31.3 I started seeing pressure signs.
 
Originally Posted By: Houser in NCOriginally Posted By: GLShooter2200 gets spikey fast. I only tried one batch with the 6X6.8 and way over did it. I need to revisit it. You are pretty slow on those 8208 speeds. I'll look at some data later for you.

Greg

I didn't experience any spikes yesterday, 65° and sunny. Velocities were pretty consistent with charge increase. ES averaged 18-30 and SD 8-15.

I also thought 8208 speed was slow. If I increased the charge a 1/10 grain or 2 above 31.3 I started seeing pressure signs.

When we did pressure testing and worked up the commercial loadings for the 58 VMAX we arrived at 31.5 being right where we wanted but downloaded the commercial stuff to 30.0.

I shot the 31.5 of 8208 and a VMAX as my go to load on all five of my 6X6.8's.

The 2200 gets a bit wild and woolly at higher temps just like 748. For me normal nice weather is around 80-90. Higher temps are going to be in the 95-115 stuff I deal with so much here with 105 being a coolish summer day lately.

I shot 31.5 of 2200 with a 58 at 103.Got two bent rims and a blown primer for the three shots. The speed was nice though at 3840. The first two shots weren't picked up and the one that recorded was the one that blew the primer. If the firts one had read I would not have shot a second!!

On the same day I shot 70 TNT's over 28.3 of 2200 and got 3262 with a nice group. No issues on primers at all.

Greg
 
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AA2200 gave me 3500 with my 6x45 with the lubalox coated 55gr NBT, no pressure signs. I haven't checked velocities since we turned into the great white tundra, but I plan on seeing what it will do with the little 55gr SHOTS next. Very accurate and consistent. Works great in full size 6.8, so should be a no brainer in the 6mm flavor.
 


A lot of 6.8 guys are using AA2200 and works great for them but I tried it in my 6.8 with several bullet weights and couldn't get good accuracy. That's why I had it in the cabinet and wanted to try it in the 6x6.8.



FYI- This is from AA website regarding temp stability;

Most of our powders are not insensitive, and will show some effect at hot and cold temperatures.

However, we test at -40F and +125F and the deviation in most cases are ca 3% to 5% at these extreme levels. Therefore most shooters do not notice much difference under normal practical hunting conditions.

More elaboration on the subject:

Complete temperature stability can only be achieved with tubular extruded powders designs, either with double base (NG) and/or with other coating technologies.

Because the ballistic performance at extreme temperature is completely dependant on the specific combination, it is very difficult to quantify and qualify.

Our standard powders perform very well at extreme temperatures, and usually pass the strict military requirements by a large margin.

This is a subject that often fraught with misconceptions and inaccuracies.

The term is used loosely by manufacturers without qualifying the subject, and is obviously exploited for marketing purposes and perceptions.

The facts are:

Although powders can be improved, it’s really only possible with advanced coating procedures and additives which increase the cost.
A particular powder can be improved re temperature stability for certain combinations, within a certain envelope which is specific to the following three main parameters/aspects
The caliber.
The weight of the projectile/bullet.
The performance level.
If any of these parameters/aspects go beyond or outside the intended ratio/s, the results will change and the performance will sometimes be different.

It is also very important that when a comparison is made, that all conditions re weapon i.e. components primer, case, bullet and the velocity are equal, and preferably done at the same time on the same day.
 
The increased velocity you are getting with AA2200 does not surprise me at all. I have had very good luck with it in my 6x45 with 55 gr bullets. I had wondered how this powder would perform in the 6x6.8 with 55s.
 
Originally Posted By: JDF_GSPThe increased velocity you are getting with AA2200 does not surprise me at all. I have had very good luck with it in my 6x45 with 55 gr bullets. I had wondered how this powder would perform in the 6x6.8 with 55s.

I, for one, am glad that I gave it a try.

I'm going to play around with the OAL and tweak the powder charge a little to try and tighten the groups.
 
Thanks for the heads up. I have several lbs. of AA2200 I use in my 6.8. I currently load 8208 & H322 in my 20" 6X6.8. I get good groups with 8208 but get pressure signs at 31.5. I can get about 200 f.p.s. more speed using H322 with the 58gr Vmax. 30.8gr XBR gets me good groups but only 3219 f.p.s. thats top before I see pressure. I'm currently loading XBR with 65gr Vmax at 3092 f.p.s. for coyotes. It hammers them but is kind of slow pitch compared to the 58 at around 3500 f.p.s. The problem may be my batch of XBR but it's an 8 pounder so I'm stuck. I only have a pound of H322 so if I can get the AA2200 pushing the 58 close to 3500 I'll be happy. BTW what are you guys using for primers? I seem to get the most consistancy with 41's
 
Flowj you should be able to get more then that with 65s I would think. I had 65s up to 3350 I’m pretty sure I know I was well above 3200 have had 70s Nosler btips up to 3250, I’m now shooting Berger 87 vld hunting at 3050. My barrel is a 22” barrel but that should only be maybe 50fps difference. Now I’m am using cci450 primers only maybe try the cci450s and see what happens.
 
zr600 I did not push the 65s. I was getting low 18 ES and good groups. I only have a couple hundred of them just wanted to put something together to hunt with. On the other hand I have 1600 58s. Those will be the ones I get anal about. 31.5 of XBR gave me 3311 avg and .6 5 shot groups with a 72 ES but was swiping bad. With the 58 and H322 loaded with 30.4 grs are as follows .008" jump 3471fps 41 ES, .020 jump 3469fps 22 ES, .030 jump 3451fps 41 ES. The .030 jump will group 5 in the .5s. I will try the AA2200 this weekend weather permiting. Guess I'll light .223 fires with the XBR
 


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