AA2230 testing with a carbine

arlaunch

arlaunch

Active member
I finally got the time to work up some loads with Sierra #1390's, a Colt carbine and AA2230 powder.

To my surprise i was able to achieve NATO velocities very quickly and with groups around an inch with out pressure.

I broke into the 3000fps region at 25.3 grains and found a good shooting load around 25.6-8 grains. Above that i saw increasing pressure and groups size opening up.

I was able to verify 25.7 twice with equal results ( dead on 1 MOA) Unfortunately on the 3rd verification trip the group opened up and left me wondering. I will try it again with better brass.

I just wanted to post that i broke the 3,000fps region easily and to my surprise with a 16 inch barrel.

On the flip side i tested my other Colt carbine with W748. and the same bullet. It took .4 grains over book max to just barely crest the 2800. That combo shoots much, much better though. (No pressure)

The carbine tested shooting the W748 shoots better though.

Anybody else find a powder that clears the 3000fps region in a carbine fairly easily?

AA2230 is fast with 55 grain bullets.

Edit: Much later... I think my chronograph was acting up. Later verifications showed more like 2870fps instead of 3000.

I ditched AA2230 and went with H4895. That gets me right at 3000fps with around 26.1 grains and a CCI#41 primer. Other primers will net slower velocities.
 
AA2230 is fast becoming on of my favorite powders for my AR15. I have not tried the 55 grain Sierra HP's yet, but I do plan on trying them in the near future. I stumbled upon AA2230 while trying to find AA2200....can't find it anywhere on the shelf and I'm not paying a hazmat fee for a 1lb can.
 
AA2200 might well get you more speed in warmer temps. It's the highest MV powder that I have ever used with 55gr bullets in an AR. Never could get acceptable groups (sub MOA) with it though. YMMV. I have not tried AA2230. I might add that AA200 is pretty temp. sensitive IMO. Therefore I would never consider it for a hunting load in my part of the country where temps can run from near 100 in the summer to the below zeros in the dead of winter.
 
Last edited:
I will try the AA2230 in the more accurate of the 2 rifles and see how it goes. W748 is my favorite go to powder with my longer barrel rifles.

The Sierra #1390 is the older brother of the the 52 grain Match King. Very similar characteristics in the short range shooting arena.
 
I have used a case or two of 2230 in several .223 rifles. Currently my rifle load is: RARR, 52 gr BTHP, 23.7 gr of 2230. Chrono data yesterday at 5000' was an average of 2876 fps.

The bullets are some pulls, and the brass was misc. stuff I didn't care about losing in a match. Still, they shot fairly tight out to 400 yds. Temps were mid thirties and some cold wind. This will be this seasons yote load in this little rifle.

BTW, if you don;t know, Ramshot Exterminator is the same exact powder. Check their data, same,same.
 
arlaunch I found some info on 2230c. these were shot out of my rem.r15 with a 24 in barrel.They were shot when i was testing for cold weather performance.they were all shot at 45 degrees.25 gr with50 gr tnts 2991.25.5 3087
 
TRS,

There was a thread on this a ways back. An inquiry to Western Powders proved they are not same powder at all. The XT is made in Belgium with anti copper fouling additives and the 2230 is made in Florida with temp sensitive additives.

The Sierra manual shows different loads weights for the different bullets. The Western Powder guide shares the same data in their testing.

Western Powders are known for serious lot to lot variations to put a wrench in the spokes of any investigators anyhow.

I have shot 2250, TAC & 2230 out of the carbine with 70gr TSX. All loaded to max charge in the Western Powder load guide. All crazy fast with light pressure and terrible groups at the top of the range.

Much better about .5 - .8 grains below max charge. All still blitzkrieg fast still

I chose to get 2230 because i wanted a fast powder burn rate for the carbine gas system. Also because of the suppressor. (Proved to be more clean)

TAC and 2250 seem to burn a bit longer and push lots of deposits back in the BCG.

I noticed my BCG is more clean shooting AA2230 suppressed than shooting TAC and 2250 unsuppressed.

The later would be the better choice for a rifle length gas system i believe.
 
I made it out to the range today with my Sierra #1390's loaded in LC brass and AA2230 powder.

Last time i had the oppurtunity to shoot in the day time with my chronograph, my OEM Colt 6920 rifle cleared 3000fps with 25.3 grains of AA2230.

I have since been night shooting, and working up AA2230/Sierra #1390 loads without a chronograph in my other rifle. (Colt 6721)

Today i had the chance to shoot in the day time, so i brought my chronograph. The purpose of the day was to re-verify a load range that shot well previously.

25.5 - 25.8 grains of AA2230

All groups shot under an inch with 25.6 and 25.7 grains being the very best. Identical "best" loads to what shot best in my other Colt by the way.

The major difference was that 25.8 grains just barely scraped over 2900 fps. 2904 to be exact for a 10 shot average. 1/2 grain more powder to make 100fps less velocity compared to the other rifle.

The 6721 has a much, much smaller chamber and a 9 twist
The 6920 has a hogged out 5.56 chamber and a 7 twist barrel.

The brass starts to show a little fatigue above 25.8 grains. Not bad though. Primer pockets are still tight as it took normal force to de-cap.


Things that make you go Hmm...

P.S. Extreme spreads were terrible. I am going to switch primers, even though i am more than satisfied with group sizes at 100 yards.
 
Back
Top