AA2520, what caliber do you use it in?

[NuJudge]

There are lots of worrisome comments about peening in M1A and M1 rifles when loading 2520. Does anyone have any good loads they use in manually operated rifles? I have a bunch of it and would like to use it.

CDD

 

[MMCSRET]

I have several acquaintances that use it in M1A/M14 service rifle competition loads and have for years. It is roughly the same spectrum as the 4895 and other powders in the "middle". I've used it very successfully in 25-35 with the Hornady 117 gr. RN bullet. I've used it in 243 and 308 and 30-30 and a bunch of other medium capacity cases. Never had a problem with it.
I never tried to "hot rod" it, just factory duplication loads.

 

[NCsmitty]

Here's from Accurate powders about AA2520. It's real close to IMR4064 burn rate, but it's a ball powder.

2520 is a medium burning, double-base, spherical rifle propellant designed around the 308 Win. 2520 is our “camp Perry” powder and is extremely popular with many service shooters.
It also performs extremely well in 223 Rem with heavy match bullets (62 to 80 grain).
This versatile powder has superb flow characteristics
and is well within the threshold limit for the M14 systems.

My load data pay site had this comment:
30'06
IMI cases and CCI 200 primers were used in development.

PMC 150FMJ and 46.2gr load will approximate M2 Ball ammo.

I believe the velocity is around 2650fps.

FYI, Maximum load listed at 51.2gr @ 2870 FPS and 58200 psi, for use in commercial '06 rifles.




NCsmitty

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I load 2520 for my dad's FNAR in .308. 44 grains, magnum primer, 168 gr HPBT's are printing 1.5" at 100 yards, which he's more than happy with.

 

[Slamfire]

There are lots of worrisome comments about peening in M1A and M1 rifles when loading 2520.

Peening was a curious phenomena that the military had in M1's and ball powder. I forget the causes or the cures, but I think peening is a mute subject today.

Back in the 80's AA2520 was the hot new M1a powder. Jugs and kegs and tons of it were shot through M1a's without any problems.

Not only did it shoot well, but it meters fantastically. Not that it makes any difference on paper.

Yesterday I shot a HM score with 69's in the .223.

I bought a lot of the stuff when it was $64.00 a keg. But all things being equal, I prefer IMR 4895. Some lots of AA2520 were real dirty stuff, almost like charcoal dust, and I hate having to use a copper bristle brush cleaning deposits off my AR bolt. Which is what I did yesterday.

I have shot AA2520 in the M1, shoots very well.

I shot this prone rapid fire group with AA2520 and a M1a at our Club's 100 yard reduced Highpower match.

Stuff shoots well.

Any caliber combination that shoots well with IMR 4895 will also shoot well with AA2520.