AA2015 in the 6.5 Grendel

[Bob R]

I have not bought any new AA2015 in years. I ended up with a fair supply of it when WW748 was not available. Clinton Ammunition Scare.
AA2015 has been my go to powder for the 204 Ruger, but I have not used it a lot in other cartridges. I was wondering how it would work in the 6.5 Grendel.

bearmn56 had a post on AA2015 in December 2019. He was having success with reformed 7.62x39 brass. He indicated that he was pretty much using H322 Load Data as a guide for his load work-up. From my reading AA2015 is pretty close to H322.

I did come up with some load data from Sierra listing bullets from 85 - 123 grains. Test Barrel was 24" as usual.

Sierra Bullets
85 Varmint Starting Load 26.4 Max Load 28.8 = 2800 fps
100 Varmint Starting Load 24.7 Max Load 27.5 = 2650 fps
107 SMK Starting Load 241. Max Load 27.4 = 2600 fps
120 SMK Starting Load 23.5 Max Load 25.8 = 2400 fps
123 SMK Starting Load 22.5 Max Load 24.7 = 2300 fps

Looking at the Sierra Load Data, it looks like the speed starts dropping off with bullets heavier than the 107 SMK. AA2015 might be a little on the fast burning end of the chart for bullets in the 120-123 weight range. Just an observation.

Has anyone been working with AA2015 in the 6.5 Grendel?

Bob R

[VASCAR2]

I haven’t used Accurate 2015 but have used Accurate 2230 and Xterminator with good results. A Friend has loaded Accurate 2015 for his 223 Remington bolt gun for shooting prairie dogs. I’d probably stay below 107 grain bullets but it might be a good powder for the new 105 grain 6.5 mm/.264 Blitz King. I’ve shot several hundred 85 and 100 grain Sierra varmint bullets which have proven accurate for me.

I’ve never seen any Accurate 2015 for sale in my area or I would’ve bought a pound or two.

[LRRPF52]

Accurate Powders doesn’t have any load data for it, but they do for AA2200.

Like VASCAR said, I would keep it for lower projectile weights and approach load density carefully if you do decide to use it.

If you notice in Sierra’s data for XMR 2015, there are very narrow load bands from start load to max loads across the lighter weight projectiles, which means it’s on the faster side of burn rates for this cartridge even with light bullets.

If there were some lighter weight bullets (lighter than 85gr) for 6.5 Grendel, it might be a great powder.

[Bob R]

LRRPF52 I have a pretty good supply of Data 2200 as well. I could not pass it up when an 8# Jug was $50.
My notes indicate that the starting load of AA2200 is 22.7 grains with a 120 grain bullet. The Maximum Load looks to be 25.2 grains under a 120 grain bullet for a velocity of 2397 from a 20" barrel. Not as fast as some other propellants such as WW748, H335, Tac, AA2520, and several others. Looking over my notes, from my perspective, it would be nice if everyone worked up load data using a 20" AR15. It is hard to do an Apples to Apples comparison of powders when half of the data was worked up in 24" test barrels, and no PSI numbers are listed to give you an idea if that load is too hot for an AR or not.
With the powders that I have on hand. WW748, TAC, and SW Tactical will probably be my first powders to work with. I have somewhat limited supplies of several other powders that should perform well in the 6.5 Grendel.

Bob R

[LRRPF52]

All of the published data for 6.5 Grendel is kept under 52,000psi.

You can extrapolate muzzle velocity for barrel length with this chart:



You can also plug your data into the Shooter’s Notes internal ballistic engine calibrated for 6.5 Grendel: 6.5 Grendel Internal Ballistics Engine

There is quite a bit of published pressure data from Hodgdon’s and Accurate Powders.

[LRRPF52]

If you want higher velocities, CFE223 is a great powder for that.

My fastest loads with 123gr A-MAX have the lowest chamber pressure, in the 48,000psi region.

My brass ejects looking new as well.

[Bob R]

LRRPF52
Thank you for the link. I saved it to favorites, and I am sure that I will use it doing comparisons. I probably still have a month before my barrel shows up to figure out which bullet and powder combinations to work with.

Bob R