Figured I'd throw some of my experience into the mix.
Just starterd working with AA 2495 powder, mainly because I can't find Varget to save my life right now and I'm saving my current low stock of Varget for other rounds. Basically, this is mainly about my "plinking" loads for 308 Win, which are using Hornady 150 grain FMJBT bullets. I consider them plinking because they are all charged directly from the powder measure, then visually inspected. They aren't generally checked on the scale afterwards. I will use the scale to calibrate the measure and then throw a few loads to see where my tolerances are. It is because of this that I generally pick a load that is generally between the min and the max on the load data, so the margin for error is well within (generally +- 0.5 gn).
Now, this is less about my measuring techniques and more about why you should be starting low and working up. I was using the Accurate powder load data recommendations for the bullet, which stated a min of 41.9 grains and a max of 46.6 grains of AA 2495, with a COAL of 2.735. So I decided that 43 grains of powder was going to be my load. Because it may also be relevant, I am using CCI BR2 primers in my Kel Tec RFB.
I could tell that I was borderline on max loading. I was cratering most of the primers, but some that were on the upper end of the +- were piercing the primers. I have plinking loads that I use 41 grains of Varget for that show no pressure signs. The velocity difference is quite large for the same bullets. I'm getting around 2550 fps with the Varget loaded at 41 grains and over 2700 fps with the 2495 rounds at 43 grains. The Accurate data shows that at max load, they push about 2900 fps. To be honest, I'm not sure how they manage this without blowing primers out of their cases (which I did with one of my cases). Because I'm using mixed brass, most of the cases after resizing stretched anywhere from 0.005" to 0.015".
Moral of the story, start at minimum loads and work up. In my case, I know where this stuff is at for 43 grains, so I plan on backing down to 41 grains, same as Varget. Even data supplied by powder manufacturers can be a little suspect.
Just starterd working with AA 2495 powder, mainly because I can't find Varget to save my life right now and I'm saving my current low stock of Varget for other rounds. Basically, this is mainly about my "plinking" loads for 308 Win, which are using Hornady 150 grain FMJBT bullets. I consider them plinking because they are all charged directly from the powder measure, then visually inspected. They aren't generally checked on the scale afterwards. I will use the scale to calibrate the measure and then throw a few loads to see where my tolerances are. It is because of this that I generally pick a load that is generally between the min and the max on the load data, so the margin for error is well within (generally +- 0.5 gn).
Now, this is less about my measuring techniques and more about why you should be starting low and working up. I was using the Accurate powder load data recommendations for the bullet, which stated a min of 41.9 grains and a max of 46.6 grains of AA 2495, with a COAL of 2.735. So I decided that 43 grains of powder was going to be my load. Because it may also be relevant, I am using CCI BR2 primers in my Kel Tec RFB.
I could tell that I was borderline on max loading. I was cratering most of the primers, but some that were on the upper end of the +- were piercing the primers. I have plinking loads that I use 41 grains of Varget for that show no pressure signs. The velocity difference is quite large for the same bullets. I'm getting around 2550 fps with the Varget loaded at 41 grains and over 2700 fps with the 2495 rounds at 43 grains. The Accurate data shows that at max load, they push about 2900 fps. To be honest, I'm not sure how they manage this without blowing primers out of their cases (which I did with one of my cases). Because I'm using mixed brass, most of the cases after resizing stretched anywhere from 0.005" to 0.015".
Moral of the story, start at minimum loads and work up. In my case, I know where this stuff is at for 43 grains, so I plan on backing down to 41 grains, same as Varget. Even data supplied by powder manufacturers can be a little suspect.
