Thread: Soot On Case Bodies

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings Magnetite,
Additional to the above replies I believe that AR2213SC is too slow for the 120 grain projectile. You would likely have less trouble with AR2209. Current manufacture AR2209 (post 2,000) is faster than the lot used by Hodgdon but you can still use their max which was for low pressure. Work up though.
Regards Grandpamac.

I’m currently working up a load for the 120s with 2209 and 2213sc to compare. 2213sc has the allure of accuracy.

From what I understand too slow of a powder won’t burn fully, or won’t allow the desired pressure to be reached. Are there any other caveats to be aware of?

Originally Posted by Magnetite

I’m currently working up a load for the 120s with 2209 and 2213sc to compare. 2213sc has the allure of accuracy.

From what I understand too slow of a powder won’t burn fully, or won’t allow the desired pressure to be reached. Are there any other caveats to be aware of?

Greetings Again,
The powder all burns in the barrel in spite of what some believe so the problem with AR2213SC is you can't get enough in the case to develop the velocity. Hodgdon gives a load of 49.5 grains with the 120 at quite low pressure. Nosler lists 51 grains from memory behind the 125 grain, probably at max pressure. With AR2209 Hodgdons lists 46 grains of the older and slower lots of AR2209 giving around 2,800 fps. My chronographing agreed with this. I loaded 46 grains of the current AR2209 behind 120 grain Speer projectiles which chronographed 2,870 fps and was accurate. Much of the 6.5 x 55 data is light due to the Norwegian Krag rifles chambered for it so getting good data is tricky. My rifle is a T3 with a 570mm barrel. My current load is with AR2209, late lot, 45.5 or 46 grains behind the 129 grain SST giving 2,800 or 2,850 fps. Have not decided on which one yet.

I suspect that your old cases are part of the problem and need to be annealed. I anneal after 3 loads, some do it every load.
Regards Grandpamac.