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Slamfire · July 19, 2010, 04:58 PM

I have seen points of impact change going from AA2520 (a ball powder) to stick powders at 600 yards.

I have loaded a bunch of .223 ammo with AA2520. The stuff was cheap at $64.00 a keg. I will shoot a 69 SMK 24 to 24.5 grains AA2520 out to 300 yards. The load shoots well. However at 600 yards, I get "settling" when I switch to my stick powders. It takes about 2 to 3 rounds before the barrel starts grouping consistently. I have had radical, like 8 ring shots, with first rounds at 600 yards, second round is barely more predictable, somewhere around the 3rd or fourth round the rifle shoots to previous elevation and windage.

I have never noticed this issue when shooting stick powders, even if the stick powders are different. In this one rifle, I use AA4064 to 300 yards, N140 at 600 yards. I have never had “settling” issues with these powders.

July 19, 2010, 04:58 PM	#6
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	I have seen points of impact change going from AA2520 (a ball powder) to stick powders at 600 yards. I have loaded a bunch of .223 ammo with AA2520. The stuff was cheap at $64.00 a keg. I will shoot a 69 SMK 24 to 24.5 grains AA2520 out to 300 yards. The load shoots well. However at 600 yards, I get "settling" when I switch to my stick powders. It takes about 2 to 3 rounds before the barrel starts grouping consistently. I have had radical, like 8 ring shots, with first rounds at 600 yards, second round is barely more predictable, somewhere around the 3rd or fourth round the rifle shoots to previous elevation and windage. I have never noticed this issue when shooting stick powders, even if the stick powders are different. In this one rifle, I use AA4064 to 300 yards, N140 at 600 yards. I have never had “settling” issues with these powders. __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.