I had a 'hide member ask about the Federal .223 Remington Gold Medal Match load (69 grain Sierra bullet).
He sent me a box of ammo to look at. In this particular lot, the powder is a ball powder which weighs 24.7 grains.
This is just a cursory look at this factory load recipe. Velocity and accuracy tests with the suspected equivalent powder(s) would be the next step.
Volume tests show it compares well to W748 and AA2520. H335 does not match, as it's a heavier powder by a significant margin.
Between W748 and AA2520, the 2520 matches in burn and appearance more than the 748. The Winchester powder has a duller finish, whereas the the shinier appearance of the AA powder matches the Federal factory powder. I believe either powder would work to duplicate the load, however.
Because this is a ball powder that's in question here, there's going to be more potential for an odd lot, bought in bulk, by Federal. The ball powders seem to "wander" a bit more from lot to lot than extruded powders do. There's a good chance if you check your own lot of the factory ammo, the powder charge could vary a bit--but the desired burn rate, it seems, is in the vicinity of the W748 or AA2520 arena.
Stated velocity seems to be on par with what AA2520 or W748 would do with a 24.7 grain charge. However, with Federal brass, neck tension consistency of reloaded cases might not be as good as the initial factory firing--and accuracy may not equate.
Work up from safe levels to around 24.7 grains of W748 or AA2520 with the Sierra 69 grain Matchking to see how well this duplicates the factory load.
Dan
He sent me a box of ammo to look at. In this particular lot, the powder is a ball powder which weighs 24.7 grains.
This is just a cursory look at this factory load recipe. Velocity and accuracy tests with the suspected equivalent powder(s) would be the next step.
Volume tests show it compares well to W748 and AA2520. H335 does not match, as it's a heavier powder by a significant margin.
Between W748 and AA2520, the 2520 matches in burn and appearance more than the 748. The Winchester powder has a duller finish, whereas the the shinier appearance of the AA powder matches the Federal factory powder. I believe either powder would work to duplicate the load, however.
Because this is a ball powder that's in question here, there's going to be more potential for an odd lot, bought in bulk, by Federal. The ball powders seem to "wander" a bit more from lot to lot than extruded powders do. There's a good chance if you check your own lot of the factory ammo, the powder charge could vary a bit--but the desired burn rate, it seems, is in the vicinity of the W748 or AA2520 arena.
Stated velocity seems to be on par with what AA2520 or W748 would do with a 24.7 grain charge. However, with Federal brass, neck tension consistency of reloaded cases might not be as good as the initial factory firing--and accuracy may not equate.
Work up from safe levels to around 24.7 grains of W748 or AA2520 with the Sierra 69 grain Matchking to see how well this duplicates the factory load.
Dan
