I have not seen too many references to loading 2400 so I did some experimenting. The reason I wanted some 2400 loads is that I use a good bit of it in reduced loads for military rifles as well as 44 spl and 44 mag. The barrel I used is a SOTA Arms 1 in 8 twist with a .120 gas port. For a cheap barrel, I was impressed at the workmanship and the smoothness of the bore. I had a 4x scope and was shooting from a bench rest.
I was using the Lee 155 grain, normal lube groove w/ gas check, started at 14gns of powder and maxed out at 16. The range scrap bullets were sized to .310, lubed in a Saeco lubrisizer with my own mix. Additionally, I loaded twenty up that were lubed with ALOX. Case length was 1.360. COAL was 2.058 for Hornady jacketed and 2.005 for the Lee 155gn lead bullets.
I had loaded 100 rounds with 2400, several with Red Dot powder (4.5 to 6 gns) and had my base load of 16.5 grains of 4227 as a reference. I got some interesting results to say the least.
Here are some chrono results with five round strings.
4227 powder
150 Hornady FMJBT, 16.5gns, 1895 FPS average, ES 7.7. No, that is not a typo. I did it again and got and ES of 8.5.
155 Lee GC lead spire point, 16.0gns, 1680 FPS average ES 26
These two loads will cycle the action with an standard or H2 buffer. The H2 keeps the brass closer. :mrgreen:
2400 powder
155 Lee GC lead spire point, Saeco lubed, 14gns, 1845 FPS, ES 26, barely cycled action with standard buffer and spring, 3 inches at 50 yards.
155 Lee GC lead spire point, Saeco lubed, 14.5 gns, 1880 FPS, barely cycled action, 2.5 inches at 50 yards.
155 Lee GC lead spire point, Saeco lubed, 15 gns, 1990 FPS, ES 20, cycled action fine, 1 inch group at 50 yards.
155 Lee GC lead spire point, ALOX lubed, 15 gns, 1910 FPS, ES 22, cycled action fine, accuracy same as Saeco lubed.
155 Lee GC lead spire point, ALOX lubed, 15.5 gns, 1913 FPS, cycled action fine, best group of the day. @1/2 inch
155 Lee GC lead spire point, ALOX lubed, 16 gns, 2000 FPS, ES 13, blew one primer and had light ejector marks. Group much the same as 15.5 gns.
Red Dot powder. I didn't record the info but 6.0 gns gave me 1000 some FPS and a nice 1 inch group at 50 yards. I had to hand cycle, which is what I expected but the group and noise level was great for nuisance critters around the house.
What really surprised me was that the only leading I could find was on the rear of the bolt and it wasn't much. Even the back of the BCD did not have any. It had a bunch of carbon though. All of my loads fed fine through my Vietnam bring back 20 round magazines. I have some P mags on order but it looks like I won't need them.
I plan to work between 15 and 15.5 grains at longer distances in the spring and I will post my results then.
Regards,
John
I was using the Lee 155 grain, normal lube groove w/ gas check, started at 14gns of powder and maxed out at 16. The range scrap bullets were sized to .310, lubed in a Saeco lubrisizer with my own mix. Additionally, I loaded twenty up that were lubed with ALOX. Case length was 1.360. COAL was 2.058 for Hornady jacketed and 2.005 for the Lee 155gn lead bullets.
I had loaded 100 rounds with 2400, several with Red Dot powder (4.5 to 6 gns) and had my base load of 16.5 grains of 4227 as a reference. I got some interesting results to say the least.
Here are some chrono results with five round strings.
4227 powder
150 Hornady FMJBT, 16.5gns, 1895 FPS average, ES 7.7. No, that is not a typo. I did it again and got and ES of 8.5.
155 Lee GC lead spire point, 16.0gns, 1680 FPS average ES 26
These two loads will cycle the action with an standard or H2 buffer. The H2 keeps the brass closer. :mrgreen:
2400 powder
155 Lee GC lead spire point, Saeco lubed, 14gns, 1845 FPS, ES 26, barely cycled action with standard buffer and spring, 3 inches at 50 yards.
155 Lee GC lead spire point, Saeco lubed, 14.5 gns, 1880 FPS, barely cycled action, 2.5 inches at 50 yards.
155 Lee GC lead spire point, Saeco lubed, 15 gns, 1990 FPS, ES 20, cycled action fine, 1 inch group at 50 yards.
155 Lee GC lead spire point, ALOX lubed, 15 gns, 1910 FPS, ES 22, cycled action fine, accuracy same as Saeco lubed.
155 Lee GC lead spire point, ALOX lubed, 15.5 gns, 1913 FPS, cycled action fine, best group of the day. @1/2 inch
155 Lee GC lead spire point, ALOX lubed, 16 gns, 2000 FPS, ES 13, blew one primer and had light ejector marks. Group much the same as 15.5 gns.
Red Dot powder. I didn't record the info but 6.0 gns gave me 1000 some FPS and a nice 1 inch group at 50 yards. I had to hand cycle, which is what I expected but the group and noise level was great for nuisance critters around the house.
What really surprised me was that the only leading I could find was on the rear of the bolt and it wasn't much. Even the back of the BCD did not have any. It had a bunch of carbon though. All of my loads fed fine through my Vietnam bring back 20 round magazines. I have some P mags on order but it looks like I won't need them.
I plan to work between 15 and 15.5 grains at longer distances in the spring and I will post my results then.
Regards,
John