Load Data for .500 A-Square

[Arthur Morta]

I've been searching for specific load data using Vihtavuori N500 series powder (N540, N550 or N555), with no success.
I really would appreciate assistance for Start Loads: -
570gr & 600gr pills
FED 215M primers

Thanks in Advance.

 

[analog_peninsula]

Can you get your hands on h335, N530, or N135-40? The A2 isn’t temperamental, but N550-5 looks a little slow to me. Those slower powders turn the A2 into a flamethrower. Given N530 is right between IMR4895 and H4895 on Hodgdon’s burn rate chart and 458 win mag loads with the two powders look very similar, I’d simply use starter H4895 loads and back off maybe 15%. You’ll have to work up, but that doesn’t take long. Why look at the 458 data you ask? It’s a straight wall case, and the A2 is nearly so. My experience has been that predictable performance in the win mag loads is a reasonable indicator of predictable performance in the A2, but I always start a bit lower than seems necessary out of an abundance of caution.

Have you shot your A2 much? Up to about 2300 fps the recoil is profound but not truly evil. Once you step over 2400 fps, you really need to watch where you put your feet when you light one off. If you need official load data, I can get you the loads out of the A2 book, if you’d like.

This is what IMR4350 looks like.

 

[analog_peninsula]

By “two powders”, I meant H4895 and N530.

 

[MLindsay]

I have used Varget for years for my 500 A2. 98 or 100 grns with 570 TSX

 

[colorado]

Can you get your hands on h335, N530, or N135-40? The A2 isn’t temperamental, but N550-5 looks a little slow to me. Those slower powders turn the A2 into a flamethrower. Given N530 is right between IMR4895 and H4895 on Hodgdon’s burn rate chart and 458 win mag loads with the two powders look very similar, I’d simply use starter H4895 loads and back off maybe 15%. You’ll have to work up, but that doesn’t take long. Why look at the 458 data you ask? It’s a straight wall case, and the A2 is nearly so. My experience has been that predictable performance in the win mag loads is a reasonable indicator of predictable performance in the A2, but I always start a bit lower than seems necessary out of an abundance of caution.

Have you shot your A2 much? Up to about 2300 fps the recoil is profound but not truly evil. Once you step over 2400 fps, you really need to watch where you put your feet when you light one off. If you need official load data, I can get you the loads out of the A2 book, if you’d like.

This is what IMR4350 looks like.

Agree 100% In my 500 Jeffery, I shoot 570g TSXs at 2300 fps as my standard load. Fun index goes to zero with the same bullet at 2510 fps.

 

[Arthur Morta]

Can you get your hands on h335, N530, or N135-40? The A2 isn’t temperamental, but N550-5 looks a little slow to me. Those slower powders turn the A2 into a flamethrower. Given N530 is right between IMR4895 and H4895 on Hodgdon’s burn rate chart and 458 win mag loads with the two powders look very similar, I’d simply use starter H4895 loads and back off maybe 15%. You’ll have to work up, but that doesn’t take long. Why look at the 458 data you ask? It’s a straight wall case, and the A2 is nearly so. My experience has been that predictable performance in the win mag loads is a reasonable indicator of predictable performance in the A2, but I always start a bit lower than seems necessary out of an abundance of caution.

Have you shot your A2 much? Up to about 2300 fps the recoil is profound but not truly evil. Once you step over 2400 fps, you really need to watch where you put your feet when you light one off. If you need official load data, I can get you the loads out of the A2 book, if you’d like.

This is what IMR4350 looks like.

Thank You and Much appreciated.

Can you get your hands on h335, N530, or N135-40? The A2 isn’t temperamental, but N550-5 looks a little slow to me. Those slower powders turn the A2 into a flamethrower. Given N530 is right between IMR4895 and H4895 on Hodgdon’s burn rate chart and 458 win mag loads with the two powders look very similar, I’d simply use starter H4895 loads and back off maybe 15%. You’ll have to work up, but that doesn’t take long. Why look at the 458 data you ask? It’s a straight wall case, and the A2 is nearly so. My experience has been that predictable performance in the win mag loads is a reasonable indicator of predictable performance in the A2, but I always start a bit lower than seems necessary out of an abundance of caution.

Have you shot your A2 much? Up to about 2300 fps the recoil is profound but not truly evil. Once you step over 2400 fps, you really need to watch where you put your feet when you light one off. If you need official load data, I can get you the loads out of the A2 book, if you’d like.

This is what IMR4350 looks like.

Thank You, some useful information.
Using 570gr bullets -
I spent Saturday afternoon testing N550: -
Stopped at 120gr after a tight bolt yet after carefully measuring the case head before and after firing, there was no case dimensional increase. Max. Velocity was 2493fps.

Today, Sunday 17, I opened a tin of N540.
Absolutely zero pressure and attained a consistent 2320fps using 108gr.
Now to check and test some 600gr.

Arthur.