AR2217 and AR2225: Alternative roles for slow-burning powders

Traditionally, slower propellent powders are used to fire heavy projectiles at reasonable velocities from larger capacity cases, usually ignited by magnum primers. But sometimes there is a use for these powders in smaller cases.

You might lose a bit of velocity but accuracy will usually be better.

An early experimental load with AR2214 led to a useable field load

The .243 Winchester is a good example, using projectiles in the 100gn range. It is quite happy with faster powders for projectiles of 50gn up to perhaps 90gn, but it really appears to like AR2217 and AR2225 above that.

I found 2217 and 2225 to be pretty much the same in this case, with velocities around 900m/s (2950fps) and groups ranging from 14.1 to 21.8mm at 100m (0.51” to 0.785” at 100 yards).

Maximum loads did not exceed 47gn for either powder and none showed any pressure signs at that level.

The next cartridge I experimented with was a .243 Ackley Improved (40 degree shoulder) with the throat cut to handle projectiles up to 115gn in weight. Initial, Gary Little protector points weighing 103 and 107gn coupled with 46gn of RE-26 showed an average grouping of 11mm at 100m (0.40” at 100yd) with an average velocity of 926.9m/s (3041fps). The extra case capacity of the Ackley version proved its worth.

I used AR2217 and AR2225 with the 115gn Little protector points. With AR2217, the initials and the following proofs were 881.5m/s (2892fps) and an average group of 14.7mm (0.53”). For AR2225 the figures were 851.6m/s (2794fps) and an average group of 18.8mm (0.676”).

AR2217 has just proved be the better powder by a small margin.

In some other cartridges, I have found the results to be almost identical; either powder sufficed, and any difference was certainly not enough to argue about.

The next cartridge was the .257 Roberts Ackley Improved (40 degrees) but I came a bit unstuck this time and another powder was much better. 2217 and 2225 both grouped well around the 13.9mm (0.5”) mark but both were down on velocity.

The accuracy was more than acceptable but velocity was very slow

In contrast, a stiff load of AR2209 produced just over 914m/s (3000fps) without any pressure signs. It was hard to ignore the more than 150fps velocity increase, plus the fact AR2209 was slightly more accurate.

The last cartridge I considered was the.257 Weatherby Magnum. AR2217 is listed in the ADI Handloaders Guide, but 2225 is not. The maximum load for the 115gn projectile is 71gn of AR2217 for a velocity of 995.2m/s (3265fps).

With 115gn Little soft points, including proof loads, I achieved an average group of 20.8mm (0.75”) using 69gn of AR2217 and a CCI-BR2 primer. No pressure signs were evident. Average velocity was 949.8m/s (3116fps), in line with the ADI manual.

I have tried both powders in other cartridges, but the experiments failed.

Another oddity was that when AR2214 ceased to be available, I tested both powders in my .22/284. Both produced the best groups with 55gn each and an average size of 14.7mm (0.53”). Interestingly, there was a velocity variation of only 3.7m/s (12fps) between the two. The original load of 57 grains of AR2214 was just 18.3m/s (60fps) slower.