Good powder for 223- AR-15 specific.

I have a BUNCH(this is the guy who buys 38/357 by the 5 gallon bucket) of 5.56 brass and I want to load it for my AR's specifically. One is a M4gery, the other is a plain 16" barrel. Looking for accuracy over velocity, and low flash would be a plus. However- easy metering is a MUST.

Looking at h335 and bcl-2, wondering what you all think.

I use H-335 exclusively for my 16" Oly AR-15 and it shoots great to 100yds. Meters well out of my Lee autodisk as well. CCI Mag primers, Lake City brass and 55gr FMJ's.

I use a progressive to pump out mass quantities for the range.

WC844 from gibrass.com should work.

i've had good luck w/ h-322 (60 grain and lighter pills) and varget (69's) - mixed results w/ aa2230 (when its good, it is really good - when its bad, its dangerous).

I've had great results with Varget and 55 grain bullets. But this particular load goes through a 24" 1/9 twist barrel, Bushmaster Varminter.

I have not started to load for my 16" barreled AR yet. I'm hoping it likes the same load...

I've been playing with H335 and so far I've got no complaints. Just learning myself though.

Have a good one,
Dave

H335 all the way.

W748 works good.

A Sierra 69 grn. Matchking, over 24.4 grns RL15, and a Rem. 7 1/2 primer, loaded to 2.25" OAL makes a VERY accurate load. It is what alot of short-line competitiors use. It shoots excellent out of any rifle I've tried it in, stock or competition grade. Try it, I GUARAWWNTEE you'll like it! ;)

69 grn. SMK, 23.5 of Varget, CCI400, LC cases, OAL 2.275 out of my WOP match upper (1X7) for winter 200yd. offhand matches.
XC, 200 & 300 yds - 77 SMK, 23.5 R-15, CCI400 LC cases, OAL 2.260
CJC

Nothing meters like BLC-2........

But for accuracy, the 69gr SMK under 24.5 gr of Varget seems to love every gun.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e283/Indianaoutdoorsman/Gunpix011.jpg

50 Nosler BT, WW cases, Fed match primer, 26.0 Varget, standard Lee dies. Dillon 550.

these are about 1/2". Shot in far less than ideal conditions (laying in snow, 10-15 crosswind off bi-pod, 30 degrees). First reloads I tried

I don't handload blasting ammo, but for the heavier match bullets I really like Reloader 15.

- Chris

AA 2520....gets the highest velocities at the lowest pressures for heavier bullets, compared to the other AA powders and AA's data. 68gr bullets and up...

Thought about Accurate 2230-C? 8 pounds for $69.

I do not load for an AR, but a Savage single shot model 12 in 223. 1.5 hole groups with 40 gr Nosler BT's to 69 gr Sierra HPBT's are the norm!

Lucked into two eight pound jugs at our monthly gun club meeting - $50/per 8 pound jug.

Reasons I'm leaning towards h335-

I already have a bunch for use in 30-30.
It seems to work well in 308-still tuning though.
I know it meters easily in my dillon 650.

My real concern is keeping my short barreled guns happy and accurate. I'm talking 55 gr. fmj pills here. No heavy or match type ammo. Yes I understand that cost effectiveness in this caliber is absolutely minimal. But I should be able to work up a decent load for short barreled guns that works much better than 1 size fits all surplus stuff.

Mostly I'm not wanting to beat the heck out of my bolt and gas system.

I like 25.0 gr #4895 in .223.

bought 8 lb to feed both my M1 and my AR. 25 gr works great, velocities about 2800.

Chalk my vote up for Varget. Burns clean, meters good, gives me good accuracy in .223 and .308.

Military uses RL15. See link http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/reloder_15.php

H335 with 60 grain Hornady V-max or Speer HP(hollowpoint) are very accurate out of mine. Vihtavuori powders, my favorite, are very clean and accurate.

www.ramshot.com/powders

I recommend TAC, from living in Utah. It meters like 748 and it's supposed to be a lot more temperature sensitive than the older powders like 3031, etc.

I haven't gotten around to setting up my progressive for .223 but that's the powder that I'll start with, and www.gibrass.com is a GREAT source for USGI stuff. He's a good source of brass and projectiles.

H335 for 55 or less bullets in 223. Also good in 308 as you say.

Ball powder is ok for short ranges, but accuracy falls off as the range gets longer. Of all the ball powders 2230-C is pretty good, it's a newer design and better than the surplus stuff, and the available stocks are new.

Otherwise the best powders are 4895 across the board, and Varget-4064 for heavier bullets...depending on the bullet and powder your rifle likes best.

Primer choice is important too...use a hotter primer for the ball powders, magnum or ww at least. Use a standard primer on the stick powders, rws, rem and cci br are the best in that order for a gas gun.

I use CCI mag primers with H-335.

748 with WSR primers in GI brass w/ 55grain FMJ, although I want to try the 77 grain match projectiles. I use my AR15s for defence, animal control, and blasting.

Agree that H-335 (which is almost identical to BLC-2) works great in the .223 and .308.

Also have used RL-7 with good results.(20grs in surplus brass with 55 FMJBT) It is a bit quicker than H-335 but gives good velocity out of short barrels with a bit less muzzle flash.

RE15 for the heavy stuff, RE10 (when I can find it) or RE15 for the lighter stuff.