223 powder

I would pick the W748. Good stuff.

I've done well with the 8208 XBR.

I had good luck with H322

I wish I could find some of this. I had good luck in the past. I am not saying it is the best but it worked for me.

All will work at some capacity except H1000. www.hodgdonreloading.com < look here to see

I really like xbr.

RCModel uses W748 so i assume its pretty decent.

I am using Accurate 2460 for my AR right now. I only used this originally because I had it for my Win 94 30-30. Once I have powder and work up the an accurate load for a particular gun, its hard to start with another powder and work-up again. I'm still in the final stages of homing in on the load for my 223, and I'm doing this for two different 223's. Of course, if I can't get where I want, I may end up having to go to a more 223 friendly type powder. Then I will end up with 8+ lbs of powder for my 30-30 that I'm finding it hard to get reasonably priced projectiles for.

Got lucky on a 8 pound jug of INR 3031 and have be very happy with the results. Metering can be problematic with this type of powder. I'm using a Hornady powder measure and it is very accurate. Also found that this web site has good deals on powder www.gunbot.net/reloading/powder/

I prefer the 8028 because it's a stick powder and because it seems to work a little better with the heavier 60-65gr bullets which I shoot on occasion. I still have some W748 but I'm reluctant to use it again until I get some magnum primers because it doesn't seem to be especially clean burning with the CCI400's. Others may disagree with this.

trigga said:

I'm leaning more towards the h322 or w748. I was able to find the h322 at two places and w748 we'll stocked at gander. They didn't have a price at gander but I would assume around mid 20's. I'm using the lee pro disc measure so hoping either would work well with that.

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IMO the best choice from those you listed is W748 followed by H322. I hear IMR 8208 XBR will also work well but i have never used it. I have used W748 with good success and since it's a ball powder it meters extremely well. 8208 XBR is the only one listed by Hodgdon for bullets over 80gr.

Got lucky on a 8 pound jug of INR 3031 and have be very happy with the results.

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Since about 1968 i've been using IMR 3031 almost exclusively in my .223/5.56mm reloads. Way back then i experimented with all the available powders suitable for use in the .223. IMR 3031 won out hands down.

The heaviest bullet i use in the .223 is 55 grains.

alsaqr said:

Since about 1968 i've been using IMR 3031 almost exclusively in my .223/5.56mm reloads. Way back then i experimented with all the available powders suitable for use in the .223. IMR 3031 won out hands down.

The heaviest bullet i use in the .223 is 55 grains.

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While I respect "If it ain't broke don't fix it" in this environment finding your powder of choice is difficult at best and more so impossible. Being a one trick pony no longer works, I found that to be true first hand. Luckily I like to try a lot of different powders so I have load data for more than 1 powder in any given cartridge.

IMR3031 is a very good powder but in the .223/5.56mm there are a lot of new powders available that will match and possible exceed 3031's performance. H335 is a standby, AA2230 was specifically designed for the .223, CFE223 was also specifically designed around the .223 too. BL-C(2) is a good choice in the .223 as is Benchmark, Varget, the above mentioned IMR 8208 XBR, Power Pro 1200-R, AR-Comp, RL-10x and a few Accurate, Ramshot and VV powders too.

I have first hand load data for at least 4 powders for the .223/5.56mm and data from a friend for 4 more. I never thought I would need to have so many different loads but since 2008 it's been a necessity.

Don't forget RE-7. Great for .223 & economical too as it requires a bit less powder to achieve the same velocity.

I just got some IMR 4064, Ive heard good things about it other than it doesnt meter real well. It seems to be very available right now so Ill work up some loads with it. I really want to use TAC but its hard to find.

Does arcomp work with 55grainers? Specs say only heavier bullets. Its a new powder and my local guy has some.

find out what powder works best in the calibers you have in stock.buy a bunch.less chance in accidently mixing powders

QUOTE]Being a one trick pony no longer works,[/QUOTE]

Yep, i know there are lots of powders out there: Some are maybe better than IMR 3031. i reload for over 20 rifle calibers and stock too many different powders as it is.

IMR 3031 works for me in the .223/5.56mm. Couple weeks ago i fired five five shot groups at 100 meters from my Remington model 700 varmint gun. Average group measured just less than .50".

i ain't going to change.

ArchAngelCD said:

Being a one trick pony no longer works,

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alsaqr said:

Yep, I know there are lots of powders out there: Some are maybe better than IMR 3031. i reload for over 20 rifle calibers and stock too many different powders as it is.

IMR 3031 works for me in the .223/5.56mm. Couple weeks ago i fired five five shot groups at 100 meters from my Remington model 700 varmint gun. Average group measured just less than .50".

i ain't going to change.

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Don't get me wrong, under normal circumstances I would say stay with the one powder you like for that cartridge but because powders are so hard to find I feel the need to have options other than my favorite. Heck, I've been know to buy a different powder for each cartridge I load even though another powder will do almost as well.

For example, I use 4895 for M1 Garand ammo and 4350 for all other 30-06 ammo. Even though 4895 is a very good powder for loading the .308 and I have it for loading Garand 30-06 ammo I buy 4064 for the .308. I even have 3 different powders for loading .223 ammo depending upon which rifle they will be shot in. I get it, I really do but when there is no powder you have to know what powders you can use instead, that's all I was saying...

Don't get me wrong, under normal circumstances I would say stay with the one powder you like for that cartridge but because powders are so hard to find I feel the need to have options other than my favorite. Heck, I've been know to buy a different powder for each cartridge I load even though another powder will do almost as well.

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Exactly. I have always used H335 behind my 55gr FMJ loads, but after seeing the craze early last year I decided to search for other powders. I spent last spring/summer working up loads with AA2230, AA2200, & Benchmark. Now I have 4 powders that work well for me in my ARs. I still prefer H335, but I also have 5lbs each of the others just in case!

Don't get me wrong, under normal circumstances I would say stay with the one powder you like for that cartridge but because powders are so hard to find I feel the need to have options other than my favorite

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i absolutely understand where you're coming from. One must be innovative when powder is hard to come by.

Many reloaders today have little idea how lucky they are to have such a wide variety of powders available. i got into reloading in 1953 after inheriting several guns from an uncle. One of those guns is a model 70 Winchester in .220 Swift. In 1953 there were about two powders that were somewhat suitable for reloading the Swift.

IMR 3031 is also used in my .30-06 and .308 reloads with bullets no heavier than 150 grains. Sometimes use it in .222 Remington and a couple other calibers. Came by a big bunch of powder several years ago when a regional chain store firm went out of business because of Wal Mart competition. There was a pallet of various powders, mostly IMR. i'm 75 years old and will most likely never run out of IMR powder.

Good luck to you and the other reloaders on this board.

kostner said:

Got lucky on a 8 pound jug of INR 3031 and have be very happy with the results. Metering can be problematic with this type of powder. I'm using a Hornady powder measure and it is very accurate. Also found that this web site has good deals on powder www.gunbot.net/reloading/powder/

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3031 is my go-to powder for 55gr bullets. The large kernels are a joy to load in small batches on a balance scale. Clean burning, very little muzzle upset.