Lee Q. Loader
Member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2018
- Messages
- 444
I started loading .223 for an AR about a year ago. I bought some H335 and never looked back. I love that powder in .223!
Just before the big shortage hit I found an 8 lber of Benchmark for $150. I couldn't pass that price up for a powder that I'd read so much and heard so much good about, so I jumped in with both feet and bought 8 lbs.
I started loading with Nosler 50 gr SP and used the Nosler online load data. Starting load of 24.5 gr and Max load of 26.5 gr.
I started at 24.5 and shot 3 rounds. First thing I noticed was that the brass was too hot to handle! Wow, with H335 the brass is warm, but you can hang on to it no problem. These grouped poorly and velocity was around 2820 FPS. (16" barrel)
I shot various other charges with the same result, until I got up to the exact middle of the load data at 25.5 gr and I got a 2 of 3 pierced primers! Velocity on these rounds was about 2990 FPS. I'm using Winchester Small Rifle primers. I was using a mix of PMC and RP brass and I noted that the pierced primers were on the PMC brass while the one RP was fine.
I stopped shooting right there and I never did get a good group. I use the same bullet, brass, OAL and primer with H335 and they group very well.
I provided a lot of info there without really asking a specific question. I guess I would just like some comments and suggestions on where to go from here. Also it is your experience that Benchmark burns VERY hot?
Just before the big shortage hit I found an 8 lber of Benchmark for $150. I couldn't pass that price up for a powder that I'd read so much and heard so much good about, so I jumped in with both feet and bought 8 lbs.
I started loading with Nosler 50 gr SP and used the Nosler online load data. Starting load of 24.5 gr and Max load of 26.5 gr.
I started at 24.5 and shot 3 rounds. First thing I noticed was that the brass was too hot to handle! Wow, with H335 the brass is warm, but you can hang on to it no problem. These grouped poorly and velocity was around 2820 FPS. (16" barrel)
I shot various other charges with the same result, until I got up to the exact middle of the load data at 25.5 gr and I got a 2 of 3 pierced primers! Velocity on these rounds was about 2990 FPS. I'm using Winchester Small Rifle primers. I was using a mix of PMC and RP brass and I noted that the pierced primers were on the PMC brass while the one RP was fine.
I stopped shooting right there and I never did get a good group. I use the same bullet, brass, OAL and primer with H335 and they group very well.
I provided a lot of info there without really asking a specific question. I guess I would just like some comments and suggestions on where to go from here. Also it is your experience that Benchmark burns VERY hot?
