New to rifle reloading

I like Varget in 223, but availability is limited, even during good times; I use Ramshot TAC more commonly.

There are tons of .224" options, but you can't go wrong with Hornady's 55gr FMJBT. RMR is probably the best place to buy them in bulk at the moment. These days you're probably looking at around $0.106/bullet on quantities of 1000 for that specific bullet.

I'll second TAC and Hornady bullets. I have found great loads (both near max published data) for both their 55gr FMJ and SP that's shoots MOA-ish in many different ARs.

My favorite .223 Varget loads with CCI #41 primers and Sierra Match Kings loaded to 2.558" COAL (just shy of mag length) in PSD brass are;

25.6 grns Varget w/ 69 grn SMK
24.0 grns Varget w/ 77 grn SMK

20 Rounds, 100 Yards, Prone with Sling, 4x Scope, Above 69 grn SMK load

If you can get Varget then yes, It's a great choice. The best powders that you're more likely to find are H335 and TAC.
Stay away from cheap FMJ bullets if you can, they are the least accurate in my experience. I can always find some good soft point bullets usually just as cheap as the FMJ's.

I've always had good success with Berry's 224 55g FMJBT's and IMR4198, 4895.
4198 is a little fast and doesn't allow for much deviation like H335 and 4895 does for fine tuning.
Also bottleneck rifle rounds like lube, even with carbide dies.

Gone Hiking said:

My favorite .223 Varget loads with CCI #41 primers and Sierra Match Kings loaded to 2.558" COAL (just shy of mag length) in PSD brass are;

25.6 grns Varget w/ 69 grn SMK
24.0 grns Varget w/ 77 grn SMK

20 Rounds, 100 Yards, Prone with Sling, 4x Scope, Above 69 grn SMK load
View attachment 1016178

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Mag length is 2.260-2.270" depending on mfg.

Varget is one powder that is high demand and hard to get. It works best with the heavier pills 65gr+. TAC is my favorite powder for the 223/556 52gr SMK - 69gr, works very good. CFE-223 is another powder that works good to, though I give up some accuracy using it.

Bullets, I would go with the RMR flavors which will save you some $$$ on a very good bullets. The Hornady 55gr FMJ-BT are a good plinking round but will not give you the best accuracy.

deadeye dick said:

Been loading handgun for over ten years but never rifle. Just bought a PSA M4 carbine with 16" barrel in556x45. Been looking in the manual for powder choices for bullet weights and find Varget in all the choices. Do any of you have any sugestions for loads. Have'nt bought any bullets or powder yet as i will be going to the SCACA gun show in Geeenville S.C. on the 14th Plinking and nothing over 100 yds. Thanks Y'all

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Bullet weight will impact powder choice... For generic 55g FMJ plinking rounds, you may find that there are several less expensive (and readily available) alternatives to Varget that are every bit as effective.

You didn't say which barrel you have, or what the twist rate is. Make sure you understand how that impacts your bullet choices. This may be a helpful place to start.

I found this quite helpful when I was making my first (and subsequent) powder purchases for my AR.

Good luck!

Best overall option rmr 69 grainers with tac for ease. Trying to test the accuracy of your gun drop a little more coin for the 69 smk. Now you have a good bullet and a known exceptional bullet in the same weight and profile. For a third option if your shooting far a 77smk will round you out and give you options. In times were components were cheap and easier to get the Bob's bullets and so h335 would let you shoot volume for fun but 10 cent primers kills that option for me. As things change so do the best options.

If you're shooting 100 yds / plinking, I would buy the cheapest FMJBT I could find. They can be found in bulk pretty cheap.
Hitting 8" steel at 100 yds doest require more. Spending money on a good AR trigger will make small groups happen more quickly. $.02

For 55 grain target/plinking fmj’s I’ve found that 24.5 grains of W748 is ideal. It will cleanly cycle in an AR, it’s a ball powder so it meters easily, and burns clean. W748 is one of the original 5.56/.223 powders and is easy to find.

A 52 or 55 grain flat base is going to be hard to beat at 100 yards.
You're also going to be hard pressed to find a powder that is recommended for 223 that won't work at 100 yards.
I personally like thrown charges of benchmark or h4895 with a 55 sp for close range.

There are a lot of propellants that will work reasonably in 223/5.56. That said unless it is an extremely heavy bullet I find TAC to be the best choice for bullets 65 grains and below. In 223, 55 grain bullets and TAC go together like PB&J.
The other thing to consider is barrel twist rate. I prefer 1:8 for the heavier bullets to be accurate. What is yours?

Varget is great for the heavier bullets like 69gr and up. H335 is what I use for the lighter bullets, 55gr to 62gr. I get great accuracy with 24.5 grains of H335. if you want 5.56 velocities, go with 25.3 grains. This is data for the 55gr

Varget is a good powder for .223s but can have a problem if running it through a powder drop, because it is a stick powder it will give inconsistent weight drops. I normally use BL-C(2) or H335 unless I'm shooting in extremely hot conditions then I'll trickle in the Varget to make my loads.

deadeye dick said:

Barrel markings say 556 NATO 1 /7 . I assume that is the twist.

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deadeye dick said:

Barrel markings say 556 NATO 1 /7 . I assume that is the twist.

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Yes - that is a 1:7 twist barrel. Your barrel can handle 55gr and up, but it may be happier with heavier bullets. You will have to experiment to find its sweet spot - half the fun!

File the following under "Free advice is worth what I paid.":

If you want to load your plinking rounds on the cheap, look at the link below, and make sure to take advantage of all the discount codes.
https://americanreloading.com/en/22-caliber-222-227/3129-223-55gr-fmj-bt-w-cannelure-1000ct.html

If you want to shoot tighter groups, and don't mind spending a wee bit more, start here:
https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bul...low-point-boat-tail-3-gun-hunter-bullets-new/

I just ordered 3 pounds of tac from midsouth shooters supply, haven't tried it yet, but it was in stock and works with 223/5.56 do I jumped on it.

stillquietvoice said:

I just ordered 3 pounds of tac from midsouth shooters supply, haven't tried it yet, but it was in stock and works with 223/5.56 do I jumped on it.

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Good choice!

I am a huge Varget fan and have loaded many rounds of .223 using it however it is very hard to find. I bought a pound of it last week and it was the first pound I have seen in over two years. For plinking loads I normally use TAC. TAC is more readily available right now and it has worked really well with 55 gr and 62 gr FMJs. I have loaded a lot of Hornady bullets and like them a lot for range ammo. I also have ordered a lot of bullets from Everglades Ammo, https://www.evergladesammo.com, both 55 gr and 62 gr. They have excellent customer service, shipping is included in the price, you can order in bulk and the bullets perform very well.

If your new to the 5.56 game jonnys reloading bench has a bunch of loads and ocw testing that may provide some good background. The cloaning black hills loads may also intrest you.

deadeye dick said:

Been loading handgun for over ten years but never rifle. Just bought a PSA M4 carbine with 16" barrel in556x45. Been looking in the manual for powder choices for bullet weights and find Varget in all the choices. Do any of you have any sugestions for loads. Have'nt bought any bullets or powder yet as i will be going to the SCACA gun show in Geeenville S.C. on the 14th Plinking and nothing over 100 yds. Thanks Y'all

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Lots of powders available here... including TAC.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/reloading/smokeless-powder?instock=true

Another vote for TAC. I have a 16” mid length PSA Nitride rifle that shoots H335 well too. Both powders are pushing 55 grain Hornady FMJ BT.

My best accuracy load is a Hornady 75 grain HPBT Match over IMR 4064 powder with CCI BR4 primers. That all translates to me not being able to find components for that round for over a year. That is out of a 16” PSA Nitride rifle. I have another load for a different PSA rifle with an FN CHF barrel that does as well as I can. It uses 77 grain Sierra Match Kings over CFE 223. There has been a lot of make due with what you have lately.

Anyone tried TAC with the heavier bullets? If there is a decent chance of success I might sacrifice some of my few 77 grain SMKs to try it.

There are many combinations that will work. I watched a guy shoot 55 grain FMJ with IMR 4064 powder into a group that would fit under a dime at 100 yards. He was giving up some velocity but accuracy was right on. They were about 2800 fps or so. For target and plinking that wouldn’t be an issue if accuracy was that good, at least to me.