Opinions on 223 powders

BL-C(2)
Is very good powder for 223 Remington and 5.56 NATO. I use it frequently....but given a choice between 335 and BL-C(2) I would go 335.

Leverevolution makes a great cfe223 replacement. It's usually available as most people thinks it's only use able in leveractions. I belive leverevolution is the best 69gr 5.56mm ball powder available.
I dot recommend using it in mini14s, or carbines.
BL-C2 is great for 50 to 62gr. cfe223 and leverevolution are great for heavier bullets in a rifle setup.
I prefer stick powders because they are usually single base and run a lot cleaner, especially with a silencer.

Bulletski said:

I forgot to mention that I only want spherical/ball powder for this caliber as stick powders are too much of a nuisance.
So please don't suggest stick powders. LOL

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There is one stick powder that isn't a nuisance as you put it. It happens to work well with light 223 bullets and measures very well with a volumetric.
Don't pass Benchmark just because it's extruded. It has very small kernels

I have had good luck with H335 and Hornady 55gr fmj-bt bullets........mind you, I only shoot at steel/paper.....

I can recommend BL-C(2). I don't have any experience with H335, but I know many who like it.

H-335 used to be my “go to” powder for .223/5.56. Then I tried Accurate 2015 BR (now just 2015) and it replaced H-335. For the past decade or so, this has become my standard:

I have tried most of the IMR, Hodgdon, Winchester, Accurate, Ramshot and Alliant powders for .223 and the only one that I had lousy results with was the 4198’s. I also haven’t found Varget to be all that either, though when I tried it I was shooting mostly 50 and 55 gr bullets. TAC has performed well with bullets from 40 gr. up through 77 gr. Of course, just because it has worked well in the 7 AR’s and 2 bolt guns I load it in is no guarantee that it will work well in yours, I would be very surprised if it didn’t. To be fair, if Benchmark were to become available, it would be tempting, because it is less temperature sensitive than TAC. But, since the vast majority of my shooting is done in warmer weather, TAC works just fine.

Bulletski said:

Hi all:
I have a couple of ARs in 223. For the past few years I've been using CFE 223 and have no complaints. But I'm running very low and the only local gun shop around here doesn't have this powder. They do have H335 and I'd like opinions on this powder. Also I keep seeing where BLC-2 is a typical powder for 223. Anything good or bad to say about it?

Anyone care to comment on these powders. Again I'm only shooting 223s out of ARs.

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Too bad your not near me, I could set you up with some CFE223 powder. The last time I looked I'm setting on 2 8# jugs. I've switched over to TAC for most of my 223R loads. So it's not getting used a lot. I use Varget for the heavier 69gr pills.

Soonerpesek said:

I have had good luck with H335 and Hornady 55gr fmj-bt bullets........mind you, I only shoot at steel/paper.....

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I like it also. Only difference I noticed was that CFE required more powder in each case than the 335.

I'm surprised no one has said accurate 2520.

TAC is what I’m currently using for 55-69 grain bullets. I have a bunch of AA2230 I’m gonna try for the lighter bullets some day soon.

You'll get as many suggestions as their are powders. I like to use AA2230 and sometimes IMR4895. Mostly the AA. Was a sad time when it wasn't available for a time. Used some Win748 I think for some heavy bullets out of my Savage. I won't use TAC. Weird as it might be, I shy away from anything that mentions the word tactical. TAC is close. Friends swear by it.

H335 and the lighter bullets works just fine. I’ve wanted to try BLC2 but haven’t had a reason to ditch 335.

I’ve been using H335 in the 5.56mm for nearly 30 years… it works. Having said that, I’m switching to TAC for all the reasons stated above, and that it also works very well in .308/7.62mm, and .30-06 (Garand) loads. I like TAC so much, I put my last 8#er of H335 up for sale here at THR…. If you are in the Dallas area, I can make you a good deal!

The only spherical powder i used is Alliant varmint. It works well and accurate. The other 2 i used is IMR 4895 and Varget. But they are stick powders.Both also work well.

I missed a chance to get 8lb jug of H335 earlier this year...then it was MIA for months. Thankfully, MidSouth had a free shipping offer for Labor Day, and they had H335 in stock. Haven't tried it, yet, but I like that it has application across several of my ARs. It was $279.35 delivered. I hope it's worth it.

TAC, A2460, Benchmark and BL(C)2

Of those the Benchmark has provided the best results but like many others right now it is hard to come by.

kmw1954 said:

TAC, A2460, Benchmark and BL(C)2

Of those the Benchmark has provided the best results but like many others right now it is hard to come by.

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Benchmark works well for me.

I like TAC as well, meters wonderfully.

Buy both. Both are fantastic 223 powders.

dh1633pm said:

You'll get as many suggestions as their are powders. I like to use AA2230 and sometimes IMR4895. Mostly the AA. Was a sad time when it wasn't available for a time. Used some Win748 I think for some heavy bullets out of my Savage. I won't use TAC. Weird as it might be, I shy away from anything that mentions the word tactical. TAC is close. Friends swear by it.

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Since you don't want stick powders I won't mention imr and h 4895, but have used blc2, tac and aa2230 with good results. You might also consider exterminator real close to tac but listed as a Varmint powder instead of tactical.

Curious why no stick powders?

I use H335 and 52 grain Barnes Match Burners. They shoot really well out of my 20” FN upper. Another vote for TAC though I’ve only used it in 55 grain FMJ loads. I’m currently working through some Shooters World AR Plus and like it so far. Now to try LEVERevolution with the 69 grain RMR and move my H335 to 30-30 cast loads.

Lots of recommendations for H335. Win 748 is the same ball powder. I ran out of AR Comp and when I went to reorder there was none. That was a few years ago before the troubles started. Ended up with 8lbs of W748 because that was all that was available. Seems to work just fine for 55-62 grn bullets, but I'm no Carlos Hathcock......

http://www.adiworldclass.com.au/powder-equivalents/