Opinions on 223 powders

I like stick powders.

I haven't tried everything but for
223/5.56 in my semi auto rifles I like
TAC, BLC(2), 8208XBR, (BLC(2) and 8208 are a tie) H335 in that order.

TAC is good stuff IMO.
All of the above meter well for me.

For whatever it's worth from one burn rate chart I have
82 Hodgdon H335
83 Ramshot X-Terminator
84 Accurate Arms 2230
85 Accurate Arms 2460s
86 IMR, Co IMR 8208 XBR
87 Ramshot TAC
88 Hodgdon H4895
89 VihtaVuori N530
90 IMR, Co IMR 4895
91 VihtaVuori N135
92 Alliant Reloder 12
93 Accurate Arms 2495BR
94 IMR, Co IMR 4166
95 IMR, Co IMR 4064
96 NORMA 202
97 Accurate Arms 4064
98 Accurate Arms 2520
99 Alliant Reloder 15
100 VihtaVuori N140
101 Hodgdon VARGET
102 IMR, Co IMR 4320
103 Winchester 748
104 Hodgdon BL-C(2)
105 Hodgdon CFE 223

So BLC(2) is slower, but closer to CFE223 that you have been using.

H-335 and 55gr bullets here for all of my AR’s.

H335
Win748
TAC
BLC2
AA-2230

these are all great "ball" powders for 223

IMHO, H335 is better for 5.56mm, BL-C(2) for 7.62mm or heavy 5.56mm. I’ve not had much luck with H335 and 69grn SMK’s. Just my experience. One of the reasons I’m liking TAC more and more is it doesn’t produce the muzzle blast and flash H335 does, and as I’ve heard BL-C(2) does.

CoalTrain49 said:

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/

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That doubles as an excellent 30-30 powder. It's second only to Leverevolution in my book. So if OP feeds 223 and 30-30 it would be a short list powder.

AJC1 said:

I'm surprised no one has said accurate 2520.

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Good powder burns, just dirty in an AR with a silencer. It's kind of my go to for 62gr rifle and carbine loads.

You cannot go wrong with the variety of powders listed that work well with 223 Remington.

My favorites are AA 2230 for 55 grain bullets or so. H4895, IMR 4895 or Varget for heavier bullets.

Win 748 is a good powder as well.

Look at reputable reloading data.

I use CFE223 in my 204 Ruger varmint loads and it should work well in 223 Rem. I just have not tried it.

Given the current climate, look at what folks are recommending and buy what you can find. You will do well, 223 Rem is pretty flexible.

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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Midsouth. Shooters supply has h335. Cfe223 and blc2 in stock. 335 and 223 in 1lb containers. Blc2 in both 1 and 8 lb.

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.

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I have probably used more 748, TAC and x-terminator than all others (because they meter great in volume measures) combined but lots of stuff works in .223.



I have had good results with extruded (stick) powders but I also understand wanting to avoid them, it’s pretty easy to bridge a .223 case mouth, you would be avoiding IMR powders, Varget and other, otherwise good choices.

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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BLC-2 = CFE 223 with an anti coppering agent. Bismuth if I remember right. Ive found it to be incredibly temp sensitive. Do your load testing in the weather you plan on shooting it in. Ive seen popped primers on a 20 degree weather change.
H335 is good for standard blaster ammo from 223. Seems to handle temp changes better.
If you can find it, TAC, AA2230, AA2520 are great ball powders.
Short cut extrudeds like 8208 XBR and Benchmark are fantastic for making accurate loads and will run from a rotary drop accurately.
I have tested H4895 and Varget, but they are chunky stick powders, which is not what you are looking for.
These are just the powders I have tested in 223. Lots of good options out there.

Tac, W748, BLC2, H335, 2230 all meter fgreat.

Blc-2 is the GI powder for 762n (w846) h335 is the GI powder for 556 (w844)

I used BLc-2 and Varget, I know, no stick powders allowed and got the best accuracy from Varget. Then I tried H322 and have never changed as it beat both in the accuracy department.I have intended to try H355 but just haven't done so. I doubt it will out-do H322.

I'm a Varget guy too, but I shoot .223 out of a bolt gun.
Runner-ups: H4895, RL15.

I load 223 with that same stuff that Uncle Sam used in the 5.56 for decades, WC 844. I have a few 8 lb jugs from before the current crisis.

I like buying milsurp in bulk (all one lot), working up a load and sticking with it. If I was out right now, 844 seems to be unobtainable.

However, just a little bit faster on one of my burn rate charts is WC 732. $220 bucks total (incl ship & Hz) for an 8 lb jug is not terrible. https://americanreloading.com/264-midwest-powders?orderby=quantity&orderway=desc&orderway=desc

If I were loading 223 with heavier bullets, WC 749 is just sower than WC 748 / Win 748. They also have some of that for the same price.

For .223 55gr. I prefer H335. Ramshot X-Terminator is another powder that works with 55 grs. and meters well, it also shares same load data as AA2230. I also like H335 for 125 gr .30-30. Along with H335, I've had good results with H322, although I haven't seen H322 at my LGS in a while. I usually use CFE223 and BLC2 for 65-70 grain bullets. Lots of spherical powders to choose from that will work with .223, finding what you want is the trick!

I’m somewhat surprised no one mentioned AA2200.
I got into it many years back when it was a mill surp from somewhere in the eastern block. To make you sick, I gave $35 for an 8# jug, delivered. 4 jugs in a case, I only have about 6 jugs lleft. It works well in many chamberings I shoot. It really shines in 222 and 223 with bullets from 50 to 73 grains. I understand the current manufactured 2200 performs just like the older surplus 2200. I haven’t had any reason to know since I still have something between 40 and 48# of it left. As I understand it was originally made for 76.2x39 but it’s flash signature was too bright for the original purchaser. Try a pound!

As many on here suggests I like TAC the best for 55 to 65 grain bullets, if you can find it that is. That propellant and bullet weights go together like PB&J. That is what I mostly shoot. There are other mentioned propellants above and I have tried most of them but always go back to TAC. It shoots better than I can manage LOL.

A timely post. Just got done test firing 4 loads with 3 different ball powders, plus a control load. Loaded to .223 specs referencing Hodg data, all 4 are varmint/plinker loads. Fired through a cheapo DPMS carbine with 4.5x optic. Loaded H335, W748, with both the Hornady 55 Vmax and a Speer 50 HP. Control load is 55 Speer SP over AA2230. I loaded a good quantity of these last year after finding they provided good accuracy and reliability in a powder I found 4 lbs of.

Results of all 3 loads and the control were impressive. Putting 5 shots inside of 1.5" at 100 yards with mixed brass and thrown charges. Based on my experience, I'd flip a coin between any of these 3 powders in this bullet weight. I'd have to do more extensive testing to notice a difference. Function was good in all and they are minute of coyote to 200+ yards which suits my purpose for this all purpose carbine. If you're shooting heavies, I did work up the Hor75HPBT over both BL-C2 and W748 some time ago. I was pushing full NATO spec pressures in a NM rifle. Both were good in moderate temperatures, showed some pressure signs above 80F. Accuracy was very good, on par with my standard Varget match loads.

Recob presently has W748 and H335 available in 8lb cans. W748 has more utility if you also load any of the mid size .30 calibers. It is my favorite in .300 Savage, and has worked well in .308 and .30-06 150 grain loads, as well as some of the Euro battle rifle calibers.

BLC-2 makes small patterns in Two of MY AR's . Those barrels are chrome lined to boot . Winchester factory ammo left stringing POA dead center impact left vertical. MY loads #1 fouler purposely low , Ran #15 under a dime with older Bushmaster 20" XM15 at 200 Yd.
Witnessed by #7 people at a Range ,as I was on the ground in prone . So I'm biased BLC-2 !. Don't sell Varget or IMR 4895 short either extruded or not they work very very well, IMO . Next week I'll post targets from IMR 3031 as I have some 68 gr. BTHP Hornady's loaded ,so as to make comparisons between MY favorite powders and other's I've yet to send down range .

dh1633pm said:

I like stick powders.

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Too bad it meters like gravel.

My choice is H335/WC844. I've got a ton of both sitting next to a Dillon 1050 (NIB) One of these days I have to set up the Dillon. The load data for both powders is the same.

Sticks meter ok in my RCBS measure, but I use all sorts of powders.

Maybe it's ME ? but I've had zero problems with metering any powder , other than loading a Buddy's Trail Boss cowboy loads . Now that crap they should take off the market !. It's akin to metering cheerios cereal