Powder for 223 in AR

I use Varget. Don't like 335 just due to the drop characterstics.. 2230 works well but, a bit pricey for me and works its way between the cams in the lee powder measure.. messy. Reloder 15 is good, but don't use it. I'd like to try Tac.

Aa2230

Hey there ;
I'm in the AA2230 crowd. Flows very well from a Uniflow powder dump.
Burns clean too. The only powder I use for AR-15.

H335, although it can be temperature (ambient temp) sensitive in hot weather.

I've shot some really small (.3X) groups using it, though, in a Rem M700 medium weight bbl.

I've been using 26.5 grain of Hodgdon BL-C2 with 55 grain FMJBT.

I like IMR 4895 myself.

H335 or H322

"H 335 and magnum small rifle primer."

Doug B, I see the Speer load manual says to use SR Magnum primers with this powder in .223rem, but no other load manuals share this recommendation.

Can you or others give us some more info on this?

Thanks, from a curious mind who wants to know.

another +1 for H335

meters very well in my Lee Auto-Disk

25 gr of H335 behind a 55 gr. FMJBT is far more accurate than I am.

Another vote for AA2230.

Here where I live 2230 is the least expensive. 3$/lb cheaper than H-335 on small quantities, more on large. I also found it to be a lot cleaner than H-335.

Thirties, most ball powders need a mag prime.Compare 223 rem data and dimensions with the 222 rem mag.

Thanks, Doug. I didn't realize it. Only the Speer book mentions magnum small rifle primers for the .223rem.

C'mon, everyone of the powder manufacturers has a downloadable load manual. How hard is it to do your own research?

Fastbike, I've done the research, and only Speer calls for magnum primers with the H335 specifically. Neither the Hornady, not the Lyman manuals give the magnum recommendation. So, I'm asking for some input on that.

I guess I'll phone Speer or email them to get an answer.

Another vote for H335. Great powder.

Damn! Sounds like I might have to get a jug of H335.

For my 100 yd match loads when I load 55 or 60 gr bullets, I have very good results with H4895. It's nice to know that the loads you tested in March will perform the same during a match in July.

I saw H-Varget for 29$ recently. I looked at the price of my old jar of Varget and it was 21$. It tends to be more expensive than other powders I see on shelf at reloader supply store. I am experimenting with 50gr SP, 55gr Blitz King, 60gr, 63gr and 69gr Match King Sierra bullets for my 1:9 twist 20in AR. I have used 26gr Varget to drop in them all, as my load data showed less than max for all loads. I am going the single-shot route for the 69gr MatchKings. So the powder has same amount of room as the shorter bullets.

On the FC brass, not sure how to get much more Varget in there. It was at the base of the neck with 26gr with no tamping.

Another 4895 shooter here. It's my universal rifle powder. Work well for my .223 and my 30 06.

Another 4895 shooter here. It's my universal rifle powder. Work well for my .223 and my 30 06.

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USP FAN, is this a ball powder? Will it meter consistently?

Another thing: is this IMR 4895, or H 4895?

I have been using 2520 for 69 smk and 77smk and it is very accurate. It is clean, meters great and at 600 yard does the trick for me...I tried reloader 15 and it is hard to meter and dirty, but is accurate. Both group the same.

I love the Varget. I've tried Ramshot TAC and been pleased, plus Wideners has it cheap. LAtely I've been using 4895 because I use it in my .308. Using one powder lets me buy much and save on the HazMat/lb.

John

I don't load for the .223 but my shooting buddy uses nothing but H335. He's tried others but gets the best results with 335.

I don't load for the .223 but my shooting buddy uses nothing but H335. He's tried others but gets the best results with 335.

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What primers does he use? And is he using a semi-auto (military) type of rifle?

He's shooting a Bushmaster AR-15 type rifle. I'm sorry, I don't remember what primer he's using. I think it's a standard small rifle primer not a Magnum primer but I'll have to ask him to be sure. I do know it's a CCI primer and it might just be their #41 Military primer, again, I'll have to check with him to be sure. (sorry)