223 powder choices

[W.E.G.]

I like H4895 for everything. I even put a spoon full in my coffee this morning

You H4895 guys are like that from what I've seen.

I thought about getting into H4895 at one point. But then I might run into that guilt-by-association problem.

Yeah, H4895 seems to make maximum velocity at safe(ish) pressure when fired in guns with tight chambers.

Let me guess,... you're a Compass Lake barrel guy too?

 

[DMW1116]

I use TAC, H335, and CFE 223 pretty regularly. I’m working through Shooters World AR Plus too but don’t have many loads for it yet. For 55 grain FMJ it works pretty well.

 

[Nature Boy]

eah, H4895 seems to make maximum velocity at safe(ish) pressure when fired in guns with tight chambers.

That’s true, particularly with heavy for caliber .308. That’s why I use it for 185gn bullets over Varget.

Let me guess,... you're a Compass Lake barrel guy too?

Nope

 

[mrawesome22-250]

Benchmark for precision stuff. BLC2 for blammo ammo here.

 

[kalielkslayer]

Another vote for TAC. I’m loading on a progressive and it meters extremely well.

 

[kmw1954]

Funny this comes up now. I am in the process of running another test ladder with TAC and RMR 69gr projectiles. Last year I shot our local league using that bullet with TAC loaded to 23.8gr # 2.265" in a Savage model 10 with a 22" barrel with a 1:9 twist and it shot great in tat gun. Tired it again this year in a Savage with a Model12 Varmint barrel 26" long with a 1:9 twist and that gun didn't like it one bit.

So as I have some left I will be reworking that load to see if I can find it again for that bullet.

Airborne Falcon I had been shooting those same Nosler in the Model12 barrel with 23.1gr of A2460 powder loaded out to the same 2.265" and was getting just over .5MOA out to 200yds... Down to my last 200 of those.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I started with H-335 and 55 gr bullets in my AR’s and didn’t need to try another powder. Put thousands down range with that powder and have been extremely happy with its performance.

 

[W.E.G.]

I’m shooting 1:7 twist in a 20” Wilson (White Oak Armament) barrel with TAC and 69’s/80’s.

41.1 grains TAC performs very well with a 168 SMK in the M1-A.

Also 47.0 TAC with a 150(any kind) in the Garand.

 

[brewer12345]

I used to be a Varget and Sierra guy for 5.56 service rifle loading.

Varget has always had spotty availability. Gotta buy it when its available. Price has been high lately when available.
https://shop.hodgdon.com/hodgdon-varget/

View attachment 1123695

I switched to Ramshot TAC, and I see zero reduction in the accuracy of my ammo.
TAC is a good powder choice for ANY caliber that calls for a medium-burning rifle powder.
I can reliably shoot high-master service-rifle scores with TAC. Well,... except offhand. I admit I suck at offhand because I wobble a lot, and I have poor trigger-control when the gun won't settle. Which has absolutely nothing to do with the accuracy-potential of the ammunition of course.
But put me in a sling-supported position, and my scores are quite respectable. Good position... Good ammo... Good scores.
TAC has remained available, and sensibly-priced during all the recent shortages. I find that amazing.
https://shop.hodgdon.com/ramshot-tac/

View attachment 1123698


And TAC flows through a powder measure like water.
Very unlike Varget - which feels like chopping wood.

I still shoot 80-grain Match Kings at true 600-yard distances.
Anything shorter than true 600 yards, I now use the 69-grain ROCKY MOUNTAIN RELOADING (RMR) bullet.
The 69 RMR bullet is excellent.
https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bul...w-point-boat-tail-3-gun-hunter-bullets-new-2/
The 69 RMR does everything a 69 SMK or a 77 SMK ever could do for me.
And at about half the price of the SMK bullets.

View attachment 1123693

My load for the 69RMR and TAC:
Magazine-length OAL (2.250")
CCI 450 (MAGNUM) primer
Any case
24.2 grains TAC
69-grain Rocky Mountain Reloading bullet
Makes about 2700-2750 fps from a 20" barrel

My load for the 80SMK and TAC:
Exceed magazine-length OAL (2.400")
CCI 450 (MAGNUM) primer
Any case
24.0 grains TAC
80-grain Sierra Match King bullet
Makes about 2700-2750 fps from a 20" barrel

Very interesting. I could not quite get the velocity I was after for hunting in 6.5 Grendel with TAC, but holy cow is it accurate. My first choice for target loads where I don't much care about maximizing speed. I will probably start testing TAC with 55s and 69s and see if it works well. If so, picking up a jug will not be a difficult decision.

223 also seems to play nice with a bunch of different powders, so I will likely use up some orphan single pounds that didn't make the cut for other applications. H4198 and IMR 4064 are just sitting on the bench.

 

[sisyphus]

TAC would be my choice for the lighter 55gr bullets. The TAC has consistently produced sub MOA groups for me with the lighter bullets.

This.

 

[dredd]

W748 is my personal favorite.

I must agree.

55/gr SPFB fly really well for me.

RC Model put me on to this powder. I sure miss that gentleman.

 

[W.E.G.]

748 is an under-appreciated powder.

Wide range of applications.

 

[Walkalong]

748 is an under-appreciated powder.

Wide range of applications.

It used to be super popular, kind of fell out of favor.

 

[DMW1116]

TAC showed promise with the RMR 69 grain bullets but i couldn’t repeat it. It shoots 52 grain Barnes Match Burners and 55 grain Hornady soft points very well at lower charges.

IMR 4064 is a sleeper and I found a good 75 grain load with it. It doesn’t like my 20” barrel but shoots really well from a 16” barrel.

 

[Varminterror]

It looks like Varget is the ideal choice for accuracy. I have some, but supply has been spotty for years.

Guys talk about Varget supply problems, but I really don’t believe it.

Buy it when it’s available, and you’ll have it. I’ve kept something around 30-50lbs of Varget on hand since the late ‘90s, and I shoot through between 16-32lbs per year of it… I don’t run out, and I don’t ever have to wait long to find it available - and I buy it when I find it… if I can find 30lbs per year of it, you can find it…

 

[Nature Boy]

748 is an under-appreciated powder.

Wide range of applications.

Certainly a versatile powder but I could never find a consistently accurate application for it, or its kissing cousin, BL-C(2)

 

[sfl_gunner]

N140, Tac, H335.

 

[dh1633pm]

I think by the end of the thread you’ll have every powder you could possibly use listed. We are a diverse reloading group. For me, AA2230, and IMR4895.

 

[Demi-human]

I think by the end of the thread you’ll have every powder you could possibly use listed.

And that brings us around to the specialty loading of magnum handgun powders for absolutely full pressure, yet reduced recoil charges. Which is an advanced handloading technique, not for beginners, that WILL automatically disassemble a rifle if done incorrectly. (Partially redacted, for safety. Stay with published information found in manuals!)

The ocean doesn’t seem big…
Until you get there!

 

[Skgreen]

Lots of options out there. With me, lately, it's 23.1 8208 XBR - 69 SMK @ 100:

I prefer 8208 over Varget as it's easier to meter through a drop.
TAC is another one I like. Can't say I've had much luck with others.

 

[Wildbillz]

My 223 loads are pretty much vanilla, just blasting ammo. I use 55 and 62grn pull down bullets, still have some Wolf smrm primers. I like the AA2230, Win 748 and I was working up a load with some surplus powder that I got a few jugs of WC 846 (also works for 308Win). As long as it functions the AR action and holds a reasonable grouping at 100 or so yards I am happy.

WB

 

[Ironicaintit]

I've always been partial to IMR 3031 in a gas cycled rifle.
My most accurate is with a max load (over max in some books) of IMR 4198, but I use it less and less... I prefer the 3031.

I don't mind the issues that come with metering of stick powders, and they have no issues lighting off when the outdoors are below 0°

 

[Buzznrose]

N135, 4895, 4064 benchmark 8298xbr, rl15 and the list goes on.

Good suggestions, on this post and all others

I’ve only loaded .223 with friends. We used N140 and Tac with 62-69 gr bullets with good results.

 

[lightman]

It used to be super popular, kind of fell out of favor.

I've shot a good bit of 748 over the years, in both 223 and 308. I've never found its accuracy to be much better than just ok. It does meter good through a measure.

 

[jmorris]

It used to be super popular, kind of fell out of favor.

Shh! It’s always been good to me, I don’t mind people going after other powders.