.223 Powder Question

[delta5]

Thanks to people that dont police their brass, and a police dept with 7 full auto M16A1's given to them by Homeland Security for $45 per rifle, I now have two big 5 gal buckets of nice clean 223 brass. I dont have a mouse gun at the moment, but I am thinking about reloading this brass just to have handy. I want to reload it for the later made rifles with the current barrel twists. I was thinking in the 60 grain range with either H335 or BL-C(2) powder. I am leaning towards the BL-C(2) because I use this in .308 and I could buy it by the 8 lb jug. For current AR-15 barrel twist rates, would H335 or BL-C(2) be the better choice?

 

[medalguy]

I've used both and didn't see any difference. I use H335 more only because I can get it a little cheaper.

 

[longdayjake]

Around here Ramshot TAC is cheaper and I find it to be a better powder for both .308 and .223. I also have a 6.5 grendel and TAC is about the best powder for heavy loads from a grendel. You might consider it depending on what price you get.

 

[JDGray]

H335 shoots very well in my AR15, and Rem 700 .223

 

[matrem]

For current AR-15 barrel twist rates,

I've not experienced twist rates determining powder selection.
All listed here, are great. And I'll add WW 748 for loading both .223 & .308.

 

[NCsmitty]

You'll find Rel-15 is the common denominator between the two calibers. It's capable of top velocity in both the 223 and 308 with medium weight bullets.

Another excellent choice is AA-2520, and being a ball powder, it meters like H335 and stands between BLC2 and H335 in burn rate.


NCsmitty

 

[Sport45]

I dont have a mouse gun at the moment, but I am thinking about reloading this brass just to have handy.

I wouldn't load up a bunch of rifle ammo for a gun I didn't have. What are you going to do with 1000's of rounds if you determine your rifle doesn't like them? It usually takes a few tries to find the load a particular rifle really likes. It's much easier to match a load to a rifle than a rifle to a load.

Unless, of course, you're just wanting to make noise and punch holes in the air. Then you can load up just about anything on the short side of max published loads.

For current AR-15 barrel twist rates,

Currently, I believe AR twist rates can be found from 6.5 to 14 inches per turn.

 

[delta5]

I was thinking about a 62 grain bullet with 24 to 25 grains of BL-C(2). That would be a pretty decent performing round, especially for plinking, wouldnt it? Setting the bullet depth to the minimum OAL listed.

 

[Sport45]

That depends on how you define decent. A 1-12 or 1-14 twist may not stabilize a 62gr bullet but a 1-9 might. If you're satisfied with 1-1/2" groups at 50 yards you can get the cheapest bulk 55gr FMJ and go to town. If you want 1" or better groups at 100 yards you should match the bullet to the twist rate and find the charge that works the best.

Do get a case gage and check all the rounds after sizing and before you load them in the magazine. It doesn't take much oversize to stick a cartridge pretty firmly in the chamber.

 

[evan price]

Why don't you buy a rifle, then find out what load it likes best? That is, if accuracy factors into your equation anywhere.

For sound and fury, I guess you could load anything in the manuals.

 

[alsaqr]

For 40 years I have loaded my .308, 150 grain loads and my .223, 55 grain loads with IMR 3031. Works for me.

 

[ForneyRider]

According to Hodgdon literature, H335 was originally a 5.56 military powder.

BLC2 is same as W748?

I like AA2230. Cheap and works great from 36gr to 75gr bullets. It is easy to measure for progressive machines. Accuracy plateau is wide, meaning several charge weights are accurate.

Also been using Benchmark, Varget, R15 for .223. They work great as well. But of the three, only Benchmark is easy to measure in a powder dropper.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I'm a fan of H-4895, very accurate in my mini-14 with both 55 gr and 62 gr bullets.

 

[delta5]

I have IMR 4895 here, but I was wondering if it might be a bit too slow burning for .223. I might have to try it.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I've shot some 55 gr loads with IMR4895, works fine, shoot's good. 25.5 grains works best for me, gives 2.5" at 100 yards with the Mini-14.

 

[freakshow10mm]

H335 is WC844 without the flash suppressant.

BLC2 is not W748. W748 is exactly St Marks #748. BLC2 is a different powder that is used in 7.62x51 NATO ammunition.

I recommend Ramshot Tac. It will work wonders for both .223 and .308.

 

[delta5]

Im wondering about that Ramshot TAC. I see its about the only powder that Midway has in stock right now. I wonder why?

 

[Deavis]

I've had good luck with both, choose whichever one gives you the most versatitilty for your load bench.

 

[nastynatesfish]

find a pound of reloader 10x. I run it in my 223 shooting everything from 35gr a max to 80gr a max. with a f0 gr v max and 24.5 grs you'll be pushing right at 3600fps. in my FAL I run 36gr of 10x behind a 165gr interlock sst and run right about 2800. get great groups out of both. great powder to try

 

[1moa@500]

Another vote for Tac. I have loaded several pounds of it for 223 and I have loved its performance. I purchased mine from powder valley

 

[Radaray]

I agree with EVAN PRICE. Buy a rifle first. I load 55 grainers with H-322, and it cost about 0.16/round. At 1000 rounds, that's a cool $160.00 for something I can only sit and look at. Why? I'd rather buy Playboy if I only wanted to look!

 

[Historian]

I use H322. 23g with a 60g Nosler ballistic tip Spitzer in my Varminter. Very accurate.

Historian