.223 Powder

[Rokman]

Varget, RL15, TAC, Benchmark, and H4895 in my AR's. I have been working with RL10X lately, but the jury still out on that one so far. I have had good luck with H335, AA2230 and Ramshot X-terminator also. TAC may be my favorite, but I have several favorites because I load a lot of .223 and in a lot of bullet weights and types.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I've settled on IMR-4895 for my 55 grain and 62 grain bullets. It doesn't deliver top velocity, but it shoots really well out of my Mini-14.

 

[Eb1]

like most rifles that require a medium burning powder. there isn't a best to be honest. you can find a load using most powders suited for the caliber.

for me. H335 or H4895 when I had my AR15. I will not give the best one away, but it is one of those two IMO. You should try both, and make your own decision. It will not take long for you to figure this one out.

 

[Kernel]

Clark wrote:

I like Blue Dot, but it is advanced reloading .... For approaching 5,000 fps ... H110

Blue Dot and H110. Now, that’s marching to the tune of a different drummer! Dude, I want the bench next to yours at the range. Well, on second thought, maybe one bench over.

 

[04JRB]

After trying a few different powders, my .223 like H-335 the best. Varget was a close second.

 

[Damon555]

H335 (WC844) is what my AR gets to eat. You can use it with almost any bullet weight.

 

[Clark]

Kernel Member
Clark wrote:
Quote:
I like Blue Dot, but it is advanced reloading .... For approaching 5,000 fps ... H110


Blue Dot and H110. Now, that’s marching to the tune of a different drummer! Dude, I want the bench next to yours at the range. Well, on second thought, maybe one bench over.

I learned about Blue Dot loads in 223 [in April 2004 for shooting ground squirrels in mass in Oregon] from Seafire. He learned it from James Calhoon's website.
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/tobee2.php
I was shooting hundreds of ground squirrels in 2004 with 13 gr Blue Dot 60 gr HNDY TAP ~ 2800 fps ~ 30,000 psi.
Since then I have moved to 33 gr Vmax 15 gr Blue Dot ~ 3500 fps ~ 35,000 psi, and I have shot thousands of rodents with that.

Trying to set new 223 records for my chronograph, I knew that H335 was too slow for light bullets and Blue Dot was too fast for light bullets, so I experimented with H110.

 

[ForneyRider]

I can shoot buckets of .223 with common rifle powders and not have to clean. In an AR no less.

 

[giggitygiggity]

H335. It is one of the cheapest powders per round and is usually available.

 

[375shooter]

I've always got best results with AA 2015 BR in my .223 M700 BDL using 40 to 50 grain bullets. It has given the best accuracy with great velocity. Other good powders I've used are AA 2230, H 335 and BLC2. One powder that my rifle does not like is W 748.

 

[Hondo 60]

375shooter:

In what way does your rifle not like it? What happens?

 

[flashhole]

I did not care for W748 either. Too quick a raport compred to other powders and not very forgiving. Very small changes in charge weight made the difference between a safe load and an over pressure load. My 223 has a 24" barrel and does much better with slower powders, even when using light bullets.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I haven't been loading for the .223 long but in my bolt rifle I get the best results with H335.

 

[Rokman]

H335. It is one of the cheapest powders per round and is usually available.

I agree that H335 is an excellent powder, but it is not as readily available at the online sites that I usually purchase from. I have started using Benchmark instead of H335 since I tend to like extruded powders more.

I think X-terminator and Tac are excellent spherical powders for .223 and are usually cheaper and shouldn't be overlooked for economical, quality loads.

 

[mboylan]

Varget for longer barrels and heavy bullets. BL-C2 for SBRs.

 

[375shooter]

375shooter:

In what way does your rifle not like it? What happens?

Yurko:

I should have specified. The only thing about W748, in my .223, is that it gets lousy accuracy (compared to the other powders listed).

 

[mregunz]

I have a howa with a pac-nor brl. That Is a palma 28" in a .223 40* ack.It's a good dinger.And fast for a .223.I shoot H4895.I work'd up a ld. with H322 It shot good to but can't as much vel.So I went back to old tried and true.H4895,cause it shoot harder with out the pres. spike so fast. I made mine for speed and accy.It runz a 50 grn.at about 3600fps.Which is what the twist is for I got it in a 14twist.Them v-max's are good killerz on P.dog's.I can get about 100ft. more outta my gun with H4895 than I can with H322.and not pressured up either. I quit when I get any dishin on pri...Anyway that's my 2 cent's worth for what it's worth.

 

[mineralman55]

Anyone here use Accurate 2520 in their .223? Accurate lists a bunch of loads, but I wanted to see how cleanly it burns, actions your AR, etc.

 

[NuJudge]

I'm with Kernel, and I match powder to the bullet. I only shoot the .223 in ARs.

I like 26.5gr 748 with 52gr bullets and CCI primers in LC or WW cases. I've heard of this not shooting well in any rifle that will shoot at all.

I like H or IMR 4895 with 69gr bullets.

I like RL 15 with 80's.

I've never gotten good results with Varget in the .223.

 

[ghitch75]

i use varget 25gr 62gr in my mini's....never have had a bit of trouble...

 

[alsaqr]

I did a lot of experimenting with various .223 powders in the late 60s. Settled on IMR 3031 for my.223/5.56mm rifles and have not looked back. I don't use bullets lighter than 45 grains or heavier than 55 grains in the .223.