.223 Powder

[Texanreloader]

I am looking for recommendations on powder to use for .223 I load light w/55gr fmj bullets. I have used Varget but running low so looking for other types to widen my search results. Thanks!

 

[ParallelCode]

Ramshot TAC is what I use for 55gr projectiles. It has worked well for me.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I just posted to the "Where are components..." page, Midsouth Shooters has Accurate 2200, LT-32, and 2460 in stock. Any of those will perform well at NATO/5.56mm or Remington commercial pressure for 55gr. projectiles. Lots of loading data is online at Hodgdon's Reloading Data Center

 

[Texanreloader]

I just posted to the "Where are components..." page, Midsouth Shooters has Accurate 2200, LT-32, and 2460 in stock. Any of those will perform well at NATO/5.56mm or Remington commercial pressure for 55gr. projectiles. Lots of loading data is online at Hodgdon's Reloading Data Center

Yep, love their website, lots of good info, but still like the advice I get here to. Lots of smart people on here.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Yep, love their website, lots of good info, but still like the advice I get here to. Lots of smart people on here.

No doubt about it!
I've kind of resolved not to advise people to get powders that are unobtanium. If I recommend a powder I include a link to where it can be found.
Saves a lot of frustration.

 

[1-cavediver]

I’ve used W748 ball powder for many years and many thousands of rounds with excellent results in numerous AR-15 platforms. My standard load is a 55 gr fmj over 25 grains of W748 with CCI 400 primers.

 

[Texanreloader]

No doubt about it!
I've kind of resolved not to advise people to get powders that are unobtanium. If I recommend a powder I include a link to where it can be found.
Saves a lot of frustration.

That is a great policy!

 

[IALoder]

AA2230, AA2460, TAC, X-Terminator, H322, H335, Benchmark, N133, N135, SW Tactical, SW AR Plus, IMR 3031, 8208XBR, Reloader 10x are all pretty solid for 55gr. There's a few in stock at the normal online spots as well!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

That is a great policy!

Thanks.

I never reloaded .223Rem but way back in the day I did load .222Rem, .22Hornet and .221 Fireball, for a variety of platforms from a Rem 788 to a T/C Contender, and No.2200, IMR 4198, IMR 4227 and IMR 3031 were always staple powders that deliver good performance and run clean. IMR 4064 is also good for .222Rem but I have better uses for it.

I don't like overheating small bore barrels so I look for powders that run as cool as possible, too. AA2200 and 2460 are both double-base powders with low nitroglycerin content but they are still "ball" powders so they run a little hotter than IMR 4227, 4198, 3031 and 4064, which are single-base. Win748 is also a double-base powder - I never got into it, though. I guess it really depends on your launching platform if that makes any difference. I've always used bolt guns and single-shots so it really shouldn't have mattered to me but it did. I only had to burn my forearm once cradling a hot Contender to learn to prefer cooler-running powders.

 

[ballman6711]

I started loading .223 Rem last summer and really like IMR-3031. It doesn't meter well but I'm not in a hurry and just trickle up to my charge weight. Works well in my AR.

I've also loaded rounds using TAC, H-335, and A-2200, but unfortunately haven't had the chance to try any of them at the range but I expect to find a good/decent load with each of these powders.

chris

 

[Blue68f100]

There are a lot of powders that work for the 223R. I prefer TAC for the light pills, or CFE223. TAC has produced more accurate results. Varget works too but I save that for the 69gr and up.

 

[Axis II]

I will tell you but you have to promise not to buy any as I am running low myself and cannot find it anywhere. Benchmark with a 55gr V max or Nosler works wonders.

 

[Jdague12]

CFE223 if you can ever find it again

 

[N555]

I could sell some W748 now that I discovered leverevolution is the probably the best 69gr powder ever.

AA2230, AA2460, TAC, X-Terminator, H322, H335, Benchmark, N133, N135, SW Tactical, SW AR Plus, IMR 3031, 8208XBR, Reloader 10x are all pretty solid for 55gr. There's a few in stock at the normal online spots as well!

My accurate 55gr FMJ H322 load doesn't cycle a proper rifle length upper with rifle buffer. And I suspect 10x would shoot a lot like H322.

 

[Spare Parts]

+1 on GeoDudeFlorida - my usual recommendations (H-335, CFE-223, H322) are unobtanium.

This is my first component shortage, so I don't know what re-appears first. Suggest finding a few powder burn rate charts, find something adjacent to Varget, and plug them into shootingbot.com. Light 55gr plinkers are flexible.

Alliant appears to be particularly slow. Saw CFE-223 at the LGS in February, but it disappeared.

 

[twarr1]

TAC, AA2230, Ramshot X-Terminator.
2230 and X-Terminator are exact same propellant in different bottles according to Western.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

If your running a .223 bolt action. Shot gun powders make a great plinking and accurate load. And it don't take much powder. 7-9 grains depending on the powder. You can find the data under cast loads. 2400 also makes a nice load with a little more speed than the shot gun powders.