.223 Varget or 748 which is better and why

[Master Blaster]

I was just wondering which powder you prefer for .223 loads and why you prefer it. I loading 69 HPBT for a 1:8 barrel ar varmit rifle, and 55 gr fmj for 20" and 16" A2 ars. I have heard that varget as a long grain powder may be harder on a barrel than 748 which is a ball powder. I have also heard that the velocity is more stable over different temperature ranges with varget.
Any truth to either of these pieces of wisdom???

Accuracy seems to be quite good with either powder with the aformentioned bullet choices.

Thanks

 

[Steve Smith]

I don't know if there is an APPRECIABLE difference between barrel life between the two, but there CERTAINLY is one when it comes to temperature sensitivity. I would say that you can load a stick powder load much closer to absolute max and test it in cool weather, and fire it in hot with significantly more safety than you can do that with a ball powder. A marginal stick load in hot weather could be a dangerous ball load in hot weather if tested to near-max in cooler weather.

 

[g56]

I have read that contrary to Hodgdon's advertising, military ball powders such as 748 are more temperature stable than Varget in 223, and Varget is a pain in the butt to load in a 223 case. I have used Varget, H335 and am currently loading AA2230C in 223 for use in an AR15, I have gotten as good or better accuracy out of the ball powders as I have from Varget, and I don't have the bridging problems that Varget is plagued with, the ball powders flow through powder measures beautifully and they throw more consistent charges with the ball powders. I haven't used 748 but I understand it works quite well also. Temperature stability is important in a military ball powder, military ammo is loaded pretty hot, and they can't afford to use a powder that isn't stable at high temperatures.

The group shown below was loaded on a Dillon RL550 press, charges were from the Dillon powder measure, not weighed, and no special prep work was done on the brass.

 

[Master Blaster]

I have been able to get consistent charges with varget using my redding BR1 powder measure and using the old Lyman as well. I have a dillon 550 but I dont load any rifle on it only pistol, I have read that the dillon measure is not very consistent with long stick powder though.

I have been able to shoot some .40" 5 shot groups at 100 yards off my Bipod with my varmit AR the load is 25 gr varget and a 69gr sierra HPBT MK OAL 2.260. The groups with 25 gr 748 have been slightly larger like .75.

 

[halvey]

I'll save you some time:

Varget won't meter worth a hoot out of your Dillon.