A new powder for me

[Hardtarget]

I have a chance to pick up some H-4198 to try in my .223 loads. Its a little faster than "TAC" (I've used TAC and Vihta N-530) and the max load is listed at only 20.4 gr. Thats a lot of loads per pound of powder.

If you've tried this powder, how did it work out? I'll use it with Hornady 55gr V-Max and their 55gr fmj. I have some Privy 62gr fmj as well so I can see how it looks with different projectiles.

I'm not stuck on one powder or bullet yet but if y'all have not had good results with this powder... I'll skip it. No need to just throw money away trying to reinvent the wheel.

In advance, thanks for your time!

Mark

 

[spitballer]

I've gone through about a can of IMR 4198, which is perhaps just a bit slower burning than Hodgdon's. With a 30" bbl I could never get satisfactory results with 55 grain bullets and had to go to 40 grainers instead, getting tightest groups at 19.3 grains at 3205 fps with a thin-jacketed bullet, seated into the lands. Two things which might help if you're going to try 4198 with 55 grainers are shorter barrel length and harder bullets, like FMJ's. I believe FMJ's are run at about 52000 psi.

 

[Hardtarget]

Thanks for your reply!
This may just settle it for me. The lightest bullet I am likely to use is 55gr. I can keep looking and waiting. I still have a little powder to play with so I'll "run what 'cha brung" and keep my eyes peeled for a more suitable powder choice.

Mark

 

[J_McLeod]

Interested in hearing how it works for you. I have a lb of H4198 on the shelf that I plan to use for 223 later.

 

[Conservidave]

4198 and 50g VMAX bullets = best group size ever in a bolt rifle, for me anyway... I like it

 

[RugerOldArmy]

It's good stuff for light bullets in .223 Rem.

I've used it for 40Gr V-Max loads.

TAC does much better with 55Gr and up for me in .223 Rem

I'd still take Varget, Benchmark, or RL-15, over either.

 

[Don McDowell]

I've used 4198 with 45 gr bullets , makes prairie dogs go splat fairly regular out to 250 or so yds..

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I do not like 4198 in the .223 especially with bullets 50gr and heavier. IMO it's just too fast and it's more than a little faster than TAC.

I would save the 4198 for the 45-70 and get some TAC, H335, AA2230, CFE223 or one of the other dozen or so powders that's better than 4198 in the .223/5.56mm.

 

[Hardtarget]

ArchAngel...the powders you listed are on my search radar...I just can't find them. The H-4198 just happen to be on the shelf and it listed .223 on the side. I'm still looking ..and looking. Some times I feel like the Walking Dead zombies. You know, walking around aimlessly.

Mark

 

[J_McLeod]

ArchAngel...the powders you listed are on my search radar...I just can't find them. The H-4198 just happen to be on the shelf and it listed .223 on the side. I'm still looking ..and looking. Some times I feel like the Walking Dead zombies. You know, walking around aimlessly.

Mark

Come up to Clarksville. As of this writing, Midsouth has IMR 4031, 4064 and 4320 in stock, all of which are suitable for .223. They had H335 in 1 and 8 lbs, but sold in a few days. They've been getting new shipments in regularly. If you order some powder and select pickup, they'll hold it for you at their store off Exit 11 on the 24 and save you $27 Hazmat shipping.

 

[spitballer]

This may just settle it for me. The lightest bullet I am likely to use is 55gr. I can keep looking and waiting...

Getting the powder I wanted was frustrating until I decided make some long distance calls to find the closest brick-and-mortar supplier who had what I wanted in stock, and arranging to drive there for a cash sale. As far as IMR 4198 powder, it may in fact work for you, especially if you have a shorter AR-type barrel. In my bolt gun it just built up too much pressure with the 55 grain bullets. Nevertheless I was determined to make use of the powder once I'd bought it so I got some 40 grain bullets and they worked remarkably well, although I was still below the starting load of 19.5 grains. The nice thing about your 55 gr FMJ's is that they are a known quantity; they work at 52000 psi and are thus easy to calculate for. Softer bullets are trickier, in fact I don't seem to be able to get much over 35000 with this barrel I'm using before they start to squish and plug the barrel. I've had to resort to ridiculously slow powders just to get the softer bullets downrange at a reasonable speed without distortion. If I had it to do over again with a standard length barrel and 55 grain bullets I would start with the BLC(2) and CCI#450 primers.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

ArchAngel...the powders you listed are on my search radar...I just can't find them. The H-4198 just happen to be on the shelf and it listed .223 on the side. I'm still looking ..and looking. Some times I feel like the Walking Dead zombies. You know, walking around aimlessly.

Mark

I know powder is hard to find. If we lived near each other I would gladly lend you a pound or two of H335. Sorry...

 

[Hardtarget]

Such is life. Things will all work out.
I'm a very modest volume shooter so I'm sure I'll happen upon a pound or two of of the choice powders...before I run out. Thats why I started looking early.
All part of the fun.

Mark

 

[jeepmor]

If you can get said powder, don't worry, you'll eventually burn it all.

Varget is my favorite for accuracy and versatility.

 

[Seabeeken]

I have 2 different 223's. One likes H-335 and the other like Reloder 10X
Both shoot sub .5 moa groups with 55 gr bullets.

I did a lot of testing with 14 different powders in the 223. IMR-3031 and H-322 shot .7 moa. Everything else was 1 moa or bigger groups.
Help this helps

Ken