Advice on .223 powders

[mgrych]

Anyone want to share some advice on which powders work best for lighter loads(55gr.) and which for heavier loads (69gr.) Im looking for a fast traveling yet accurate load out of my savage 10 FP 1 in 9 twist and the barrel is about 24" or 26" long

Any advice on powders or loads would be greatly appreciated

 

[Walkalong]

H 335, W748

Tac, Varget

Lots of good choices though.

 

[Japle]

Sierra lists their accuracy load with a 55 gr bullet as 21.5 gr of RE-7. That's 2900 fps in a 20" AR-15.

Most popular powders are Varget, WW748, H335, RE-7, RE-15 and so on.

I like 748, but have used H322 and IMR4198 with good results.

 

[kelbro]

Light bullets - H335, W748, Benchmark
Heavy bullets - Varget

 

[cracked butt]

Heavy bullets: Varget, RL-15

 

[jhansman]

H322 for both bullets. It may not produce the best results for your rifle, but it is definitely worth finding out. Works wonders in my Savage 12VLP (1:9) with 60 grainers.

 

[Clark]

I am getting great groups with Blue Dot powder in .223.

The barrel stays cool and clean.
The cost is low.
The noise is low.
The recoil is low.

The velocity is a lower, but still at the speed limit of barrel fouling.
The case must be checked to not have an over charge.

 

[NuJudge]

I use 748 for 52gr bullets (26.5gr).

I use IMR 4895 for 69gr bullets.

I use RL-15 for 80gr bullets.

CDD

 

[10 Spot Terminator]

AA#2230 for 50 & 52 gr bullets

H335 or H332 for 55gr bullets

Varget for 60gr and up

 

[alsaqr]

For over 40 years I have used IMR 3031 for nearly all my .223 re-loading. It make very accurate loads with 45 and 55 grain bullets.

 

[627PCFan]

+1 on the 322.

 

[Old 06]

I use Benchmark in my NEF 223 and it is super accurate....along with most any 55gr bullet...Nosler...Hornaday...Speer.

 

[Ky Larry]

Aa-2460
aa-2230
imr-4320
tac

 

[mgrych]

how come load data varies so much from brand to brand... an example... Sierra claims that any of their 55 gr. bullets work best with h4895. while other brands rate h4895 really low for their 55 gr bullets. And the same goes for other powders too like w748.. Some rate it high for 55's others rate it low. I know different brands make their bullets differently, but its weird that they claim the same load data for all their bullets in a particular weight.

 

[Remo-99]

Load data is tested in various ways/testing equipment. Which produce differing results, use it as a guide only to help you in finding the best results in your guns. It's trial and error, what produces good results in one gun, may not give the same results in another.

Try different bullets, powders etc in your guns and when you find a combination that works well, for you, stick to it.

I find H-Benchmark is good with light bullets (40/45gr to 55gr).
And I have a buddy who likes H-Varget for bullets 55gr and up, in 223rem.

This doesn't automatically mean those powders will work well in your rifles, but it's just a guide and powder/s to try, as others have had good results.

 

[Linear Thinker]

My choices:

55gr bullets - AA2230. Had good results with IMR4895 as well.
62gr bullets - AA2520.
69 and 75 gr bullets - AA2520 in the past, switched to Vihta N140 and never looked back.
LT

 

[cliffy]

55 grain .223 Remington Powder of Choice

Strictly for Highest Velocity with Supreme Accuracy, look no further than Alliant Reloder 10x. Hodgdon H335 cannot hold a candle to 10x velocitywise. Ramshot X-Terminator held my attention for quite awhile, but 10x whips its butt by a comforting margin of fps. I've tried others which paled by comparision, so I'd say I found my powder of choice. 55 grain Varmint Bulletwise, Nosler BallisticTips (the orange-tipped devastators) are well-priced in the 250 count varmint-packs. They also are boat-tailed beauties that hit the 10x ring with uncanny regularity. A C.O.L. of 2.250" functions well in my bolt-action rifle. If just beginning reloading .223s, 10x will function well at 22.7 grains; however, my best loads use a bit more. Small Rifle MAGNUM primers are the standard for such VARMINT loads. A wide-spread group of over 1" @ 100 yards would ruin my day. My loads stay within 3/4" with 10 round groups. Regular practice may have something to do with these acceptable results. These are great COYOTE loads and NOT deer loadings, due to bullet fragility regarding the thin-jackets designed for explosive varmint power. For DEER hunting with a .223 Remington, look for Speer 55 grain Trophy-Bonded Bear Claws, Nosler 60 grain Partitions, Speer 60 grain Spitzer SPs, and nothing else! cliffy

 

[rfwobbly]

So what's clean burning ?

When I had my first AR back in the 80's, I was advised almost unanimously to reload with 4198 since it was the cleanest burning and AR's were sensitive to 'dirty' powders. So when I recently got my new AR, I bought 4198 again only to get home and find out that 4198 has been pushed almost completely out of the latest reloading manuals !!

I'm also finding that the long fibers of 4198 don't do so great in my Dillon powder hopper. I'm shooting mostly 55gr FMJBT in a 1-in-9 barrel around 2900 fps.

What can you guys recommend for .223 as clean, meters well, and accurate ?

 

[evan price]

I've been using H335 in .223 for 55-gr and under, when I load 22-250 or heavy .223 I use Varget. Very clean, very repeatable, and not temp sensitive.

 

[TooTaxed]

25 gr IMR #4595 works fine for me...recommended in the Hodgedon, IMR, and Lyman manuals.

IMR #4895 is one of the most versatile powders...I use it in everything from .223 Rem up though the 8-mm Mauser and light 300 Win Mag loads. Have found very accurate loads in each caliber without high pressures.

 

[rfwobbly]

Thanks guys!

 

[1911 guy]

Another vote for Varget. I use it with good resuts in both .223 Rem and .308 Win.

 

[SteveW-II]

BLC(2). Consistent and accurate in any bullet weight 223, meters well. I use it in both 223 and 308.

 

[RustyFN]

I use W748 and H335. I'm shooting a 1:9 twist 16" barrel.
Rusty

 

[robsc]

Varget and W748 for .223rem. 55gr.

IMR4064 and IMR4895 for ,223rem. 70gr.

H380 and W748 for .223 and .308

IMR3031 for .308