AR15 .223 Ball or Stick Powder

[Lovesbeer99]

Which is better functioning? Not concerned with metering or accuracy with this specific question. What I want to know is, does one work better, tend to jam more, get the gas system dirty.

Thanks.
Lovesbeer99

 

[layusn1]

I've shot both and don't recall a difference so if there was one it wasn't enough for me to gripe about, I haven't tried Varget yet so I can't speak to that, if that means anything to you and keep in mind a bitchin sailor is a happy sailor...lol.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

If I recall correctly I saw something on the History Channel about the history of the M-16 and how it had trouble with the powder in use in early Vietnam. Apparently it was designed for 1 type of powder, but the Wiz kids substituded the other type of powder and the M16 started to Jam. I can't remember if it was suppose to use stick or ball powder.

Anybody?

 

[Walkalong]

Ball is fine. Stick powders rule past 600 yards.

 

[loadedround]

Either type will work well in the 223. However you will find ball powder meters so much better in a measure that it is a joy to use. I've been using Varget in both my 223 and 204 rifles. If I remember correctly, Winchester developed ball powders specifically for use in the M-16.

 

[Zippy06]

Last summer, Lake City was loading AA 2230. For SS-109. So, it was hard to find.
If it's Mil. Spec., it's good s**t.
Go Team USA!

 

[CZ223]

In my humble opinion

if it meters well than that is half the battle to good accuracy. I load H335, BLC-2 as well as H322. All are ball powders. All Meter very well. All of them are very accurate in my guns. I used to use in extruded powders in some of my rifle but then I would measure evry charge. I found that the charges with ball powders were so consistant that I only weigh evry 20th charge or so. In my Savage 223 as well as my 204 I get sub half inch groups almost effortlessly and believe that most of that is due to consistant charges of powder.

 

[BsChoy]

Started with Varget but it seems that the POI changed when I changed lots after I used up the previous lb. I tried RE15 and seems to do well with the 60gr vmax, more so than varget.

 

[wanderinwalker]

I like Varget extruded (stick) powder, mostly for temperture stability. I have not had a significant POI shift using different lots of Varget, but then again, shooting Highpower from position means I can't always see some changes.

I've replaced a couple of firing pins after leaving some ammo loaded with 748 out under the sun between relays. What was once a very mild load suddenly started popping primers. Odd...

Varget meters OK; 748 flows through a measure like water. What I would love is a powder with Varget's stability, 748's metering ease and a price of $10/lb!

 

[ATAShooter]

Alliant Reloader 7 does great too...

21.1gr Reloader 7
55gr FMJ/BT Hornady or Winchester
WSR Winchester Primer
Seat @ cannelure = 2.21 to 2.22 OAL

 

[tikkat3]

I have found it depends on what bullet weight you are shooting with Varget. It does not work well with the 55gr V-MAX in my rifle, but works extremely well under a 75gr A-MAX. H335 is a favourite for the lighter bullets.

 

[RavenVT100]

I just started reloading for the AR. I've been using Varget under 69 grain SMKs and 69 grain Noslers. So far so good. Still working up the load, but the groups are fairly consistent.

 

[Sam Adams]

I've heard that some powders are generally far better with 1-in-9 twist ARs for bullet weights in the low 50 grain range, and others better for the heavier bullets. Comments?

My own experience is that my rifle and I shoot 52 SMKs loaded with Varget far more accurately than 69 SMKs with Varget.

 

[CZ223]

Wanderin Walker

I really don't know how well it shoots yet but I just picked up aboat load of the Ramshot Tac for $9.99 a pound through Midway and it meters just like H335 or BLC-2. The sale is over on this stuff but AA2230 is on sale for the same this month through Midway and I have heard good things about it in the past. I think it is a ball type powder but I am not sure of that. By buying 22 pounds, including shipping my final price per pound was 11.36. I might just go buy a pound of 2230 locally and see if I wanna do another big buy.

 

[Walkalong]

I might just go buy a pound of 2230 locally and see if I wanna do another big buy.

Excellent stuff. You will like it in the .223. It is a ball powder.

 

[Slamfire]

Used a lot of AA2520, which is a ball powder. Worked great. Now I am using mostly N140 a very short stick powder. Anything that has a burn rate close to 4895 will shoot bug eyed holes in the .223 AR.

 

[BigG]

IMR 4198 was the powder of choice. The Ball powder difficulties were covered extensively in The Black Rifle.

IIRC, the original Olin ball powder was remanufactured from cannon powder and had to have calcium carbonate added to tone down the acidity. The calcium carbonate caused the gas tubes to plug up. When they went to a different recipe the problems disappeared. That powder has not been available in years. H335, BLC-2 all work well and they are similar to the clean ball Winchester Olin powder.

 

[cheygriz]

For 55 and 62 grain bullets, I've never had anything beat H335.