Best short (12in) barrel .223 powder

[mnhntr]

I am using light (40gr) bullets and a short (12in) barrel with a 1/12 twist. what would your powder pick be?

 

[rcmodel]

Same as for a longer barrel.
Something like H-322 maybe.

Whatever gives the highest velocity with a 40 grain bullet in a long barrel will also give the highest velocity in a short barrel.

rc

 

[mnhntr]

I was worrying about burn rate, and burning all the powder. Is it a non issue?

 

[helotaxi]

Completely a non-issue. By focusing on burning all the powder, you're sacrificing a large amount of potential gas volume and will see the pressure spike and quickly drop. In contrast, what you want to happen is the pressure rise to the max allowable (this will happen in the first inch or two of bullet travel) and then stay as high as possible for as long as possible. The short barrel simply means that you'll have a high pressure when the bullet exits the barrel. You're giving up a lot of velocity compared to a longer barrel already, the last thing that you want to do is make things even worse by sacrificing the little pressure that you can sustain.

 

[BunnMan]

Go with RC's lead...my Lyman #49 shows H-322 being the potentially most accurate load for a 40gr jacketed V-max out of a TC Contender 14" barrel 1:14 twist. H-322 does not provide the highest velocities in the table for that bullet however.

 

[helotaxi]

H322 is a consistent good performer. Usually not the highest velocity, but very consistent. Been a benchrest standard for years.

 

[mnhntr]

Thanks

 

[bluetopper]

I really like IMR-4198......very very accurate with 40gr bullets with a LOT less boom and muzzle flash.....therefore more enjoyable too.
And still 3200fps out of a 14" Contender.

 

[243winxb]

IMR 4198 as i said on the other forum.