H335 for 50gr .223?

[Tomekeuro85]

I was looking through some reloading manuals, and none of them really have any data for Varget with 50gr bullets. Most of the other ones show that H335 was the most accurate load tested. Does anyone here have experience with 50gr and h335? Also, how much worse would H335 be in .308 than Varget? Or should I just get H335 for .223 and Varget for .308?

Thanks as usual for answering all of my annoying questions.

 

[dakotasin]

i haven't used h-335 in the 223.

i would reccomend against varget in light-pill 223 loads, and also reccomend against taking the 308 off varget.

 

[xring44]

H335 is a great powder in the .223, I normally load 40 grain bullets in the .223 but have used the 50s with H335 with excelent results.

 

[Tomekeuro85]

Thanks guys. I'll probably just go ahead and buy the H335 and use it for .223 and then use the Verget for .308. I was hoping not to have to buy different powders to make things easier, but if it's going to be more accurate, there's no reason not to buy H335.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I use H-335 and 55gr FMJ for my AR. This is my mas produced plinking loads that put up 1.5" @ 100yds out of my 16" Oly. Meeters great out of my Lee autodisk and I can produce alot of rounds in a short time with my 4 hold turret press.

As for Varget, you can hardly fit a full load of Varget in a .223 case.

 

[dakotasin]

I was hoping not to have to buy different powders to make things easier...

oh my, but you have a long ways to go! you do not have a powder problem until you get 5 or 6 different 8 pound jugs of powders w/ similiar burn rates to go along w/ the 10-15 single or 2-pound cannisters...

 

[RecoilRob]

I use H335 exclusively in both .223 and .308. Very nice metering and great accuracy. Never saw a need to try Varget.

 

[Dave R]

I have compared Varget and H335 head-to-head in both .223 and in .308. In both my rifles, H335 gave me 'slightly' better groups. So I use H335 in both .308 and .223.

I'm shooting 45grain varmit pills in my .223, but I have tried 55 grainers, too, with great results.

FWIW, in the current Hodgdon powder reloading manual (the magazine style) they state that H335 was Bruce Hodgdon's favorite powder for .223.

OTOH, Varget is reported to be more resistant to temperature changes, but I've never seen a problem with my H335 loads.

 

[Clark]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=17737

 

[g56]

This 3 shot group was 25.0 gr of H335 with a 55 gr Speer Spitzer, best group out of the same rifle is .222" using AA2230C with Hornady 55 gr Spire Points.

 

[Point Blank]

If your rifle likes the H335 do yourself a favor and get some H322 and try it.Its the best powder i have found fer the 223 so far

 

[P0832177]

I have had good luck with H335 and lighter wt bullets, in fact to that come to mind are the Speer 50gr TNT and the Rem PLHP. That said, every gun is a rule unto itself. There is trade off to everything.

I had a 700VLS that I could stick 27.5 of Varget into the case, yeah you need a drop tube, with a 40gr Vmax/50gr Vmax/55gr NBT in fireformed WW case. That gun would be 0.5MOA or better with little work. Now, is that practical load for loading bulk? No! But for range work heck yeah!

To me the absolute best results I have ever had with light 223 loads has been with N133. Scary accurate! But, the expense of VV powders made it not practical!

Now, H322 is an awesom choice! I once had Rem XP100 in 223. I tapped a nationally known firearms writer for help. His suggestion H332 and Sierra 52gr MK. Well, I was shooting into the sun with the load testing. So, I had to wait for analyzing the results. The groups were all sub MOA. Load development was easy!

Me I shoot for for minimizing logistics! Varget for the 308 precision ammo and 223 long range ammo. TAC for bulk loading of accuracy ammo. AA2200 for blasting ammo!

 

[caz223]

I have used 3 powders in .223, I change them up by bullet weights they seem to work best in FOR ME.
light loads up to 50 grains, H4198.
Middle weight bullets (50-60 grains), H335.
50 grains and up, H322.
I USED to do a lot of .223 shooting, hence my nickname here, but not so much anymore.
Got bit by the pistol bug.
In the rifles they liked with the tried and true bullets they got along with, they shot one tiny hole groups at 70-120 yards.
Past 150 or so the groups opened up a bit (To where you could see individual holes, but they were still touching), but my rifles have killed many a groundhog/crow/muskrat/raccoon.
I prefered H4198 and a 45 grain hornet bullet (SPEER 1023) that was EXPLOSIVE at 2650 FPS, and was a hi-speed drill at 3200 FPS.
I didn't practice over 225 yards, I just don't have the patience for it.

 

[ftierson]

I use H335 exclusively in both .223 and .308. Very nice metering and great accuracy. Never saw a need to try Varget.

This kind of conveys my thoughts on the subject, too.

However, I also use AA2230C and WC846 (which is all just about the same as H335)...

Forrest

 

[David4516]

I haven't used H335 in .223 or .308, but I have had great results with it in other calibers, .30-30 Winchester in particular. Acutally I just loaded up a batch of .30-30s with H335 last night, I'm trying them with those 110gr Speer JHPs, we'll see how it goes...

 

[rscalzo]

Powder Choices

I use WC844 which is said to be very close to H335 in my 223 (25 grain using a 62 grain FMJ.)These are for general plinking at the range. I use Varget in the match loads using 24.5 gains of Varget and a 69 gain Sierra matchking. These are very accurate.

I also use the WC844 in my Remington 700 308. 41.0 gains of WC844 behind a 168 grain Sierra Matchking. This worked better for me than Varget.