H380 for .223?

[The Car Doctor]

While I was growing, up my grandpa's load for .223 was 28 grains of H380 and a 55 grain bullet. My older reloading books list H380 for .223, but I can't find any modern sources for the same load. Is it because they have come out with powders more suited for .223? Should I pick up some new powder or just stick with the H380? It's being shot in a mini-14.

 

[rcmodel]

You can do a lot better.

Hodgdon does not list H-380 with any bullet weight in the .223.
And that right there is a Clue it isn't a real good powder choice.

I think you can get 200+ FPS more velocity with several other powders.
And the pressure curve would be better suited to a gas operated semi-auto.

rc

 

[45lcshooter]

I've put, H380 in 223 to use up the powder. It functioned fine, just as well as IMR 4895. I didn't think the imr 4895 would do well in the semi because of it being stick powder, but shot just as well as h380. I also use h380 in larger cartridges with no problems.

 

[cwbys4evr]

I have a Hodgdon reloading magazine I just bought at Cabelas. When I get home I will look through it and post any pertinent data

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Mobuck]

H380 is on the slow side of the burn rate for use in .223. While you can use it, there are many better choices such as H335.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

IMR 4007SSC, H414, and Winchester 760 are all slower than H380, and Hodgdon has data for all three of them using 90gr bullets in .223. I imagine H380 would probably be useful in .223 with 80-90gr bullets, but rcmodel is probably right about having a weird pressure curve for a semi auto. But if I were really desperate to use the H380 in .223 I'd probably give Hodgdon a call and see if they have any helpful data. Chances are its still the same formula your grandpa used but it wouldn't hurt to double check.