Help me pick some powders!

[Soybomb]

I think this weekend I might go to bass/cabelas and see if I can buy some powder for my first reloads and save a bit on hazmat costs until I decide what I want to buy in bulk. Since I dont know how great their selection will be I'd like to have a list of possible options.

First I'd like a 5.56 load for cheap plinking stuff, I'm thinking H335 or aa2230.

Next I'd like a 5.56 load for accuracy with 75/77 gr bullets, I'm thinking varget or h4895.

Finally I want to work up a hot 10mm round, I'm thinking bluedot, accurate #9, or perhaps unique.

My understanding is varget can be a pain to meter and would be compressed loads at 5.56 velocities. I might do some .38 spl standard pressure loads in the future and unique might be decent for those but blue dot probably wouldn't be so great.

I was planning on getting a bunch of standard winchester or cci primers for each too.

Sound like a good list? Any modifications or additions?

 

[John4me05]

I used 1 of the Reloader powders (yellow front i think 12) before with good success.. 18gr per load with a 45gr tip...

 

[ReloaderFred]

Your list looks pretty good. For my own use, I'd drop the Unique for the hot 10mm loads, but that's just me. The other two powders will do well for that caliber, especially with bullets of 180 grains and heavier, which is what I prefer in the 10mm.

My powder of choice for the .223 is Winchester 748, with 55 grain bullets. It's proven the most accurate in my stable of .223's. I've loaded some with H-335, and it's a good powder, too. I don't load the heavier bullets in that caliber, so I can't help there.

For .38 special, I like Bullseye and Winchester 231, which serve all my needs in that caliber. If I want more power, then I go to a bigger caliber.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[MilsurpShooter]

I enjoy Varget, currently use it for a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington, gun loves it, quarter sized 6 shot group at 100 yards. Reload an 8mm mauser with it too, haven't tested those loads yet.

 

[papajohn]

For the 10mm, unless you're using a pretty long barrel, AA9 may be a bit slow for your needs, and the muzzle flash could be pretty inspiring. If you're into that, have fun, but I think AA7 would be a better choice.

Varget is very useful, it might do just as well as AA2230 for the lighter bullets, you'll just have to try it and see what your gun likes. I'm partial to IMR-4895, and use it in .223, 30-30, 375 Winchester, 35 Remington, and 7.7 Jap. Accuracy in several of those calibers is the best I've ever gotten, and I've been experimenting with various powders for a long time.

Once you decide what powders work best, you can buy them in bulk, and save even more!

PJ

 

[K3]

I like IMR4895 and H335 in .223. I picked up some Win748 and am anxious to try it.

I've been using 700-x for .38spl with 125gr JHPs. Good results thusfar using 4.0gr. I'm thinking about using Blue Dot for some 158gr pills.

 

[RustyFN]

I like W748 and H335 for 223 powder. I have had good results loading up to 62 grain bullets. I don't shoot anything in the 70's because I shoot a 1:9 twist and have heard they won't shoot good in that slow of a twist.
Rusty

 

[jfh]

Another fine powder for 10mm is WSF. Economical, and can push for higher velocities--not a MAX LOAD powder, however.

Jim H.

 

[BsChoy]

For plinking in the 223 I would go to a ball powder cuz if you use a powder drop it falls alot easier than stick. So H335 or the AA powder you mentioned will be great.

Varget is really great for the heavier bullets so I wouldn't hesitate to use that one or H4895 (I currently use that powder for 223 myself).

I have no 10mm experience so I can't speak to that load.

 

[evan price]

I like Varget for every purpose .223- it is very clean and it measures very well in my Lyman 55.

As far as your 10mm I might look into HS-6; I have not used it but they say it is great in 10mm (I don;t own a 10mm myself).

I load .40 S&W with Titegroup 4.7 gr. I like the powder- 6.0 of Titegroup under a 180 TC would hit the spot I would think.

 

[bluetopper]

For 10mm I'll recommend Titegroup, Universal, HS6 or Power Pistol.

 

[papajohn]

I've burned a lot of Power Pistol in the 40, but I gave it up because of the horrid muzzle flash. I have to believe it would only be worse in the 10mm!

PJ

 

[nitesite]

I like Accurate #7 in 10mm for moderately stiff loads but my 10mm barrel is just barely under 4.0".

In my 20" AR .223 rifle, I use a lot of Varget but I really like H322 very much. It meters much easier than other extruded stick powders. It's cut very short. If you want a picture of it let me know. H322 is one of Hodgdon's Extreme Powders so it doesn't get spikey if your ammo gets really hot in the sun, nor does it get anemic in really cold temps. Also, Hodgdons data for all their Extreme powders (Varget is one of them, too) was developed without the use of magnum primers.

Make sure if you have a long barrel AR that you use a slower powder.

In .38-Special are you going to shoot lead or plated or jacketed? Unique is wonderful for any of them if you load to full-pressure. Titegroup isn't too lead friendly but is a very accurate .38 powder. Bullseye is also a good powder for .38-Special.

 

[nitesite]

 

[steve4102]

For easy metering and easy on the wallet give these a try in you 223.


X-Terminator
X-Terminator is a double-based, spherical powder that is designed for the high volume, .223 varmint hunter who demands a clean burning powder. X-Terminator will not bridge going into the small diameter necks of the .22 centerfire calibers and produces excellent velocities.

Ideal Calibers:
.222 Rem, .223 Rem, and .22 Bench rest calibers

Bulk Density (grams/liter) 985

Packaged in 1lb. and 8lb. containers.




Our ballistics department is in the process of proofing the data to be posted on the Ramshot website. Please feel free to email ([email protected]) or call toll free at 1-800-497-1007 to receive a free Ramshot Load Guide. Thank you for your patience.

Notice: The handler should always double check powder loads when using a low charge weight powder such as Ramshot Zip. Safe loading practice recommends a case loading block be used to insure the loading procedure progresses in a consistent manner.


TAC
Ramshot TAC is a versatile rifle powder that performs well in a number of different calibers. TAC has the ability to provide some of the industry's highest velocities for 80 grain bullets in the .223 caliber while maintaining SAAMI pressure guidelines. TAC is a double-based powder providing for ease of metering and consistent charge weights.

Ideal Calibers:
.223 Rem, 308 Win

Bulk Density (grams/liter) 985

Packaged in 1lb. and 8lb. containers.






Our ballistics department is in the process of proofing the data to be posted on the Ramshot website. Please feel free to email ([email protected]) or call toll free at 1-800-497-1007 to receive a free Ramshot Load Guide. Thank you for your patience.

Notice: The handler should always double check powder loads when using a low charge weight powder such as Ramshot Zip. Safe loading practice recommends a case loading block be used to insure the loading procedure progresses in a consistent manner.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you want hot 10mm rounds then I suggest using Longshot. I'm sure you will like Longshot for not only your 10mm rounds but if you load 40 S&W, it works great in those too. (and 9mm rounds)

I see HS-6 recommended above and I agree. HS-6 will produce almost top velocity rounds and do so with a minimal amount of flash.

Power Pistol will work well in your 10mm too but the flash is terrible.

As for .38 Special rounds, I now use only W231. It's a good clean powder and it produces accurate ammo. You can use W231 for very light target ammo all the way up to fairly hot rounds too. It's a great powder IMO. (BTW, Hodgdon HP-38 is the same powder)

 

[Bigdooger]

I agree with ArchAngelCD when it comes to Longshot and 10mm or 40 S&W. It is my favorite powder for both of those rounds.

Longshot does seem to prefer the lighter bullets, however. Notably the 135gr and the 150gr. With those you can eclipse virtually any other powder velocities without going near the maximum load. Out of my 6" 10mm EAA Hunter I chrony 1589fps with 135gr Nosler JHP and 11.8 grains of Longshot.

I use HS-6 with the heavier bullets.

Make sure you have a fully supported chamber if loading 40 S&W with Longshot... and approach Maximum loads slowly and carefully. With my Para-Ordnance and 135gr Noslers I needed to beef up the recoil spring to 20lb at 11.6 grains as the slde began to hammer back too hard. 11.7 grains seemed OK, but at 11.8 grains the cases threatened to burst. You could see a definite ridge where the feed ramp started. I wound up pulling the 11.8's and now stick with 11.6's HODGDON LISTS MAXIMUM LOAD AT 12 GRAINS with 135gr JHP's