Loading 223's/5.56's for AR-15

[grandpawj]

I am interested in loading for my AR-15. I have used about 2 pounds of Benchmark for both my Weatherby 223 and for my AR-15. It is a little pricey and also sometimes difficult to find. I have 8 lbs of IMR 4064 it isn't listed in my Hornady 9th, but in almost all bullet wts in my Lyman 49th. I am just wondering how well it works as compared to the Benchmark. I am interested in also trying CFE 223, but ain't got none of that right now. Just askin' for opinions. Thanks for any input.

 

[Jmoreno88]

Cant help you with the other powders but I get great results with CFE223 when you decide to go that route

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

 

[kcofohio]

I too, have not used the powders you have on hand. CFE223, H335, and BL-C (2) have worked well for me. Just thought I would throw those options in the ring.

Also, you could check out Hodgdon's site for 4064 load data.
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

 

[[email protected]]

Accurate 2230 or ramshot xterminator, H322 if you want a stick powder. WC844 or WC846 if you go the surplus route. Midsouth Shooters Supply has CFE 223 in stock.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have been using H335 for all my AR .223 ammo and it works well. It's a ball powder so it meters great and accuracy is acceptable.

 

[Load Master]

I use a lot of H-335 and like it. I also like IMR-4198 with 55 grain or less bullets. For the same velocity and bullet the IMR-4198 is softer shooting compared to H-335 if that matters to you. Truth be told, .223Rem has many great powders to be used on the market.

 

[Reloadron]

I am interested in loading for my AR-15. I have used about 2 pounds of Benchmark for both my Weatherby 223 and for my AR-15. It is a little pricey and also sometimes difficult to find. I have 8 lbs of IMR 4064 it isn't listed in my Hornady 9th, but in almost all bullet wts in my Lyman 49th. I am just wondering how well it works as compared to the Benchmark. I am interested in also trying CFE 223, but ain't got none of that right now. Just askin' for opinions. Thanks for any input.

Well since you have 8 lbs of IMR-4064 may as well start with that. No, the Hornady 9th Edition does not mention IMR-4064 for loading .223 Winchester or 5.56 NATO but Hodgdon does list it and you do mot mention a bullet weight? Anyway the Hodgdon load data can be found here. Just as an example using a 69 gn bullet:


IMR IMR 4064 DIA: .224" C.O.A.L. 2.235" Start: 22.5gn. Velocity: 2,690FPS Pressure: 42,200 PSI Maximum Load: 24.0 gn.C(Compressed Load) Velocity: 2,872FPS Pressure: 50,900 PSI

Anyway, if you are looking to use IMR-4064 there is plenty of load data on the Hodgdon site I linked to. I never used it but have had some good loads using IMR -4895 so good luck with the IMR-4064.

Ron

 

[stavman11]

I use H335/CFE223 and WC844 and love em all

Also a Dogtown HP or varmageddon HP are very very accurate.. way more, for me, than any FMJ

Good Luck, be safe,and have fun

 

[Macinudo]

I've had great luck with Benchmark so far. Very clean in my are with very good accuracy. 25 grains seems to be the sweet spot.

 

[WiTom]

I load 24.8 grains of Benchmark for my AR and my mini 14s', with great success. Have went through 16 lbs of it so far and and just picked up another 8 lbs. from Recob. I have 3 lbs. of CFE-223, but haven't got around to using any of it yet.

 

[2ndtimer]

I have used IMR-4064 in the .223 in both bolts and AR's. It is a little slower burning than optimal, and the longer kernals of powder don't meter very well or flow easily through the .22 cal. opening in the case, but it is decently accurate and works well with 55 gr bullets and heavier. I much prefer Ramshot TAC, Accurate 2230, 2200 or 2460 or Ramshot Xterminator. I have also had good results from H-335 and Benchmark. Honestly, the only powder I had disappointing results from was H-4198. Poor velocity and accuracy, yet many others claim the opposite, so I guess my rifle at the time just didn't like it.
For me, I save my IMR-4064 for my .308 Win and 6.5x55 and use TAC for my .223's. Good to have 8 lb kegs of both.

 

[grandpawj]

Thanks for your input fellas. So I think I shall either stay with Benchmark (for which I have already worked up loads) or go to CFE223. The reloading store ain't but about 30 miles away. And I prolly need to buy a new scope, more primers, additional powders, and a slow hour stroll through all the stock on the shelves looking for items to tell the wife I want for Christmas.

 

[Beach Bum]

I have been very happy with the results of both CFE 223 and CFE pistol .
Also Ramshot tac for my 223 is very good

 

[Jethro1200]

I have had some success with CFE223 but it seemed to have a lot of speed variation. I carefully loaded some rounds with CFE223 and over a chrono the SD was really wide. I wondered if maybe ball powder just didn't burn as consistently as stick powder. The same day we shot the CFE223 a friend had reloaded with a stick powder(don't remember the name) in mass on a Dillion and his SD was very tight. So at the risk of hi jacking this thread is that a 5.56 problem or does stick burn more consistently than ball?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

From what I'm told the best accuracy won't be found with a ball powder. That said you told us the SD numbers were wild but not how the accuracy was. Sometimes ammo with triple digit SD numbers will produce the best accuracy. I don't know why but it does happen.

 

[bandw1dth]

When I was working up a load using H335 and 55gr FMJBTs, I initially had a very wide SD when I ran them over the chrono. After having listened to a few episodes on what Jeremy from the Reloading Podcast does for his F Class loads I decided to sort by case volume as I was already sorting by head stamp. Just by doing that one extra step my SD dropped significantly. Sorting by case volume is way too time consuming to do for plinking ammunition, but for hunting or if your looking for those dime size groups it's something that I've found to drop the SD.

 

[hdwhit]

At one point in time, I used whatever I could get my hands on to fill my .223 Remington loads. IMR-4198, IMR-3031, IMR4064, IMR-4895 all worked for me. I ended up settling on IMR-4198 for most loads because 20.3 grains under a Hornady 60 grain bullet would get me 2,850 fps out of my Mini-14 with good accuracy out to about 225 yards (the farthest open space I had available to me at the time) whereas the other IMR powders all took closer to 25 grains and that meant an additional 50 or so rounds per pound.

 

[entropy]

You have the 4064 already, use that. I made some loads up with the dregs from a pound I used up on 7.62x54R, and I was impressed. My main powder for .223 is BL-C(2). I made some loads for my son's AR with Power Pro Varmint that impressed me also.

 

[grandpawj]

Now I am kinda swinging back to Benchmark. It meters well but is still a stick powder. Sometimes I think we tend to stay with a recipe we originally started with simply because of its familiarity to us. If that makes sense. Right now using the Benchmark in my 223 Rem load for the Weatherby my pattern is about nickel size at 100 yds.

Hornady 60 gr V-Max
Benchmark 21.8 grain
Round OAL 2.25 inches
Muzzle velocity approx. 3000 fps

Though I use the same round for the AR-15 I haven't done as much accuracy testing for it.