Powders that will cycle a mini 14.

[CoalCrackerAl]

Im out of varget and IMR 4895. Im going to my LGS then to see what he has. I saw some loads in my books that are around 17-20 grains. Reloader 7 was one and IMR 4198. Not sure the faster powders will generate enough gas to cycle the mini. My LGS did have the reloader 7 last time i was there.

 

[Ironicaintit]

4198 is the fastest powder I've used in mine, with 55gr loaded near/at/over max (depending on which books ya read), and it cycled with gusto.

 

[Misplacedtexan]

TAC should work fine. Or try AR comp.

 

[N555]

I tried reloader7 it don't cycle a mini14.
H322 cycles the mini and they are really accurate. Usually for best accuracy you want to be some where around the start load with H322.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/eureka-the-mini14-load.905708/

After i observed that cfe223 is really close in burn speed to w760 and leverevolution. I loaded up some 5.56mm hand loads with a 69gr bullet loaded with leverevolution and some with W760. These were awesome in the AR15A2, but shot like 5moa and recoiled the mini harshly, ejected the cases like 30'.

 

[AJC1]

I second tac that's what my dad loaded with 75 Hornaday no issue.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Im making a list.

 

[AJC1]

Im making a list.

If you look at 223 service rifle loads that's all going to work.

 

[jmorris]

What can you get and what are you loading with?

I’d probably try and find something inside the red.



W748, TAC, x-terminator have been my top 3 for progressive loading.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I wont know what i can get until i get to the shop. Im loading Magtech 55 grain bullets from RMR.

 

[jmorris]

I wont know what i can get until i get to the shop. Im loading Magtech 55 grain bullets from RMR.

The “what are you loading with” question is really more from a powder standpoint. Measures in general don’t really like extruded “stick” powders and much prefer spherical or “ball”. If you are trickling or counting the kernels, it won’t matter.

I was given a keg of 3031 years ago and the extrusions were longer than they are now. It actually metered better than I thought it would in Dillon measures but bridged over the case mouth (vs dropping in) with some consistency. Made for lowering the case from the powder charge and it spills all over the place. That gets old almost instantly.

In any case, those are in the right burn rate range.

 

[AJC1]

The “what are you loading with” question is really more from a powder standpoint. Measures in general don’t really like extruded “stick” powders and much prefer spherical or “ball”. If you are trickling or counting the kernels, it won’t matter.

I was given a keg of 3031 years ago and the extrusions were longer than they are now. It actually metered better than I thought it would in Dillon measures but bridged over the case mouth (vs dropping in) with some consistency. Made for lowering the case from the powder charge and it spills all over the place. That gets old almost instantly.

In any case, those are in the right burn rate range.

I already measure every charge, but if I was using a measure a fine ball like ramshot uses works great. I actually prefer extruded.

 

[LiveLife]

if I was using a measure a fine ball like ramshot uses works great.

I like H335 for .223 ... Another ball powder that meters well.

Im out of varget and IMR 4895. Im going to my LGS then to see what he has.

From Same/Comparable powders thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-under-different-labels.890893/#post-12318114

- Hodgdon 4895 and IMR 4895
- IMR 4895 and Accurate 2495?
- Hodgdon Varget and Accurate 4064/Alliant RL15/IMR 4064?
- Hodgdon Varget and Shooters World Precision Rifle
- Hodgdon Varget and Lovex S062-01

 

[N555]

I have found W760 works well in ARs with heavier bullets like 69gr, but leverevolution was better.
Both were exceptionally terrible in the mini14, add a silencer and it may be catastrophic.

For mini14 I would want to try faster single base powers like imr3031.

 

[243winxb]

IMR 4198

Will not produce the top velocities, like some slower powders.

Worked for me in Mini-14, M16A1 Carbine & Armalite AR-180, with Win. 55 gr fmjbt bullets. (Have a 6.5 Creedmoor lite load also) There is Old IMR data (1999) for many other cartridges.

Just bought 8 lbs of it.

Makes more rounds per pound of powder then slower burn rate powders. Great accuracy with match grade bullets, when powder is hand weighed.

Will meter about like the IMR 4895.

Internet-

Hodgdon is rainsing prices effective 9/1/2022
8/30 update...the price increases affect mainly the IMR product line with range up to 16%.
Remember that some IMR branded powders are made in Australia @ ADI. Trail Boss, IMR 4227, and 8208 are the ones off the top my head.

Hodgdon has discontinued the following powders moving forward:
IMR4166 / IMR4451 / IMR4955 / IMR7977 / IMR8133

And others. Red,Blue,Green, Target.

Click on powder, reads Discontinued- https://shop.hodgdon.com/search.php?search_query=Discontinued Look for *This product was discontinued in 2022*

 

[Rule3]

I do not think there is any "powder specific" for 5.56 in the Mini 14.(or AR15)
If there is load data for the bullet it will work. There are to many to list!
It is matter of what you can find.

Take your manual with you to the store

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center?rdc=true&type=54

 

[Bfh_auto]

What can you get and what are you loading with?

I’d probably try and find something inside the red.

View attachment 1100244

W748, TAC, x-terminator have been my top 3 for progressive loading.

That's not many options

 

[Bronco72]

Copy jmorris's list and take that to the lgs ! Easiest way and probably the most complete list. Also take your loading manual OR research them on the puter before you go. Can eliminate a few that way. I'm just sayin, IMHO

 

[Rule3]

Copy jmorris's list and take that to the lgs ! Easiest way and probably the most complete list. Also take your loading manual OR research them on the puter before you go. Can eliminate a few that way. I'm just sayin, IMHO

Just bring your phone, bookmark it. But that just shows relative burn rate, not if it is even tested in a 556//223

https://hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/burn-rate-color.pdf

 

[N555]

Top velocity loads loaded anywhere near full speed seem to be good for 4 to 6moa in a typical mini14.
Select powders are shooting closer to 2moa.
I have only had my mini14 for about 24 years, I never found a full power 5.56mm load that gave good accuracy. The funny thing was I had the answer all along but never tried it till like 2 years ago, I bought H322 about 20 years ago because it was really cheap to load 30-30 plinking rounds and it never occurred to try it in the mini14.

Reloaded7 would likely cycle a mini14 with a silencer.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

These are the groups im getting with Varget at 100 yards. I don't know how many MOA it is.

 

[N555]

I say any group like that made up of 5 or more shots is pretty good for a mini14.
A minute of angle is approximately 1.05 inches at 100 yards or about 1 inch and 1mm or about 1 and 1/16th of an inch.
Most people just round it to 1 inch per hundred yards.

 

[EricBu]

Im out of varget and IMR 4895. Im going to my LGS then to see what he has. I saw some loads in my books that are around 17-20 grains. Reloader 7 was one and IMR 4198. Not sure the faster powders will generate enough gas to cycle the mini. My LGS did have the reloader 7 last time i was there.

Shooter's World Precision Rifle will reproduce your Varget loads, pretty darn close. For something that will work, just about all of the usual suspects in the powders commonly used for .223 will cycle your gun without issue. I think RL7 isn't great, it's more a slow pistol powder than a rifle powder, while it works good in things like 50 BW, it's not a great .223 powder. RL15 though...that's a good one, and will cycle your gun no problem. 335 and 322 will also run your gun with authority.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I was reading a gun magazine from the early 1960s - don't remember which one - they commented that the earliest 223 rounds were factory loaded with 4198. They didn't mention which.

They soon changed to H335 (or the Winchester version of it) to get more velocity. They couldn't fit enough extruded powder in the case to get the desired velocity.

Not to mention that 335 is several steps slower than 4198...

 

[ParallelCode]

Top velocity loads loaded anywhere near full speed seem to be good for 4 to 6moa in a typical mini14.
Select powders are shooting closer to 2moa.
I have only had my mini14 for about 24 years, I never found a full power 5.56mm load that gave good accuracy. The funny thing was I had the answer all along but never tried it till like 2 years ago, I bought H322 about 20 years ago because it was really cheap to load 30-30 plinking rounds and it never occurred to try it in the mini14.

Reloaded7 would likely cycle a mini14 with a silencer.

I've always heard great things regarding accuracy with H322 in 223. Additionally, I surprised to find out it's an extruded powder. I'd like to try it myself at some point.

 

[1KPerDay]

Minis are pretty "confidently" gassed. I'd be surprised if any reasonable load of any reasonable powder wouldn't cycle one.