I'm preparing to reload 7.62X39 and found that my .223/.308 common powder, CFE223, is a no-go for 7.62X39. Comparing the Lee, Speer, Hornady and Lyman manuals I come up with five candidates: Accurate 2230, Hodgdon 322, Hodgdon 335, Hodgdon BL-C(2) and IMR 4895. If anyone here has experience with any of those powders reloading all three calibres, I would be grateful if you would share your recommendations. I will cheerfully endure all questions such as "Why would you want to?" Thanks.
Seeking powders common to .223 Rem, .308 Win & 7.62X39 please
- Thread starter leefan
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KansasSasquatch
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Well you're not going to get optimum performance in all three of those cartidges with any ONE of those powders. You can get great performance in .223 and .308, but you'll get less than great performance in x39. But if I were going to try any of them I'd start with Accurate 2230 or H322. X39 seems to like faster.burning "rifle" powders or "sloooow" pistol powders.
alsaqr
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With the exception of BLC(2) and IMR 4895 i've not used the powders listed in the OP.
Been using IMR 3031 in .223/5.56mm and .308 (with bullets up to 165-168 grains) since the mid 1960s. You will not get the highest velocity with IMR .3031 in the 7.62x39 but it gives me very good accuracy.
Been using IMR 3031 in .223/5.56mm and .308 (with bullets up to 165-168 grains) since the mid 1960s. You will not get the highest velocity with IMR .3031 in the 7.62x39 but it gives me very good accuracy.
KansasSasquatch, thanks for sharing your insight into my question. I didn't look closely at the published performance numbers, but I kinda figured there was no best solution for all three calibres. I'll look for the powders you recommend, but so far all I have found in stock is what you don't recommend, IMR 4895 and H335. Funny how that works. I looked for what powders similarly proportioned cartridges like the 6.5 Grendel use, but that was a dead end with no commonality.
Alsaqr, thanks for replying, and especially for your experience with IMR3031. It doesn't show up in IMR's load data for 7.62X39, or in any of the four manuals I have. But Natchez does have it in stock so I will try me some. I want to use a 123 grain spitzer in the 7.62X39. If you have a recipe for that using the 3031 you're comfortable sharing, I'd appreciate it. I've been reloading for three years, so I'm not real likely to kill myself using it. I'll also cast about on the web to see if anyone has published their load. Thanks again for the lead, it's like trying to duplicate Canes chicken dip without knowing it uses worchestershire sauce and french dressing.
KansasSasquatch
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If you're going to look into other powders, add H4198 and Benchmark to your "look for" list. There's probably a few others too, but I know those two powders have data for your cartridges. What types of actions are you using? If all three cartridges are for bolt or pump actions, you don't have to worry about cycling issues due to burn rates. But if all three are for semi autos you're likely to run into trouble.
jmorris
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For use in both 223 and 308 powders from as fast as 3031 to as slow as TAC seem to be the best for me. That said I have used powders faster and slower for both.
http://www.reloadersnest.com/burnrates.asp
http://www.reloadersnest.com/burnrates.asp
Any of the 4895's, that is IMR 4895, H4895, and AA2495, shoot outstandingly in the 223 and 308 Win. Many matches have been won with this powder series in 223's and 308 Win's. Never tried it in the 7.62 X 39, I only shoot surplus in that caliber.
carbine85
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I use H335 and IMR4895. I favor the IMR4895 for the .223 and .308. I can't remember off hand what I used for the 7.62x39. IMR4895 is my preferred powder for almost all my rifle reloads across the board.
chris in va
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I would have to say 4895 or Varget. I reload x39 155gr lead, 223 and 30-06 Garand and they are the most versatile powders I have come across...when I can find them.
I had a Fly/spin cast rod once it did both poorly. There is a reason there are so many powders.
I use Accurate 1680 and H 4198 for 7.62x39 and Varget and BL-c2 for .308 Win.
You can use Blue Dot for all three, but that doesn't seem right either.
I use Accurate 1680 and H 4198 for 7.62x39 and Varget and BL-c2 for .308 Win.
You can use Blue Dot for all three, but that doesn't seem right either.
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Dr.Zubrato
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Sorry it doesn't answer your question, but the best advice I can give is not to consolidate powder choice, given the powder supply situation diversity is power, and you become more dependent on a powder which you'll find quickly runs out as it serves three rifle calibers.
I wish you the best of luck with your search, and want to say don't settle on a powder that works in all three calibers but isn't very good in any of them.
I wish you the best of luck with your search, and want to say don't settle on a powder that works in all three calibers but isn't very good in any of them.
Kansas Sasquatch, thanks again, I excluded 4198 because my books don't show it for .308. Benchmark I will research. I will be shooting the reloads in a Century C39, which will probably be in hand about the time I locate powder, by which time at my age I may have forgotten all about the project. My experience with rifle powder is limited to CFE223 in .223 and .308, so I have not seen the cycling issue you so kindly warn me of.
Jmorris, thanks for that burn rate link. Hodgdon took their link down and I was just about to go looking for another one. Very informative. CFE223 is not on the list, so I gotta go find a newer one. From what I have read online, what you said works because the ratios of case mouth area to case capacity are similar for both cartridges. I may research that if I get desperate for an in-stock solution.
SlamFire1, that is good to know about those powders. I'll dig a little deeper online, but my books don't list them for the 7.62X39. I spit coffee on the screen while reading your post as I flashed on how my crappy shooting would become "outstanding" with if I reloaded with those powders, though.
Chris in Va, interesting about the Varget, thanks. More searching to do and maybe designing a sixth grade science fair project to test it. But as you say, the hardest part may be finding it. Typically, I didn't realize how stupid my question was until I read all the learned responses here. I did everything backward. Bought reloadable factory ammo to see variations in bullets and OAL. Ordered the Lee turret and trimmer parts I need. Ordered two kinds of spitzers. And only then, after thinking "powder will not be an issue", went from brilliant to stupid.
Toprudder
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Don't kick yourself, its not a stupid question. 
Its no different than a "what is the best pistol powder" question. There are some that work well enough across a lot of calibers, and there are some that work better in just a few calibers. Lots of variables.
Its no different than a "what is the best pistol powder" question. There are some that work well enough across a lot of calibers, and there are some that work better in just a few calibers. Lots of variables.
Joneb, excellent advice, thanks. I really want to avoid having two rifle powders, like I would avoid having two wives. Or even three, heaven forfend. It is bad enough thinking about remetering and retesting to change to only one new powder, I think doing that for two or more would take all the fun out of reloading. I am really spoiled by the ability to use Titegroup for the seven pistol calibres I reload, and naively thought I could do the same with rifle.
Dr, Zubrato, you did answer the question, and most gently, I thought. But simple minds seek simple solutions. So though you didn't quite say it, I will remember "Diversity is pow(d)er(s)." And when you said "don't settle on a powder that works in all three calibers but isn't very good in any of them" I wanted to generalize to "don't settle on a spouse that works in all three marital functions but isn't very good in any of them." Tumbling into Dunning-Kruger Effect mode early has worked well for me all my life.
So I will buy a pound each of the powders most often recommended by the kind responders here. My wife can always sell them in my estate sale, along with the other embodiments of my madness.
So I will buy a pound each of the powders most often recommended by the kind responders here. My wife can always sell them in my estate sale, along with the other embodiments of my madness.
Excellent. Been looking for this type of info for awhile
Toprudder, you are too kind. Let me tell you a story about stupid. When I decided to start reloading, I went to CowBellahs to see what they had. Most prominent pistol powder and most deeply stocked was Titegroup. Must be the one! Hodgdon had loads for all seven pistol calibres I have, so I never dug any deeper into the subject. And my recipes kinda-sorta match factory loads. Where the stupid comes in is that now Titegroup might as well be brand-named Unicorn. And after I finish my 7.62X39 project the next one is to find Bigfoot Perfect Pistol powder.
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