Which powder for .223 rem plinking?

[Chevota]

The options are huge I suppose. I've tried several including Blue Dot and even Bullseye. The bulls were way low powered but that was the point when I made them. I wasn't trying to make an accurate round, they were for fun and experimentation. Now if you want best accuracy listen to the other guys, but if it's just for fun and saving $ in powder then you have tons of options. RE7 was the best I tried for making close to full power on the cheap. Just my 2cents

 

[spitballer]

Definitely consider IMR 3031. It is fast enough so that it doesn't produce a lot of muzzle upset with the small 22 cal bore. A slower powder wastes a lot of oomph at the muzzle, kind of like a loud Harley.

 

[valleyforge.1777]

I'm using a Dillon XL 650. I've heard that the IMR 3031 does not meter well through the Dillon. Would I need to get one of those chargemaster scale/dispensers to use 3031 for .223 reloading? Someone gave me an 8 pound un-opened keg of 3031 right after the panic started and I've been sitting on it since then.

 

[Trailduster79]

I have used 3031 in the small amount of .223 that I have reloaded for my AR. The powder was somewhat difficult to dispense through my powder feeder.

The rounds have shot well, but can't speak for accuracy as it is a new rifle and I haven't finished sighting it in.

My brother bought me some CFE223 for Christmas, so I will be giving it a try soon.

 

[LeonCarr]

Does the CFE223 actually eliminate copper fouling as advertised?

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[SuedePflow]

I've read that it greatly reduces copper fouling. Users report easier/quicker bore cleaning.

I just bought some CFE223 today for the first time. Just loaded up some test rounds for my next trip to the range. Of all the rifle powders I've used, CFE223 has metered the best through my RCBS Uniflow. Most throws came out dead-on or +/- .02 gr. The largest deviation was .04 gr. Less than a half of a tenth of a grain. I'm looking forward to testing these rounds.

Also loaded up 55gr. test rounds with BLC-2, AA2230, AR-comp, and TAC.

 

[2ndtimer]

It doesn't remove it from a fouled barrel, but if you use it in a clean barrel, it leaves very little fouling. Ramshot Tac is another powder that contains an anti copper fouling agent thst produces very little fouling. I have fired over100 rounds out of my .223 without cleaning with no discernable loss of accuracy when using Tac. CFE-223 is very good, too, and seems best with warmish loads with 55 gr bullets and up.

 

[hentown]

I recently acquired 100#of WC 844, which uses H335 recipes, generally. Great for plinking. I got mine for under $8 per #. If you can find an 8# jug for around $85, you'd be ahead of the game. Several years ago, AA2200 data powder was available @ $48 per 8# jug, delivered. Bought a bunch of that then, but it's all gone now

 

[2ndtimer]

I recently acquired 100#of WC 844, which uses H335 recipes, generally. Great for plinking. I got mine for under $8 per #. If you can find an 8# jug for around $85, you'd be ahead of the game. Several years ago, AA2200 data powder was available @ $48 per 8# jug, delivered. Bought a bunch of that then, but it's all gone now

I am just finishing up my old keg of AA2200. Also had picked up a pair of 8 lb kegs of Ramshot TAC a few years ago for $79.95 each. Should have bought 4 of them.

 

[SuedePflow]

Anybody using AR-comp?

I just scopped up 8 lbs of it. I assumed it was ball powder (didn't do my homework) and it turned out to be chopped extrude (stick). It doesn't seem to run through my RCBS Uniflow very consistantly at all. Most throws are .1 or .2 high or low. Some were even as much as .4gr off of target. I loaded three different sets of 10 rounds to try out and every round requiring trickling to get it accurate.

 

[Matt Dillon]

Has anyone ever tried 55 grain FMJ pull down bullets? My LGS had 1000 for ~$88.00 so I picked up a box.