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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Powder for 223/556 (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 7/28/2013 12:04:31 PM EDT
| I am new to reloading and i was wondering what are the powders used for .223/556 reloading? I know for 300 AAC BO what they are since i started researching that first but i dont know which are used for 223/556. |
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For Alliant: http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?gtypeid=2
For Norma: http://www.norma.cc/en/Ammunition-Academy/Loading-Data/223-Remington/ For Hogdon/IMR: http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp etc etc I have had good luck with alliant powders... Using 1200R for 55gr and the norma 203B (Like reloder 15, I'd use it if I could find it...) for the 68 and 77gr match projectiles... |
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Right now it really depends on what powder you can find.
I carry a reloading manual with me to supply store to check what they have in powder/bullets against load data in manual. Takes a little longer to shop when researching while selecting, but that's the only way I can make sure to get the right stuff from what they have in stock. My favorites in order: H335, IMR3031, IMR4895, AA2230. |
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Something not mentioned...we don't know what your reloading setup is, and if you're hand weighing each charge or using a powder measure of some kind.
Ball or spherical powders tend to meter better than others in powder measures typically used. YMMV, as always... Here's my personal .223 powder list - note I'm not an expert .223 reloader, but it may save you some time through the combined wisdom and advise from others..personally, I'm using TAC and X-Terminator mostly.. TAC Xterminator CFE223 IMR 8208 XBR BLC2 Win 748 H335, backup of surplus wc844 - approx. same win 748 = BLC-2 = backup of surplus wc846 , approx. same powders Benchmark AA2230 VV N135 |
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Heavy bullets 69+ get hand trickled individually weighed loads of Varget.
Plinkers get CFE223 with every 10th drop of powder tossed on the scale. Would like to run some TAC, R15, and about 20 others powders to test whenever the rest of you guys stop buying it all up. 
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| I choose based on the bullet weight, velocities, safety margin, and powder availability. I have used many of the ones recommended, including W748, VV N140, BLC2, H4895, If I had my druthers and the powder was available, I'd pick CFE, because it seems to be a great powder and reduces copper fouling. Just look in your reloading manuals, and go from there. I like powders which can do multiple calibers. |
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Quoted: Yeah ive been reading the ABC's not done yet, also took a quick peek at the lymans manual where i saw the loading for 223. Just wanted to have an idea since im new to all of this stuff, going through a lot of info at the moment.  |
| hi lots of powders to choose out there get Lyman 49 Edition or Modern Reloading by Richard Lee i am new to .223 reloading just finished some small batches to test group sizes using IMR4895 and VIT N140 at 100 yards on 3/8/13 when i say new to reloading i mean just on .223 been reloading .308w .303 british .38/.357 mag for about 35 years great hobby always looking for that perfect load. |
| Theres alot of good options out there. Id say that Varget is probobly one of the more recent powders that has ( in my opinion ) become one of the powders that has set the standard to be used as a powder for reloading 5.56 to be shot in the AR's. Theres alot of talk about it not metering well. I just loaded 1000 rounds of it on my single stage Hornady press using my Hornady volumetric powder measurer and they all measured out within .1 of a grain. Not bad for a volumetric powder measurer regardless of what powder your using. |
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Yeah i seem to get a lot of recommendations for Varget as well. Also i see here lot of you use TAC which apparently works for both light and heavy grains.
I'll definitely will be using mostly low grains for plinking and later get into other stuff as i progress, want to somewhat keep it simple at first to get the hang of it. Also will be reloading 300 AAC and 30.06 so i need to get powders for those as well. Appreciate the input fellas, for someone like me a beginner recommendations are good to have an idea and compare to the books and also see what people mostly used from experience since i lack in that department, although i know a lot of times is about preference but at times you will get recommendations for the same powder several times like Varget. Thanks again, appreciate the help. I am thinking of getting the Hornady book before i start loading, what do you guys think about that book for load data and stuff? |
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Quoted:
Yeah i seem to get a lot of recommendations for Varget as well. Varget is one of the LAST powders I'd use for .223. There's at least 10 easier powders to work with in front of it. Varget must just be the Monkye see, Monkey do powder of the Reloading world. TAC is good if you're willing to run a Ball Powder. I ran it for years. But you can get the metering characteristics of ball with all the upsides of extruded with several powders... including XBR, Benchmark, and H322. For a chrome lined blaster... Any ball but H335 (too flashy and hot). For nicer barrels... extruded all the way. |
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Quoted:
Im definitely inclining towards the TAC, just making an example of the Varget though. Even more insane than Varget is IMR 4064.... Good powder but..... That stuff is like grains of rice... And I've found it used in sloppy ass garbage reloads dropped in the desert... with 55 grain FMJ bullets?? I'm talking damaged primers 2/3 seated on brass that the crimp wasn't removed... and the moron used 4064??? 
How this ammo ever made it out to the range to be fired is beyond me... Helen Keller could load better. And to add stupid to retardation, the moron picked the worst metering powder possible.  There are some really stupid idiots out there playing "Mr. Reloader" 
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Quoted:
Varget is one of the LAST powders I'd use for .223. There's at least 10 easier powders to work with in front of it. Varget must just be the Monkye see, Monkey do powder of the Reloading world. TAC is good if you're willing to run a Ball Powder. I ran it for years. But you can get the metering characteristics of ball with all the upsides of extruded with several powders... including XBR, Benchmark, and H322. For a chrome lined blaster... Any ball but H335 (too flashy and hot). For nicer barrels... extruded all the way. Quoted:
Quoted:
Yeah i seem to get a lot of recommendations for Varget as well. Varget is one of the LAST powders I'd use for .223. There's at least 10 easier powders to work with in front of it. Varget must just be the Monkye see, Monkey do powder of the Reloading world. TAC is good if you're willing to run a Ball Powder. I ran it for years. But you can get the metering characteristics of ball with all the upsides of extruded with several powders... including XBR, Benchmark, and H322. For a chrome lined blaster... Any ball but H335 (too flashy and hot). For nicer barrels... extruded all the way. There is nothing hard or imprecise about loading Varget for 223 with a properly tuned powder measure. There are a LOT of hard holders that shoot highpower that use Varget and for good reason - it shoots very well and very consistently regardless of temperature. When your are shooting a leg match with iron sights and no sighters are allowed, knowing your sight dope will not change regardless of temperature is very important. Weather at the National Matches at Camp Perry can be 100 degrees one day and 75 degrees with rain the next. Most of the ball powders are too temperature sensitive to be useful in that arena. |
Don't forget WC844 military surplus. Works wonderful with 55, 62 grainers and meters like water. It is basically equivalent to H335 but work up your loads as burning rates differ slightly. Used to be much less expensive than H335 but lately has been closer in price. Its also hard to find right now. When it comes up for sale do as i do and buy several jugs. 
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Quoted:
There is nothing hard or imprecise about loading Varget for 223 with a properly tuned powder measure. There are a LOT of hard holders that shoot highpower that use Varget and for good reason - it shoots very well and very consistently regardless of temperature. Quoted:
There is nothing hard or imprecise about loading Varget for 223 with a properly tuned powder measure. There are a LOT of hard holders that shoot highpower that use Varget and for good reason - it shoots very well and very consistently regardless of temperature. Those guys are using NICE Powder throws.. Herrells, etc. When your are shooting a leg match with iron sights and no sighters are allowed, knowing your sight dope will not change regardless of temperature is very important. Weather at the National Matches at Camp Perry can be 100 degrees one day and 75 degrees with rain the next. Most of the ball powders are too temperature sensitive to be useful in that arena.
I agree on the ball powder... but for 223, there's much easier extreme powders like H322 and Benchmark. XBR claims stability too... I'm talking the average guy trying to load NON-Match ammo. Why bother with Varget?? I don't get it. Now if someone is shooting a developed load and they are running Varget, by all means.... Crap!! I sat in front of my Charge master for over 100 rounds of Varget stuffed.308 yesterday. It's good powder.
Just not a smart choice for bulk/practice/Ball ammo. |
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Quoted:
Those guys are using NICE Powder throws.. Herrells, etc. I agree on the ball powder... but for 223, there's much easier extreme powders like H322 and Benchmark. XBR claims stability too... I'm talking the average guy trying to load NON-Match ammo. Why bother with Varget?? I don't get it. Now if someone is shooting a developed load and they are running Varget, by all means.... Crap!! I sat in front of my Charge master for over 100 rounds of Varget stuffed.308 yesterday. It's good powder.
Just not a smart choice for bulk/practice/Ball ammo. Quoted:
Quoted:
There is nothing hard or imprecise about loading Varget for 223 with a properly tuned powder measure. There are a LOT of hard holders that shoot highpower that use Varget and for good reason - it shoots very well and very consistently regardless of temperature. Those guys are using NICE Powder throws.. Herrells, etc. When your are shooting a leg match with iron sights and no sighters are allowed, knowing your sight dope will not change regardless of temperature is very important. Weather at the National Matches at Camp Perry can be 100 degrees one day and 75 degrees with rain the next. Most of the ball powders are too temperature sensitive to be useful in that arena.
I agree on the ball powder... but for 223, there's much easier extreme powders like H322 and Benchmark. XBR claims stability too... I'm talking the average guy trying to load NON-Match ammo. Why bother with Varget?? I don't get it. Now if someone is shooting a developed load and they are running Varget, by all means.... Crap!! I sat in front of my Charge master for over 100 rounds of Varget stuffed.308 yesterday. It's good powder.
Just not a smart choice for bulk/practice/Ball ammo. I am using an old Redding powder measure. It worked well with both Varget and IMR-4064 before I cleaned and waxed it. Now it is amazingly smooth. There have been many posts in this forum where tuning up Redding and RCBS measures has been discussed. dryflash has posted directions on how to make a powder baffle out of brass or copper. You can pick up used measures cheaply here on ARF or gunbroker or fleabay. My measure will still cut a grain occasionally but it has no effect on charge uniformity. IMO life is too short to weigh powder charges except for load development, where it takes more time to adjust the powder measure than to measure four of five charges by hand. |
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W748- 55gr blasting loads... Meters great but temp sensitive. Also use it in my "blasting" M1 Garand loads.
Varget- Works well near max with 69gr SMK's. Polished up my dillon powder measure and it meters just fine. Within .1 grain. Ramshot TAC- Just scored 8lbs of this stuff! Published 5.56 data from the manufacturer. Just loaded up some test loads this evening with Nosler 77gr OTM's with cannulure. Well see how they shoot this week! Meters best out of the three!
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Quoted:
W748- 55gr blasting loads... Meters great but temp sensitive. Also use it in my "blasting" M1 Garand loads. Varget- Works well near max with 69gr SMK's. Polished up my dillon powder measure and it meters just fine. Within .1 grain. Ramshot TAC- Just scored 8lbs of this stuff! Published 5.56 data from the manufacturer. Just loaded up some test loads this evening with Nosler 77gr OTM's with cannulure. Well see how they shoot this week! Meters best out of the three!Good to know! Waiting for some powder and primers to come back instock so i can start stocking!! |
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It really is interesting to see all the different powders that people use for .223. Honestly, I've not tried VV powders, or 8208 yet. I had seen the powders I use mentioned often, and just went with them, and they give me the accuracy that I think is acceptable. I figured I'd spend years trying to find the perfect powder!
I use H335 and WC-844 for 55 and 62 gr blasting ammo. Re-15 for 52, 69, and 80 gr match loads. IMR4895 for 77 gr match loads (for some reason, 77 Nosler CC's don't pair well with Re-15 in my NM rifle). |
| You guys are lucky when it comes to finding stuff locally. Here in Miami, FL i cant find shit, everything has to be ordered online. Saving some money to make a large order of powders and primers so i can save on the HAZMAT. Still trying to decide which powder to get for the 223/556, i also need something that hopefully can work well for both 30.06 and 300 AAC otherwise i will need 3 different powders from the get go. |
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Quoted: You guys are lucky when it comes to finding stuff locally. Here in Miami, FL i cant find shit, everything has to be ordered online. Saving some money to make a large order of powders and primers so i can save on the HAZMAT. Still trying to decide which powder to get for the 223/556, i also need something that hopefully can work well for both 30.06 and 300 AAC otherwise i will need 3 different powders from the get go. |
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After you figure out which powders you want to try first, check in your hometown forum for a group buy.
We've done that in my neck of the woods to split the hazmat between 3 or more people. Helps quite a bit. Finding something to buy is the hard part these days... As far as my personal favorite powders: 8208XBR CFE223 Re-15 I've never used TAC, but I'd try it too. I do keep Varget around, but it's never my first choice. |
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Yeah tomorrow when i have more time i will research this thread for the suggestions so far and come to a conclusion for which powder for which caliber. HAZMAT is not really an issue because i want to make a large order but still sets me back since i need 3 different powders.
I will check on the home town threads to see if anyone would like to do that. I definitely would love to if it was an option. |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Powder for 223/556 (Page 1 of 2)
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