Powder for .223 - Page 1

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Posted: 8/27/2015 10:59:01 PM EDT

I was looking at h335 powder but I hear it won't produce as high of velocity as other powders. I will be using a 62 gr bullet. What would be the "best" powder. I am just getting into reloading and looking forward to it.

Posted: 8/27/2015 11:14:30 PM EDT

[#1]

While still new my self I start here: http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/ when looking for new loads.

Posted: 8/27/2015 11:20:08 PM EDT

[#2]

H-335 is a fine powder with a 62 gr, might get a little more speed out of cfe223, or one of the 4895's, or 748, still 335 is hard to beat.

Posted: 8/27/2015 11:20:54 PM EDT

[#3]

H335 is pretty darn close to the powder used by the military for the 55gr M193 load. I think it will do just fine for you with your 62gr bullets. Just use good load data, start low, and work you way up.

You will find out pretty soon that you don't have to have "max velocity" and that sometimes you get a better shooting load at something a bit lower than max.

Posted: 8/27/2015 11:31:43 PM EDT

[#4]

Just because you can get higher velocity with a certain powder doesn't mean you will get good groups there. If you are chasing velocity you are going to need a few different powders to try, and possibly a few different bullets to find one that likes the max or near max velocity. I do this more than I care to admit, and most of the time it's more of a headache than it's worth.

For me when loading .223 I'm picking either Tac or CFE223. I like to use ball powders when loading high volume batches.

Posted: 8/27/2015 11:42:56 PM EDT

[#5]

I like Varget for the heavies (77/80/90SMKs) and recently tried AA2015 with outstanding results for the lighter 55g SBKs.

I load well above published loads for the heavies (long range velocity) and at the low end for the lights (short range velocity)

Posted: 8/27/2015 11:59:31 PM EDT

[#6]

Lots of good powders for 223, H335 is one of them, I use AA2460, but right now a lot of it boils down to what can you get? Still a powder shortage going on, it can be hard to find exactly what you want.

Posted: 8/28/2015 12:24:01 AM EDT

[#7]

Check out 223CFE,8208BRX,Reloader10X.

Posted: 8/28/2015 12:50:44 AM EDT

[#8]

I will take this list to my bass pro and see what they have saves me haz mat shipping.

Posted: 8/28/2015 1:40:22 AM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
H-335 is a fine powder with a 62 gr, might get a little more speed out of cfe223, or one of the 4895's, or 748, still 335 is hard to beat.

View Quote

I use as much 748 as 335

Posted: 8/28/2015 9:20:40 AM EDT

[#10]

Relative newbie here.

When I started someone suggested I get Varget and I've been very happy with it for a lot of different loads. It may not be best at everything but it seems to be a pretty versatile powder.

+1 to the Hogdon website. Its a good fast reference for the loads you want to use.

Posted: 8/28/2015 1:00:45 PM EDT

[#11]

My go to powders are H-335 and cfe.223, I've also had good luck with IMR 4320 and 4198

Posted: 8/28/2015 1:23:57 PM EDT

[#12]

H322 and H335 are several of the faster burning rates. 8202XBR and CFE223 are much slower, "Heavier bullet - slower powder - faster twist". "Lighter bullet - faster powder -slower twist". The 62 gr is toward the middle of the weight range. Decide of you want accuracy or velocity, in my opinion these two don't go together in the majority of cases.

Posted: 8/28/2015 1:33:08 PM EDT

[#13]

I like my Varget

Posted: 8/28/2015 2:00:35 PM EDT

[#14]

I also use Varget exclusively (edit - for .223 and .308) . I simply haven't found anything better as of yet. I also shoot in a temperature range from single digits to high nineties so Varget is a great match for me there too.
I need to find more...

Posted: 8/28/2015 2:37:18 PM EDT

[#15]

TAC by Ramshot. Look at their 5.56x45 data, not the .223. There is a thread either in the reloading forum or the archives about it. I think they now publish 62 gr bullet data.

There is plenty of case capacity for this. I am working up loads now and there is plenty of room to spare in the case.

Posted: 8/28/2015 3:03:00 PM EDT

[#16]

I've been using AR-COMP and BL-C(2). Nice stuff....When I can get it.

Posted: 8/28/2015 3:12:07 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
H322 and H335 are several of the faster burning rates. 8202XBR and CFE223 are much slower, "Heavier bullet - slower powder - faster twist". "Lighter bullet - faster powder -slower twist". The 62 gr is toward the middle of the weight range. Decide of you want accuracy or velocity, in my opinion these two don't go together in the majority of cases.

View Quote

With this in mind I'm not looking for sub moa groups I'm looking to have a round that will be effective for HD and tactical training. My gun range has a shoot house I will be using and firing on the move. I won't be bench shooting for a perect groups.

Posted: 8/28/2015 3:57:43 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:

With this in mind I'm not looking for sub moa groups I'm looking to have a round that will be effective for HD and tactical training. My gun range has a shoot house I will be using and firing on the move. I won't be bench shooting for a perect groups.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
H322 and H335 are several of the faster burning rates. 8202XBR and CFE223 are much slower, "Heavier bullet - slower powder - faster twist". "Lighter bullet - faster powder -slower twist". The 62 gr is toward the middle of the weight range. Decide of you want accuracy or velocity, in my opinion these two don't go together in the majority of cases.

With this in mind I'm not looking for sub moa groups I'm looking to have a round that will be effective for HD and tactical training. My gun range has a shoot house I will be using and firing on the move. I won't be bench shooting for a perect groups.

My opinion: an extra 30 FPS is not going to make the difference between winning or losing. That said, H335 is purposely made for high velocity military ammo, and I doubt you will easily find another powder that will shoot even faster.

Also, if you are intending this for home defense/close range, you might want to consider a lighter bullet than 62.

Posted: 8/28/2015 8:46:36 PM EDT

[#19]

H335 is good. I've found it to be one of the most accurate with 55 gr. I'm loading 77gr bullets with Varget and RL-15. Alliant has 1200-R which is a newer recipe. I've found it to be similar to H335 and meters just as well in progressive presses.

I went with 1200-r during the shortage when I couldn't find H335.

Posted: 8/28/2015 10:47:21 PM EDT

[#20]

62 gr?
XTerminator/2230 haven't been mentioned yet, TAC has and I love it.

H322, H335, and maybe 2015 can do good work but probably are faster than ideal. Slower powders can and do work. Varget, XBR8208, and Rx-15 are the poster children here.

I would try 2230 or XTerminator. I have had very good luck with it (same powder) with 55 to 69 gr bullets lately in what my wife describes as "my mad science experiment"..

Looking again at Nosler data, I would add Benchmark and CFE 223 to the list

Posted: 8/28/2015 10:55:53 PM EDT

[#21]

H335. Another vote for it. I saw some at Bass Pro a couple of days ago. I believe they had it marked at almost $27-$28 lb. If you were buying more than just a couple of pounds, you could definitely get it online cheaper even with the hazmat charge.

Posted: 8/28/2015 11:21:19 PM EDT

[#22]

Ramshot TAC for anything heavier than 55gr. H322 for anything 55gr and lighter.

Posted: 8/29/2015 7:44:21 AM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
I've been using AR-COMP and BL-C(2). Nice stuff....When I can get it.

View Quote

I second BL-C(2).

Posted: 8/29/2015 10:53:54 AM EDT

[#24]

I worked up a MK262 clone with TAC and 77SMK.

Virgin LC'11 brass
77SMK
Ramshot TAC 24.7gr
205M
2.245 COAL
LFCD

right at 2700fps from 18" DD barrel, and shoots < 3/4MOA

I am finalizing a 155AMAX match load with TAC in .308 - about 42.5gr in LC Match brass at about 2600 from 16" Colt 901. Chosen group on seating depth test measured 1" at 200 yards - which I thought was spectacular/unbelievable for this rifle.

Next project - hopefully a < 2MOA 55FMJ load in .223 with TAC. I've been using 26.5gr of 748 with the 55FMJ load, but would really like to consolidate all .223 loads to one powder - hopefully TAC.

Quote History

Quoted:
TAC by Ramshot. Look at their 5.56x45 data, not the .223. There is a thread either in the reloading forum or the archives about it. I think they now publish 62 gr bullet data.

There is plenty of case capacity for this. I am working up loads now and there is plenty of room to spare in the case.

View Quote

Posted: 8/29/2015 1:15:41 PM EDT

[#25]

I use Varget and TAC for 223 but I use heavier bullets than 62 gr. Either would work just fine but neither is likely to be optimal for lighter bullets.

Posted: 8/29/2015 1:46:37 PM EDT

[#26]

TAC is my farvorite but I can never find it locally so I've switched to CFE 223 and like the results. I have used Varget, 748, H335, and IMR 4198 but didn't get the accuracy I saw with TAC

Posted: 8/29/2015 1:52:47 PM EDT

[#27]

I figured this would get moved here.

I used to use H-335 for all my 55 gr fmj loads but switched to this because its cheaper. Not nearly as cheaper as it used to be, but still cheaper

http://hi-techammo.com/collections/surplus-military-gunpowder/products/wc-844-new-production-cross-with-h335

The same load (25 gr) gives the same result out to 100 yards for me which is as far as I ever shoot my 55 gr loads anyway.

ETA by same result I'm talking POI. I've never chrono'd the 844 loads.

Posted: 8/30/2015 11:20:51 PM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
I was looking at h335 powder but I hear it won't produce as high of velocity as other powders. I will be using a 62 gr bullet. What would be the "best" powder. I am just getting into reloading and looking forward to it.

View Quote

Personally I'd stick with H335. The difference between other powders is maybe 100 fps, not worth the effort IMO. H335 meters well and will give you everything you want out of a 55 -65 grain bullet. I've loaded thousands of 55 grain FMJ and Sierra BTHP bullets with 25.5 grains H335 with excellent results, I haven't shot many 62's but 25 grains was my load.

Posted: 8/31/2015 3:54:17 PM EDT

[#29]

You will want to look at Alliant Power Pro 1200-R. This is my standard powder for light bullet 5.56. It will meter all day long within .1 gr. on my progressive and is super economical as I get good function through all my weapons with a charge of only 22.0 grains behind the Hornady 55FMJ. The last 8lb bottle I bought was $147. I have used a lot of H335, CFE223, VarGet, H322, H4198, BL-C(2), IMR4320, W748, etc. The 1200-R is a winner all the way around.

Posted: 8/31/2015 5:02:54 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
You will want to look at Alliant Power Pro 1200-R. This is my standard powder for light bullet 5.56. It will meter all day long within .1 gr. on my progressive and is super economical as I get good function through all my weapons with a charge of only 22.0 grains behind the Hornady 55FMJ. The last 8lb bottle I bought was $147. I have used a lot of H335, CFE223, VarGet, H322, H4198, BL-C(2), IMR4320, W748, etc. The 1200-R is a winner all the way around.

View Quote

I have also gotten good accuracy from 1200-R, but you need to be careful with it at near max loads. It is very temp. sensitive and has the potential to go over pressure at higher temps. Some people have reported seeing a 200-300 fps spread in identical powder charges.

Posted: 9/11/2015 9:07:22 PM EDT

[#31]

Win 748 has always worked well for me.

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