I love varget but with the smaller opening case neck of 223 it can be a little bit of a pain. I'd like to try some easier metering powder that also burns clean. I was leaning towards Ramshot TAC or Hodgdon Benchmark, does that fit the bill? Are both pretty commonly used in 223?

Nice pic dryflash!

And +1 on Ramshot TAC.  Inexpesive, accurate and meters well.

W748 is nice. 100 rounds and the BC is still clean.
500 is an easy 20min cleanup.

I've used H-335 with 55 grain Hornadys and it works OK.  Have not tried anything else to compare it to so can't tell you if it is clean or not.  But it works.

AA2230 is by far the best metering powder I have tried, but I dont know if its clean or not, as I havent paid attention

WC844 (H335) for bulk ammo. Meters very nicely



For precision, I like IMR 8208XBR

+1 for ramshot tac...I've had great luck with 50-77 gr bullets

have to agree aa2230 meters great. i just bought some varget but i havent opend it up yet. im thinking about bringing it back. i heard stick powders like the varget dont like the powder measure.

+1

Not to mention WC844 is basically military H-335 and is a bargain right now at $85.00 for 8 LBs at both Wideners and High Tech Ammo. Order 4 kegs at High Tech or 6 kegs at Wideners and they include Hazmat free just normal shipping charge)

I have used 25LBs of TAC over the last two years and it is great powder but the WC844 is just so much cheaper right now for blasting loads (55and 62 FMJ) it can not be beat

The best load I have found for 52gr SMK is 26gr W748. Not as clean but that load is accurate.

I use IMR-8208-XBR on 77gr HPBT-M both Nosler and SMK for my 1/7 26" custom AR Target rifle.

It meters much better than Varget (which is also a fine powder)

Wulfmann

AA2460

I like TAC for lighter bullets and RE15 for the heavier stuff. Of course, there's also H335, W844, W748––-the list goes on and on. The .223/5.56 is a pretty easy cartridge to load.

In 223 I've only shot Re-15 and XBR-8208

Re-15 meters well, XBR meters better.

Re-15 is clean; as in "do I really need to clean this bolt?" clean.  Yes, actually that clean.  It's a bit of a smoky residue on the bolt/chamber/etc is about it.

XBR though does get goopy; as in "I really DO need to clean this bolt" lol

844 is the same as h335?  Does the data interchange within reason?

I'm surprised no one mentioned Vihtavuori.  Absolutely the cleanest powder I've tried.  Depending on weight of the bullet look at N133, N135.  It's pricey and I really need to determine if I'd buy again due to cost.

Start at the low range listed for H335 and work up. The exact burn rate for any none canister powder can vary more that the "brand name" powder but is usually very close, usually.

I tried Viht N540 in my AR10, it didn't group near as well as RL15 or 8208XBR and cost 50% more so I'm sticking with the latter two.  Will have to try it in the .223 though.

good info, thanks!

Extremely Clean and It is consistently better than TAC in the accuracy department.  TAC is great.  AA2230 is greater.  AA2230 has less variation in charge weight then any powder possibly with the exception of W748.

Look into Slip 200 cleaning and lubing products like their Gun Lube, 725 Degreaser and Carbon Killer they make cleaning an AR a snap.  I clean my BCG including the bolt with nothing more than a microfiber rag, q-tips, and ocassionally some 725 degreaser.  Slip 2000's Gun Lube makes cleaning the receiver,bcg, chamber and bore easy even after the rifle has been sitting in the safe for a week.  It doesn't evaporate or dry out.  I don't work for Slip 2000, but I like their products.

Here is the 80gr. Berger VLD seated over-mag-length at 2.390" using Wilson Arbor dies over 5.56mm pressure TAC in LAPUA casings@750yds. fired from an 18" SPR type accurized M16A2 off the tool box of my Tacoma 4WD. Sub-MOA at 750yds. from a 5.56MM auto-loader is a hard act to improve on but I am always willing to listen. But before you go there, TAC outshot all other powders I tested with in this Krieger/CLE barrel: H335, RL15, AA2520, Varget, VV N540, and a few other powders. Not surprisingly, the (3) most accurate factory 5.56MM pressure loadings I have tested with were ALL loaded with sperical powder: Black Hills 77gr SMK AMU load (MV 2746 FPS), LSA 77gr. SIERRA MATCHKING (MV 2760 FPS), & 77gr. Black Hills 77gr. SMK OTM based MK 262 MOD 1 SECONDS (MV 2825 FPS). If I can keep it simple (KISS) with sperical powder, handloading becomes much less of a chore. But bottom line is I will use whatever works in my rifles even if I have to trickle each charge.

Quick Note: In my experience, TAC is not a great .223 pressure powder: measured ES/SD are WAY too high at lower pressure levels. TAC starts to settle down as it nears the top end of .223 pressure and shoots quite nicely in the 5.56MM pressure range with the 77gr. & 80gr. TAC is also not a great powder for lighter bullets IMO. I used H335 with the 69gr. SMK for decades; it shoots. JMO.

Over-mag-length 80gr. Berger VLD over 5.56MM pressure TAC @750yds: MV 2822 & SD 6.24




Mag length 77gr. SMK over 5.56MM pressure TAC@750yds: SD 11.24

I have a fresh jug of TAC, from recommendations here.    Thousands of .223 cases to sort by headstamp, full length resize & trim.    CCI military & SR primers.  6k pack of Hornady 55 gr FMJ w/can.



Any other sources for good starting loads & max loads besides the Ramshot site?    Loading for short distance practice round for few different quality ARs.



I started reloading 20 yrs ago, but had not needed to reload for last few years.     .223 is one of 4 or 5 calibers that I need to stock back up on this winter.



Thanks, Bob

If you think IMR 8208 XBR is a short cut extruded powder then you should try Hodgdon Benchmark or H322, they are both shorter cut than IMR 8208 XBR. They burn very clean and make very, very, accurate loads.

Not knocking 8208 at all, just saying there are shorter cut stick powders that work great in 5.56.

Some quick comparison pic's

IMR 8208 XBR


Benchmark


H322


8208(right) & Benchmark(left)


Benchmark(right) & H322(left)

GREAT PICS   THANKS  


H322 is a wonderful powder for 6.8mmSPC also

Before this present WC844 low price deal I shot maybe 20 pounds of TAC in 55 and 62gr FMJ 223/5.56 loads.

I settled on 25gr TAC for 55gr Hornady FMJBT and 24gr for the 62gr Privi FMJBT bullets. Those duplicated the factory rounds POA for my various guns

Wulfmann

+1 for TAC.  Love it.

My favorite load for 20" Hbar non chrome lined bore 1-9 twist.
H335 23.5 gr
55 gr Nosler ballistic tip boat tail
LC brass
CCI 400 primers
FL sized and trimmed

here is one i took of re-15 and benchmark

Thanks for the response.