I primarily reload .223 and 6.8 SPC for my shooting pleasure while out in the field. I know there is a ton of knowledge within the members of this forum so here is my question. If you could pick one good powder for either of this loads that would preform with some precision which powder would it be. The grain on the that would be loaded in the .223 would be 55gr, 62gr & 77gr. The grain on the 6.8 SPC would be the 90gr, 110gr & 115gr.  Please feel free to educate me in anyway I need to be educated with either one of these rounds. I just would like to purchase one powder that will work well with but rounds. Thank you so much in advance!

I have a manual and I know Hodgdon H335 works with both but just wondered it the is any thing that might be better as far as precision or burn rate etc. or better in general.

Some to look into that seem to be working with shooters:

H-322, RL-10X, AA-2460 , AA-2520.  

AA 2520 meters well and works great for 69 Sierras in .223.  Some say its temp sensitive, maybe, I don't have problems, good powder overall.

IMR 8208 XBR is a good choice as it has data available for.223, .308 & 6.8

The curve between the 2 cartridges is drastic enough that choosing 1 powder for both will introduce a compromise. Accurate 2200 is generally one of the best performing powders for 6.8 SPC and can be used in lighter projectile 223 loads.

THIS!!  2200...  We dumped the 6.8 nightmare and burned up the 2000 with 55 gr fmjs... so it can be used for .223....

But I will never understand the trauma of stocking different powders.  Shoot!  My cabinet looks like a retail display for Hodgdon... (pre-panic display of course)

If I had to choose one powder for both I would look at 2230/X-Terminator.

 Personally, I would not look for one do-it-all powder for both cartridges with all bullet weights.  I don't  use  the same powder for my 223/5.56 55gr loads as I do for my 69gr loads and I don't use the same powder for my 55gr FMJ as I do for my 55gr JHP.

The correct answer lies here.

I am very satisfied with the accuracy of H322 for 55gr and 77gr 5.56 and 110gr 6.8SPC. You can find a lot of useful information to help you figure out what might work best for you for reloading the 6.8 SPC at 68forums.

Will the AA-2250 work with the 6.8 also?

Too slow to be effective for 6.8 and the velocity in 223 loads is poor.

I load CFE223 for 55 gr .223 and it's a pretty great powder. Burns clean and I hardly see any residue in the chamber and barrel.

Reloder 15 probably? not sure that overlaps 6.8 but off the top of my head I think it does

edit looks like reloder 10x might be a better choice with the alliant powders for better overlap, but it sort of also depends what weight bullets you want to load...

Huh?  Not in my experience.  Very accurate on top of very adequate velocity & trajectory for 62-69s,. YMMV

H335 works for me.  The 6.8 hunting load is a Barnes 95 gr. TTSX over 30.0 grains of H335.  Dropped a doe last year @300 yards off of a rest with real devastation to the cavity.  16" RRA upper w/ Zeiss 3*9*40 Z-Plex on board.  Averaged 2563 FPS according to the chrono.

The 5.56 hunting load is 65 grain Sierra Game King over 24.0 grains of H335.  16" Daniels Carbine w/3*9*40 Bushnell Elite on board.

I am not an expert by any means but over the years have played with enough loads that I have learned to incrementally vary the charge to find what runs best in "my" rifle. Very time consuming but once found the load is worth the research.

I see zero reason to run 2250 is 223 loads with powder like TAC and CFE223 available. Accuracy potential was not even mentioned in my comment, I noticed that to made correlation however. TAC is head to head in accuracy with 2250 for most people while providing 200fps(+-) gain, again I have zero need for mediocre performing powder thus my original comment.

Mfg load data does not seem reflect 200 fps gain for TAC unless I am reading it wrong.  So I assume you must have chrony data or have I got the wrong "TAC", as I am unfamiliar the powder, I am serious in that I could be off base here.  2520 plenty fast for my purposes.    Since they both seem to be made by same company, they don't have a dog in our discussion

http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WP_LoadSpec_7-2-13.pdf

Same here, I use H335 for both.

I've always liked BLC2 for 308 and 223. It was originally developed for the military for 7.62.

AA2200 1st choice for bullets 95grs and over for the 6.8, with H322 being real good as well for those weights. Both powders give me safe 2700fps+ loads for 110gr bullets from a 16" barrel, and accurate, but the AA2200 is a tad better. The 115gr Nosler CC and the Sierra Match King is 2640fps with the AA2200, but with the H322 it's 2560fps. I'm not getting any pressure signs with the AA2200, and it's more accurate as well. I would have been happy with 2600fps, but since there were no signs, I worked on up, and it was more accurate there as well.

Uncontested winner for 90gr and under in 6.8 is Reloader 7. My 90gr TNT loads are 2925fps.


For .223, I'm working on a load soon with AR Comp. My go to had been Varget due to the accuracy, and I had a RCBS Chargemaster so metering wasn't an issue. Sold the Chargemaster for bill paying, sort of, and am using an old Lee Perfect Powder measure. So far, checking every single throw, it's been dead on for the most part. I'll get 1 in every 10 or so that is over or under by 2/10ths. I trickle  every one of those up if it's low, or dump a tad, and trickle up if it was high.  Lot's of powders to choose from for the .223.

Of course there are other powders that might work for both calibers in your guns, but for me, these have been perfect, and I don't feel the need to experiment. I think .400-.600 , 5 shot groups , repeatable at 100 yards is all I can ask.

Ramshot TAC for the 223 with the medium & heavier bullet weights.

 Gentlemen please take a look at what you are saying.  Accurate doesn't make a powder 2250.

The OP asked this question.


It is obviously a typo as there is no such powder, but what did he really mean?  Did he mean AA 2230, or did he mean AA 2520?  Both would seem to fit the typo, but as he has not corrected this we do not know what he meant.  Also what powder are you guys referring to with your comments?

Good catch, my apologies for buying into that without clarifying.  Although I did state 2520 in my previous post and provided a link to the data that would cover all possibilities, I think.

OP, I understand wanting to get to one powder for both calibers, but you'd be better getting one powder for each caliber. Just because the powder works in both, or even works great in both for some people, it is still not a sure thing that it will work in yours.

It is unlikely that you will get optimum performance and accuracy for both calibers, with the specific bullets you use,  with one powder. Find the best powder for each of the calibers in YOUR guns.