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Posted: 4/9/2014 11:20:24 AM EDT
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Knowing that powder is not exactly easy to find, theoretically speaking, what is the best powder for 55gr FMJ in 5.56
Most people on here use 55gr for plinking and target practice. Varget I hear is too slow to be most efficient in that light of a bullet(plus its like unicorn tears lately, impossible to find). So something faster? I already have powder, I'm not looking for a new load. I am just seeking wisdom. |
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I got 10lbs of Alliant 1200-R about a month ago from Powder Valley. Loaded some this past weekend and was getting right around 2750fps in my 18" barrel when using 22.2gr of it. Figure that's right around a $0.21 plinking load using today's online prices (reusing brass, not buying in crazy bulk quantities either).
How do you define best? Most consistent (accurate), cheapest, fastest? |
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I got 10lbs of Alliant 1200-R about a month ago from Powder Valley. Loaded some this past weekend and was getting right around 2750fps in my 18" barrel when using 22.2gr of it. Figure that's right around a $0.21 plinking load using today's online prices (reusing brass, not buying in crazy bulk quantities either). How do you define best? Most consistent (accurate), cheapest, fastest? Best is a hard term to define. Maybe it should be personal preference but that leaves too much to the imagination. Maybe most optimized burn rate? Accurate would be better defined by powder and twist rate combination right? So maybe in a 16" 1 in 7. Thats a common barrel. |
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yep, it depends on what you want for accuracy and how easy you want your reloading to be.
ball powders are the fastest and easiest to assemble with a powder measure. They throw spot on once set to your weight, really no need to weigh every charge. Most ball powders that I have used are a little temp sensitive. I can make a great load up a 70deg F that is submoa but at 90 she spreads out. If you're a blaster/action shooter then there really is no point in fussing with stick powders that I can see. Shooting 600 yard NM courses you may want to get pickier and go with a stick powder that is temp stable, and maybe weigh them all. Then again, you're not going to be shooting 55 fmj's hopefully in a 600 yard match. 
ball powders for ease; W748, BLC2, TAC short stick powders; AR comp, IMR8208 |
I have bee loading Ramshot Exterimator under Sierra 52 gr. BTHP and 55 Gr. Game Kings, and I have been getting great results.
Five shots made a great group and I though lets see how tight we can keep 10. Pulled the 6th shot right off the bat and quit. ETA: The .850 is out to out of the grease rings. center to center would be 0.626". These were shot at 90 yards. I had my truck and trailer parked by the barn which cut off my shooting at 90 othwise I could have went to 125. Range in the front yard. 
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WC844 / H335 are the same thing just different branding. TAC is great, meter very well. CF223 is new and supposed to be awesome. Varget will work but I'd save that for a 30 cal load. XBR is also supposed to be great, never tried it.
I've been working on an 8lb jug of WC844 for a while now. |
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I have had good all weather results with H4895 and H335. I also use R10X and like it but found out that is sucks in cold weather. I tried R10x and I couldnt find a good grouping load for it. But it made some great plinking ammo. It was also fairly cheap. |
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I have had good luck with 24.5 - 25.0 g of H335 and a Hornady 55g fmj - That is what I load up for my plinking load.
I don't have a long range scope yet so I haven't worked up any loads for precision, so to say. I have some Hornady 55g vmax set aside for when I get a spr upper built. |
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