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Posted: 2/18/2015 11:07:48 PM EDT
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So, looking to stack it deeper. Currently have: AA2230 H335 IMR3031 IMR8208 Loading for 5.56 and .308 and have only cracked open the AA2230 and IMR3031 thus far. Both load and measure easy and I've gotten good performance from both But i haven't ventured into anything other than the "standard" projectiles (i.e. 55gr and 62gr for 5.56). Soliciting thoughts from those more experienced on which of the four would be best suited for growth as i get more experienced As all four powders can be used for both calibers and most, if not all, weights. |
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Quoted: So, looking to stack it deeper. Currently have: AA2230 H335 IMR3031 IMR8208 Loading for 5.56 and .308 and have only cracked open the AA2230 and IMR3031 thus far. Both load and measure easy and I've gotten good performance from both But i haven't ventured into anything other than the "standard" projectiles (i.e. 55gr and 62gr for 5.56). Soliciting thoughts from those more experienced on which of the four would be best suited for growth as i get more experienced As all four powders can be used for both calibers and most, if not all, weights. Try CFE 223, it's also great stuff. (ball powder) |
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Choosing one powder for two cartridges is in many ways a compromise. The following powders work very well in both .223 and .308:
Varget RE-15 IMR-8208-XBR VihtaVuori N140 H4895 Other powders that work include; WW-748 AA-2460 AA-2520 H-335 I don't use ball powders any more, so I'm partial to the first list. |
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Can't go wrong with TAC, which was developed for the 7.63 in Europe, but also works great for the 5.56.
I've gotten MOA groups under 75 grn HRN bullets from my AR with it. 8208 is still my go to for accuracy though. IMR 4198 is a very versatile powder , from ,223 to 45-70 if you have other riffles IMR 4895 is another. ETA: just caught your limit to 5.56 & .308, 4198 won't work for you, but it's good if you have other calibers. |
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Quoted:
So, looking to stack it deeper. Currently have: AA2230 H335 IMR3031 IMR8208 Loading for 5.56 and .308 and have only cracked open the AA2230 and IMR3031 thus far. Both load and measure easy and I've gotten good performance from both But i haven't ventured into anything other than the "standard" projectiles (i.e. 55gr and 62gr for 5.56). Soliciting thoughts from those more experienced on which of the four would be best suited for growth as i get more experienced As all four powders can be used for both calibers and most, if not all, weights. That's a pretty great powder list, and will satisfied your needs very well. You could probably trim it even, since there's some overlap/redundancy in there. AA2230 and H335 are basically the same thing. 3031 is a great general purpose powder. It also tends to have a somewhat invariant point of impact over a broader spread of powder charges. It's my go-to powder for precision 55 gr Hornady bullets. 8208 is reported to be God's gift to man-kind, from those who use it. I can't find it, and gave up and went with ARComp, which I really like. Obviously everyone loooooves Varget. And I got caught up in that too. It's a great powder in particular because it works equally well with Garands as it does heavy bullets for AR15s. However, like most people, I am now basically screwed. It's been a 2 year scramble and a lot of monkeying around developing new loads based on whatever I can find - because Varget is unattainable. My recommendation - just stay away from Varget, it's availability is too unreliable. I will do everything I can to avoid being reliable on the one most popular fad-powder ever again; I've learned my lesson there! There are lots of other powders out there that perform just as well and have better availability. |
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Before you "stack it deep", I would suggest you figure out what you want to do and where you want to go with your reloading.
Are you going to stick with the two bullets you mentioned? Do you plan to use heavy for caliber bullets like the 77 and 80 gr SMK? Do you plan to use the one powder for both 223 and 308? Are you going to use your purchase for other cartridges? You mentioned 308 but gave no bullets weights. What are your objectives? Do you want the cheapest possible blasting ammo, match quality ammo, self/home defense ammo,...? The more you tell us about the context of your question, the better e can help you. |
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I came back to add this:
You should also consider whether what's the right strategy for stocking up. Is the timing right to stock up? Should you wait for a sale? Should you start a long term acquisition, buying a bit every month* (cost averaging)? * This does not work too well when buying online, due to the high (high) Hazmat costs that apply to each shipment (1 lb or 50lb). |
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Thanks for all the good insight. To answer a few questions: I do both plinking and for accuracy. Right now I'm limiting variety of projectiles. For 5.56 I really don't anticipate doing much beyond 55gr and 62gr. Maybe some 77gr down the road. Willing to explore more with. 308 but using 168gr and M80 projos. Will eventually push out beyond 600yds but for now below that and the 168gr have been very consistent. I'm not necessarily limiting myself to one powder for both. Just nice to have the option. Other than 30-06 for garand, sticking to these calibres. (well, except for 300bo but that is a different story). What really caused my question was availability of both 3031 and 8208xbr in 8lbers. I'll probably load up some with 8208xbr this week to see how i like it, skip the 3031 and get some more 8208xbr. That should keep me busy for a while. |
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For 223/308
Favorites are (bulk loading/progressive) H322 for light bullets Tac for everything RL 15 for heavy OTM stuff IMR4320 has worked great for anything I've tried it for. I have 2 kegs of it that are part of my deep stash. Favorites for loading off the progressive: I like IMR4064 for 168/175gr 308 match grade stuff. |
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Quoted:
Once you try the IMR-8208 XBR, you may forget the others you have. It's cut shorter than IMR-3031 and much easier to measure. Try CFE 223, it's also great stuff. (ball powder) Quoted:
Quoted:
So, looking to stack it deeper. Currently have: AA2230 H335 IMR3031 IMR8208 Loading for 5.56 and .308 and have only cracked open the AA2230 and IMR3031 thus far. Both load and measure easy and I've gotten good performance from both But i haven't ventured into anything other than the "standard" projectiles (i.e. 55gr and 62gr for 5.56). Soliciting thoughts from those more experienced on which of the four would be best suited for growth as i get more experienced As all four powders can be used for both calibers and most, if not all, weights. Try CFE 223, it's also great stuff. (ball powder) I agree. XBR is my go to. CFE is a favorite in the LR308. |
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Win748/H355/WC844 are all about the same. Good all around plinking and ok accuracy TAC probably a slight step up but really hard to say as I think experience plays a bigger part in the whole game and I'm sure most of you could outdo me in reloading lol 4064 is good for both your calibers listed, but is supposed to be a bear to meter in progressives if that matters to u. The other powders listed are on my list of "I want", but $ and availability has kept me with the above listed powders that I've accumulated. |
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Varget
IMR4064 IMR4895 TAC 335 Those cover everything from 223 to 30-06. It is likely they will cover larger stuff as well but 30-06 is as big as I go. Stick powders do suck if you try to use a dropper or a progressive press for rifle. However they work great for me in a Chargemaster. |
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Quoted:
Once you try the IMR-8208 XBR, you may forget the others you have. It's cut shorter than IMR-3031 and much easier to measure. Try CFE 223, it's also great stuff. (ball powder) Quoted:
Quoted:
So, looking to stack it deeper. Currently have: AA2230 H335 IMR3031 IMR8208 Loading for 5.56 and .308 and have only cracked open the AA2230 and IMR3031 thus far. Both load and measure easy and I've gotten good performance from both But i haven't ventured into anything other than the "standard" projectiles (i.e. 55gr and 62gr for 5.56). Soliciting thoughts from those more experienced on which of the four would be best suited for growth as i get more experienced As all four powders can be used for both calibers and most, if not all, weights. Try CFE 223, it's also great stuff. (ball powder) Agree on the 8208. Once you use that, you won't go back. |
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I used to use RE15 for .223 (68-80gr) and .308 (168-178gr). I shoot Service Rifle so a RCBS Uniflow or Chargemaster would be very time consuming for the quantity of ammo I needed without giving up quality.
I recently loaded 1k rounds of .223 w' 77 SMK over IMR 8208 XBR with my Dillon 550. I love it!!! Meters amazing on the progressive. Very accurate. Temperature insensitive unlike the RE15. I haven't tried the 8208 XBR w' the 168-178gr .308 loads yet. If it works as well as in .223 I may switch and never go back. |
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