is there a powder that will work well for both 5.56 and 308?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - is there a powder that will work well for both 5.56 and 308?

Posted: 7/14/2008 7:38:19 PM EDT

I got 7 different powder sitting on my bench for handguns.As i will be dipping my feet into rifle reloading I would like to get one powder that will work well for 223/5.56 and 308/7.62.

I like to shoot mostly mid range stuff,no fire breathers for me.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Posted: 7/14/2008 7:51:36 PM EDT

[#1]

Varget works good in both

Posted: 7/14/2008 8:10:40 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
I got 7 different powder sitting on my bench for handguns.As i will be dipping my feet into rifle reloading I would like to get one powder that will work well for 223/5.56 and 308/7.62.

I like to shoot mostly mid range stuff,no fire breathers for me.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Varget as mentioned, IMR 4895, RE15, maybe even VV140 depending on bullet weights.

Chris

Posted: 7/14/2008 8:49:55 PM EDT

[#3]

I'm a big fan of BL-C(2), but I hear it's temp sensitive (though I haven't experienced that yet).

Posted: 7/14/2008 8:50:10 PM EDT

[#4]

varget
748

Posted: 7/14/2008 8:52:41 PM EDT

[#5]

Ram Shot TAC

Posted: 7/14/2008 8:55:06 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
I'm a big fan of BL-C(2), but I hear it's temp sensitive (though I haven't experienced that yet).

I use BL-C(2) myself, and I have never had any temperature issues with it.

Dammit, now I am going to have to exprerement on my loads....

Posted: 7/14/2008 10:14:56 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Varget works good in both

+1

Posted: 7/14/2008 10:53:24 PM EDT

[#8]

Varget and H4895. The latter seems to be a pretty versatile powder, from full power loads to low power, low recoil, low barrel heating loads at 60% of maximum charge as recommended by Hodgdon Powder. And both are advertised as temperature insensitive.

Posted: 7/15/2008 3:14:35 AM EDT

[#9]

You may want to try a "criteria list" of desirable traits for your powder.

After you've found it.

Buy a pound and try it.

If it works for you. Then, buy the 8 lb. can.
______________________________________________________

For ME......here are some of my criteria.......

1) Does it meter well? I prefer Ball powders. Because, I don't get the "Ka-chunk," like when loading with a "stick powder."
2) Is it available in 8 lb containers?
3) Is it widely available and usually in stock??
4) Am I paying a "premium" price?
5) Can it be used with multiple calibers and firearms? I'd hate to have a powder that will only be used in one firearm.
6) Is the gas pressure curve correct for my gas guns (very important with an M1)?
7) Is it known to be accurate in that caliber?
8) Is it dirty?
9) How does it fill the case? I don't like to mess with compressed loads.
10) Have I heard of problems with it?

Take it FWIW......it's just my .02.

Aloha, Mark

Posted: 7/15/2008 3:15:08 AM EDT

[#10]

BTW.....I use W748.

Aloha, Mark

Posted: 7/15/2008 5:52:41 AM EDT

[#11]

Varget for pure accuracy, but not so good handling through a powder measure.........
TAC for flowing like water through a powder measure!
RL15 is nice handling!
748 is way to temp sensitive, but nice handling through powder measures!

Posted: 7/15/2008 5:59:09 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
varget
748

+1

Posted: 7/15/2008 6:00:46 AM EDT

[#13]

I use, and am happy with R-15 for .223 and .308

Posted: 7/15/2008 9:18:12 AM EDT

[#14]

Heard H335 is good for both

Posted: 7/15/2008 9:36:56 AM EDT

[#15]

Varget, of course, and I've had good luck with AA2520

Posted: 7/15/2008 9:37:34 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
I'm a big fan of BL-C(2), but I hear it's temp sensitive (though I haven't experienced that yet).

I have shot blc-2 out of m1as and ars in freezing tempatures many times with no problems. I have also shot it in 100degree weather. It meters awesome as well.
H335 works in both as well. Varget may be to fast for m1as if thats what you are using.

Posted: 7/15/2008 11:52:38 AM EDT

[#17]

Umm,... has anyone mentioned Varget yet as a good powder for both.

Posted: 7/15/2008 1:27:17 PM EDT

[#18]

846 is the equivilant of BL-C2 844 is the equivilant of H335. Either will work in 5.56 or .308 the 846 would be the better for .308 and the 844 for the 5.56 being that the 844 is a bit faster powder. These are not powders you go to the store and buy they are surplus powders, but that is why I gave you the comercial euivilants.
For benchrest acuracy try Benchmark for the 5.56 and RL-15 for .308.
I love varget for .308 but hate trying to get it in a 5.56 case.

Posted: 7/15/2008 2:51:26 PM EDT

[#19]

thanks for the help. Went down to Sportsman warehouse today to check the price on powder.

tac was the least expensive by about 3 dollars a #. Where do I get TAC loading Data??

Thanks

Posted: 7/15/2008 3:20:40 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
thanks for the help. Went down to Sportsman warehouse today to check the price on powder.

tac was the least expensive by about 3 dollars a #. Where do I get TAC loading Data??

Thanks

Ramshot

Click on load guide in tool bar on the left.

Posted: 7/19/2008 6:41:22 PM EDT

[#21]

I use WC 846 in 223 and 308 both with good results

Posted: 7/19/2008 7:27:08 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
I use WC 846 in 223 and 308 both with good results

I use the same for my .223 and .308 rounds and they work great. I use the rounds in machineguns (M-16, M-60 and M-240) so I can't vouch for any accuracy but the stuff runs like a champ!!

thanks,
Ron

Posted: 7/19/2008 9:56:26 PM EDT

[#23]

I use Vaget for both.

Good luck finding anything larger than 1# cans in stock.

Switching to RE-15, but I havent loaded any .223 with it yet.

Posted: 7/19/2008 11:05:46 PM EDT

[#24]

Another vote for BLC2.

It has a bad name here because some dude wrote in some article some time ago that it was something "spooky" under the sun.

They can all get spooky under the sun.

And just for the record, it was 226 degrees (C) here Thursday and I shot BLC2 under 69 grain Noslers, under the spooky sun, and the only spooky thing I encountered was how well 25 grains of said, spooky, powder did with that bullet.

Something else spooky did happen that day. I was a victim of global warming. I got absolutely burned red. It was spooky.

Posted: 7/19/2008 11:55:17 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
Another vote for BLC2.

It has a bad name here because some dude wrote in some article some time ago that it was something "spooky" under the sun.

They can all get spooky under the sun.

And just for the record, it was 226 degrees (C) here Thursday and I shot BLC2 under 69 grain Noslers, under the spooky sun, and the only spooky thing I encountered was how well 25 grains of said, spooky, powder did with that bullet.

Something else spooky did happen that day. I was a victim of global warming. I got absolutely burned red. It was spooky.

That was a good test. 226C is pretty warm.

Posted: 7/20/2008 12:04:12 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Another vote for BLC2.

It has a bad name here because some dude wrote in some article some time ago that it was something "spooky" under the sun.

They can all get spooky under the sun.

And just for the record, it was 226 degrees (C) here Thursday and I shot BLC2 under 69 grain Noslers, under the spooky sun, and the only spooky thing I encountered was how well 25 grains of said, spooky, powder did with that bullet.

Something else spooky did happen that day. I was a victim of global warming. I got absolutely burned red. It was spooky.

That was a good test. 226C is pretty warm.

438.8 Fahrenheit, no less.

Posted: 7/20/2008 1:16:23 AM EDT

[#27]

I use BLC2 for 223, 308, and 30-30.

In my rifles, more accurate than W-748, AA-2230, Tac, H-335, IMR-4895, IMR-4064, H-414, IMR-3031, IMR-4320.

My 308 bolt rifle doesn't like Varget, never tried it in 30-30.

In 223 target loads, the Hornaday 68 gr BTHP, Varget can't be beat.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - is there a powder that will work well for both 5.56 and 308?

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