Posted: 8/24/2013 4:26:35 PM EDT
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This is my first season of HP shooting, and I have been running Hornaday 75gr BTHP over Varget.
I got lucky and scored a lb or two of Varget over the summer , but as it stands, Unless I find a lot more Varget than I have been, I will have a powder shortage next season. Can anyone suggest a powder that performs as well for 75-80gr Match projectiles in .223? |
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One of the most popular is RL-15, but good luck finding that also.
Visit this page for some good HP reloading info. NJ Hipower Rifle |
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H4895
IMR 8208xbr Tac Mr2000PP N140 N135 Not in that order, but close to it. H4895 is the best so far that I have tested or used. N140 is next. 8208 is right there with them. Varget I won't use anymore in the 223, waste of time to me compared to the other powders, meters poorly and is dirty and not as accurate or as much velocity as some of the others...... For 308 it's tremendous, but not really the best for 223. It does get alot of use there though, quite successfully, but it's not as easy to work with as the others. Been working with the MR2000 POwer pro lately and it's impressive so far. |
| Meters the same, H4895 uses less, 23.0-23.5 for a 77 vs 24.0-24.5 for RE15, the H4895 is an "Extreme" powder and is temp stable, reported to be more so than Varget, and is cleaner. That being said, 24.0 of RE15 with a 75-80 is going to hoot to the rifles limit. Use that for now and have ammo. |
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I've had good luck scoring Norma 203b which is supposedly extremely similar to rl15... kesselrings (local but I believe they sell online too), powder valley, wideners, midwayusa, etc have been my go to locations for powder.
ETA: in stock in 1 and 8 lb jugs on powder valley right now. |
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AR comp is just RL-15 that was tried to make as temperature resiliant as Varget and that slowed the burn rate down a bit.
Norma 203B isn't just similar to RL-15, it's the same powder from the same factory in a different -more expensive- can. RL-15 may very well work in the M1 Garand. There are a number of disagreeing sources so YMMV. 8208 does work in the M1 Garand. 4320 works in .223 and the M1 Garand and meters well. I won't buy powders that I can't throw. |
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Quoted:
8208 I used this with much success this year. I load all my ammo on a Dillon 650. I change the seater and bullet for 600, but that's it. TAC will work. AA2520 can work as well. Most people use a stick powder for temp sensitivity. But, I've seen guys do well with ball powders if they tested and kept good notes. The rings in HP are big. You don't have to have stellar precision. |
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Quoted:
I used this with much success this year. I load all my ammo on a Dillon 650. I change the seater and bullet for 600, but that's it. TAC will work. AA2520 can work as well. Most people use a stick powder for temp sensitivity. But, I've seen guys do well with ball powders if they tested and kept good notes. The rings in HP are big. You don't have to have stellar precision. Quoted:
Quoted:
8208 I used this with much success this year. I load all my ammo on a Dillon 650. I change the seater and bullet for 600, but that's it. TAC will work. AA2520 can work as well. Most people use a stick powder for temp sensitivity. But, I've seen guys do well with ball powders if they tested and kept good notes. The rings in HP are big. You don't have to have stellar precision. Good advice. I made expert (lots of master scores in the mix) shooting Federal 55gr bulk pack .223 from Wal-Mart. I think the group in my avatar was my first 100 shot at 300 yards with that ammo. The shooter is more important than the ammo. |