Favorite ball powder for 223?

[JMax]

Sub minute groups CFE223 loaded on a Dillon 550 with both 55 and 62 grain bullets in both an AR and bolt

[shredder]

748 for me. I am surprised this one is not getting more votes here.

[avogunner]

748 for me too...

[Pumpkinheaver]

H-335 is number one in my book, I have used CFE 223 in the past when I couldn't get H-335 but accuracy was not as good.

[rockrat]

Accurate 2015br works well too.

[40sand9s]

h335 for me, with the auto disk it was making it rain all over the place but with the lee auto drum I am doing pretty well. I've burnt about 20 lbs and have another 20lbs to go. Im hoping it stays around at a decent price because I don't want to change. 25 grains for a 55 is what I use and is ok. I blast not benchmark though so ymmv

[leadman]

I use Tac and 748. Both get me less than 1" groups with jacketed at 100 yards out of my left hand Stag Arms AR15. Tac was one of the first powders to have a decoppering agent in it.

[acoop101]

I like TAC for heavies and xterminator for 55 grain and below.

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[gnoahhh]

TAC and CFE-223 for me.

[Blackwater]

My own favorite load for ball powder in .223 is WW-748. Long ago, I did a fairly extensive series of tests in a very accurate HB bolt gun, and found the "sweet spot" in my gun, with commercial cases (NOT MILITARY CASES which have less capacity due to heavier case walls) was 26.8 gr. with 52-55 gr. bullets. Again, that's in MY gun with MY cases and either CCI SR or WSR primers, and the bullet seated out a bit.

Seat the bullets to AR magazine levels and that charge will have to be reduced a bit, but it's still pretty accurate. I got 3/8" groups at 100 with that bolt gun with this load. I've used it in several Mini-14's and AR's since then with no problem, but I don't find any data that high now, so .... I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS LOAD unless the bullet is seated out to longer than std. OAL, which increases powder space. I did shoot it in about a dozen or more different Mini-14's and AR's, though, with no signs of a problem, but .... you never really know, so still can't recommend it. I've since changed to loads more within published standards, but that load still stands out in my mind. Those were the sub 1/2 Min. groups I'd ever fired, so you can understand my attachment to it, even if it's now beyond what's recommended in the manuals.

[tstowater]

We've had pretty good luck with H335 and BLC (yes, BLC as we seem to have a supply of that). Have a good supply of the CFE223 but haven't got a chance to load it. I think all the powders that have been referenced will do a good job. Just need to find a good supply of something and find a load that works.

[BCB]

Yep, H-335 is what I started with dozens of years ago when I started loading for a 223 Remington using a T/C Contender Super 14” and also a Super 16”…

I have shoot 2½ eight-pound kegs of the H-335 and some years back I was lucky to get some WC-844. Another good one in the H-335 burning range…

H-335 has been good for me. I’ve also used it in the 30-30 Winchester and the 7-30 Waters…

Good-luck…BCB

[marlin39a]

I just bought 8 lbs of CFE-223. Great stuff.

[twc1964]

I like 748 and use it a fair amount but have switched over to imr 8208xbr for a lot of my 223 fodder. It's not a ball but Meyers really smooth in my redding.

[NuJudge]

What powder for .223 depends upon what bullet weight you are using, and whether you are going to have hot weather. If it is cool to cold, I like 52 and 55gr bullets with 748: it will shoot little knots. W748 has a problem with pressure spikes in hot weather, and it will make a significant difference in Point of Impact. AA2230 will also shoot well with those bullet weights, and I have not noticed a problem with hot weather pressure spikes.

For hot weather use, I like RL15. Many High Power shooters like Varget in all weathers, including hot weather, and they mostly shoot heavier bullets. Reloader 15 and Varget are not Ball/Spherical/Globular, but they are not obnoxious to measure, particularly Varget. Varget is meant to have almost the exact burning rate of 4064, but with short cut grains, and made to resist high ambient temperature pressure spikes.

[deac777]

I use mostly Accurate 2230. Years ago I tried Win-748 but was never able to develop an accurate load for my mini-14.

[sfcairborne]

748 and Varget both of them are my go too powders

[lightman]

Another BL-C2 user here. I've used 322, 335, Benchmark and 748 with good results. There are many more.

[dg31872]

For close to 30 years, I have used H335 in the full power 223. I do not plan to change.

[liliysdad]

I have become pretty partial to Benchmark for <60gr .223 loads...meters very, very well, and yield good, consistent speeds.