What powder for the .223

[Exclr8]

Got me a rock river operator2 elite. Have reloaded a few hundred rounds. Used 2230 and varget. I didnt like the varget as it did not seem to meter as well as the 2230. I am going out to pick up more powder today. Any others I should try. I am mostly plinking with 55gr FMJs.

Thanks

[AggieEE]

I've tried H322, H335, 4895 and 2520. I tend to like the 2520 for the 69gr. stuff. The ball powders do meter nicer than the stick. See which one the rifle likes as to accuacry (sp) if you're just plinking see which one you can get the best deal on. AggieEE

[Larry Gibson]

The 2230 is a very good powder for 52 - 55 gr bullets, I use a lot of it in my ARs and bolt guns with those weight bullets. H335 is my other choice for such.

Larry Gibson

[brassrat]

The 2230 seems unbeatable to me, but have only tried a couple others. I didnt care for Varget, either. 8208XBR needs more testing, for me and might be worth trying.

[brassrat]

My gun hated that 2520. I really only use 69 gr.with 2230. With the 55gr, it was good too.

[tomme boy]

Up to 55 gr bullets, I like H322. You will use a little less powder. The ball powders, H335, 2230, 748, 2460 do meter better. But for me, you have to use more of it. It also seems to be a little more dirty than other powder. R15 is another I like.

[Reload3006]

RamShot TAC great powder meters good and is a very accurate powder in 223

[felix]

What's the cheapest? ... felix

[JeffinNZ]

I have only ever used 748 for full power loads however the trend in our part of a world is Benchmark.

[Bill*]

I recently started reloading for .223, I bought some Reloder 10X and we'll see. (haven't shot it much-waiting for spring).

[crappie-hunter]

Weidners ,last summer had spp210 a powder made in switzerland, said to be same burn rate as 4198, looks like 4198 and meters well for me. I bought 8# I believe for about 119.00. I used it in 223,and 222, am very pleased with the results.

[Exclr8]

I looked at 10x but decided on H335. They were out of 2230 or i would have gone back to it. My last pound of 2230 was $16.95. The H335 cost me $21.29.

[RU shooter]

RamShot TAC great powder meters good and is a very accurate powder in 223
What he said ! I find it usually cheaper than the others of its kind. but if I found a good deal on AA2230 it works well too for the midweight bullets.

Tim

[Wolfer]

RamShot TAC great powder meters good and is a very accurate powder in 223

I have a 223 with a 14 twist and have trouble stabilizing anything longer than 50 gr V max. I tried Tac but wasn't happy with the accuracy, went to Exterminater and really like it. I had wanted to try ramshot after reading an article by John Barsness that hinted about it cutting down on cleaning. I can't say for sure one way or another.

I'm certain Tac will work great with heavier bullets and faster twist

[Hamish]

WC844 is milspec 5.56 powder (m855?), wc846T is the tracer stuff, everything I have read, the 844 is preferable to the 846:

url]http://patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.aspx?category=Powder[/url]

http://patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.aspx?category=Powder

http://patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.aspx?category=Powder

[Johnk454]

WC844 is similar to H335, and is a good 223 powder. WC844T is the tracer version.

WC846 is similar to BL-C(2). Slower than 844.

I've used a good bit of X-Terminator also - works well.

All of these meter quite well through my powder measures.

[shawnsmc]

I use a lot of TAC for my 55gr 223 plinking loads and it works well in my 30-30 also. Usually cheaper than other brands too.

[stubshaft]

I usually use 2230 execpt for the heavyweights in the 1 in 7 then I use RE 15.

[Got-R-Did]

I have used virtually all the above mentioned propellants in my .223 rifles and pistols. Of late I have been working with the WC 844 and have grown to love it for more than just plinking loads. Last 8 lb jug cost me $9 per lb at a local gun show, and I will be looking for another if the price is comparable. Clean burning, meters extremely well, inexpensive, and equal accuracy to higher priced propellants makes it a winner for me.
Got-R-Did.

[Linstrum]

I use TAC, IMR4895, and Reloader 15 for 55 grain and 62 grain bullets. Like was mentioned, TAC costs a bit less. One that is recommended but I never tried is Winchester 748.

rl 1070

[FrankG]

I really like the H335 in 223 . When I used a 17 Rem years past it really liked the IMR4320 .

I see Pats has WC844 listed as 'pull down' powder . Is there any issues with using a 'pull down' powder ?

[buyobuyo]

I load Varget for my 77gr rounds. I've tried Varget and H4895 in some 55gr loads, but nothing looked good. I need to re-do the loads when I have time.

[Shooter6br]

H322 for me

[Longone]

AA2460 is another good choice. Meters well and gives good velocity with 69's in my rifles so I would think 55's will work as well.

Longone

[canyon-ghost]

4198 or 4759, both are used in the 7mmTCU, and it's based on a 223. I've use 4759 in the little cases, worked pretty good.

[tuckerdog]

I've always been a fan of IMR powders, try 4198 and 3031, the 3031 is what I use under 50 grn V-Max in my 222rem and accuracy is outstanding. The 3031 offers nice load density

[zomby woof]

#1345 .224" 55 gr. Blitz
C.O.A.L. 2.250"
#1350 .224" 55 gr. SMP
C.O.A.L. 2.230"
#1355 .224" 55 gr. FMJBT
C.O.A.L. 2.250"
#1360 .224" 55 gr. SPT
C.O.A.L. 2.250"
#1365 .224" 55 gr. SBT
C.O.A.L. 2.250"
#1390 .224" 55 gr. HPBT
C.O.A.L. 2.240"
#1455 .224" 55 gr. BlitzKing
C.O.A.L. 2.250"
Powder /Velocity 2700 2800 2900 3000 3050 3100
Viht N130 21.4 22.0 22.6 22.9
Viht N133 22.6 23.1 23.6 24.1
IMR-4198 19.7 20.3 20.9 21.5 21.8
XMR-2015 22.4 23.1 23.8 24.5 24.9 25.2
RE-7 20.1 20.8 21.5
IMR-3031 23.1 23.6 24.1 24.6
Benchmark 23.6 24.4 25.2
H322 22.5 23.1 23.7 24.3
X-Terminator 22.7 23.5 24.3 24.7 25.1
AA-2230 23.3 24.0 24.7 25.4 25.8 26.1
748 25.1 25.8 26.5
H335 23.6 24.3 25.0 25.7
TAC 24.7 25.5 25.9 26.3
IMR-4895 24.2 24.9 25.6
Viht N135 23.2 23.8 24.4 25.0 25.3 25.6
Varget 25.1 25.8 26.5 27.2
IMR-4064 24.8 25.3 25.8
IMR-4320 25.5 26.1 26.7
Energy/ft.lbs. 890 957 1027 1099 1136 1173
Powder Grains Velocity Ft. lbs.
Accuracy Load RE-7 21.5 2900 1027
Hunting Load H335 25.7 3000

[zomby woof]

I do love 2460

2460 55 BRGR FBHP-V 20.9 2,886 23.2 3,154 54,340 2.260
2460 55 HDY V-Max 21.8 2,914 24.2 3,185 54,980 2.260
2460 55 NOS B-TIP 22.9 2,990 25.4 3,268 54,890 2.260
2460 55 SIE HPBT 23.0 3,010 25.5 3,290 55,520 2.175
2460 55 SIE SBT 22.1 2,967 24.6 3,243 54,340 2.230
2460 55 VNE HP 21.9 2,925 24.3 3,197 53,660 2.162
2460 55 VNE FMJ 22.9 3,018 25.4 3,298 54,950 2.223
2460 55 VNE SP 21.9 2,936 24.3 3,209 54,960 2.20

[Crash_Corrigan]

Accurate Data 2200 powder is what I have. I ran across a deal on it some years ago and I bought 6 eight pound containers of it. I am still using the first one. I loaded for a 22-250 Remington 788 bolt rifle and 29 gr worked well for a 55 gr jacket bullet.

Then I got rid of that rifle and obtained a CZ 527 FS in .223 Remington. This one likes the same bullet with 28 gr of Data 2200.

I am still messing with a cast boolit for this rifle and I know I will be using this powder. It works for my 30-30, .30 Carbine and 6.5 x 55 MM Sweede as well.

[WineMan]

I just use mine in Highpower so my go to is 24.0 Varget under 77 and 80 grain SMK. The AR seems much less finicky as to what you burn in it than the M1 and M1A service rifles. I have never shot any cast in it though plenty in everything else.

Wineman

[Got-R-Did]

FrankG, I addressed your question in post #19 of this thread. Really like this stuff.
As mentioned earlier by Crash Corrigan, I too bought a case of Data 2200 years back at just over $56 per 8 lb jug delivered. Love this propellant as well, but I am down to less than 2/3rds of my last jug and looking for a replacement to buy in bulk. Precision Shooting featured and article about this stuff and within 2 wks of publishing, Widener's had sold out. It is now available as a commercial cannister propellant by Accurate Arms, but the price is now comparable to all their other offerings. I also picked up an 8 lb jug of 2230-C surplus from Accurate Arms and it did not last long at all, another winner that was all too limited in availability. It was a tad slower than 2230 but a bit cleaner.
Got-R-Did.

[Forrest r]

Bl-c2 & 55g bullets go hand in hand in the .223’s. Most people shoot 25.5g of Bl-c2 & get MOA groups, my AR tightened up to 5/8 to ¾ MOA with 26.5g of Bl-c2 & Hornady 55g sp bullets.

Bl-c2 is a spherical powder that meters extremely well in every powder throw I tried it in.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

WCC-846 is what the military is using to load the 308.

With it and 844 the -T means it is for the tracer loads.

I wish somebody would offer both in in 4lb containers. Do you know how long it would take to use up 8lbs of either with tracer bullets? .223=280 rounds of 844-T per pound. .308=175 rounds per pound. Rough estimate...

that is my rant for the week. It's a hard life, being retired...

Rich

[LeadSpitter]

I didn't read every post to see if these were already mentioned or not. Just lazy I guess. lol

Anyhow, Varget is suppose to be very good as well as consistent. And I haven't tired it yet but there's ARComp powder out now.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

the 844 and 846 are less than $100 for an eight pound keg.

If you're cheap enough to use cast boolets, you should be shooting powder that costs less than a good Cuban Cigar...

Rich

[daschnoz]

Only a month late to the party...

One of the military requirements for 223 was that it be able to be loaded with the same powders as the 7.62NATO M80 round. That said, any powder suitable for 150gr bullets in 308WIN will work in 223.

I have tried:
- H4198
- Reloader 7
- 4895 (both of them)
- BL-C(2)
- W748
- Varget

I settled on Reloader 7 since I use the least amount of it per round and it is cheaper than the others per pound.

Keep in mind, this was for blasting ammo, so precision accuracy was not tested. Minute of paper plate was close enough.

I have used TAC in my 308 M80 clone loads. Its burn rate is in the neighborhood of the 4895s. It is also a ball, so it will meter well and pour into the small case mouth nicely. Sticks can bridge from time to time.

YMMV

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

Welllll..............

Since the military uses WCC-844, and Hi-Tech and Pat's Reloading sell 8lb kegs for under $100, you might try that.

Rich