Benchmark

[Wis. Tom]

Anybody use Benchmark for their .223 load? I am shooting a 55 gr. Hornady V-Max out of a Mini 14 Ranch and a Colt AR 15. I have plenty of bullets, but I am getting alittle short on powder, and the place I use to get powder from, just got in some Benchmark, but I have not used that before, even though it is listed on Hornady, for this. I have plenty loaded up using CFE223, and H335, but since we are in between crisis, and they have the powder, I thought I would see what others think, as powder shipments are so scarce. Maybe I should just get it, tough choices.

[GabbyM]

Benchmark by Hodgdon is what I use under Sierra 53gr Match-King in my 223 Rem 700 VLS. It meters great for a stick powder.
With 55 grain bullets it won't be the highest fps powder but should work very well in those self loaders. My old Colt SP-1 always shot more accurate with faster burn rate powders like IMR 4198 compared to 748 or 335.

[NETWizz]

Benchmark is great. I won't give you my exact load (refer to a manual, of course), but suffice it to say I use right around 24gr with a 55gr bullet... Not saying this is the right data for you... Absolutely start lower and work your way up, but it is a great load working for me.

[Wis. Tom]

Thanks guys, I will give it a try. I can't be picky in this area right now, as powder around here, is pretty scarce.

[novalty]

After doing a lot of researching, I picked up Hodgdon Benchmark as my first rifle powder. I've shot it some in 25-35 WCF from Winchester 94, and was very happy with the accuracy, and absolutely amazed that the new Winchester brass I was using looked unfired after shooting. If it didn't have the spent primer in it, I don't believe I could tell the difference between the unfired & fired brass.

[captbligh]

Worked up a load with Benchmark under the Sierra 50 gr. Blitzking for my TC Contender and it's great. About a grain under max in the reloading manuals and have had great accuracy and thumps coyotes.

[JScott]

Great 223 powder and also worked well for me in 17 Fireball. Very clean burning and temperature insensitive for me.

[Love Life]

25 gr under a 55 gr FMJ or 53 SMK. Very accurate and operates autoloaders just fine. A very accurate powder in 8X57 as well.

[dnotarianni]

Anybody use Benchmark for their .223 load? I am shooting a 55 gr. Hornady V-Max out of a Mini 14 Ranch and a Colt AR 15. I have plenty of bullets, but I am getting alittle short on powder, and the place I use to get powder from, just got in some Benchmark, but I have not used that before, even though it is listed on Hornady, for this. I have plenty loaded up using CFE223, and H335, but since we are in between crisis, and they have the powder, I thought I would see what others think, as powder shipments are so scarce. Maybe I should just get it, tough choices.

did good with 22.5 under a 55gr