Powders - for .223

P95Carry · June 18th, 2007, 01:34 AM

I have just finished a 2# jug of N-133 for reloads - about close to 500 .... love it and wish I had more. It is small rod in type and meters very well.

I have 2# of Varget - a powder I have heard quite a bit about for the cal and so switched to that - time to try it out. But heck - hate the metering!!! It is also rod but larger than N-133 - and tho I set up for a drop of 26.5 - I am not happy that this is consistent - even tho I reckon my Hornady measure is usually good to +/- a tenth grain.

So - anyone loading .223 .. any thoughts re other powders? Varget is almost next to N-140 in burning rate and I use N-140 for .243 and do not want to use that instead for .223. I doubt I'll be buying so much Vhit powder anymore cos of cost.

Hodgdon H-335 is close to N-133 for burn rate - any users?

Captain Crunch · June 18th, 2007, 02:52 AM

When I reloaded .223 back in the stone age, I used either H-335 or Hodgdon's Ball-C(2). The latter was powder that was reclaimed from condemned lots of military 5.56 by Hodgdon and repackaged for the retail trade. It's probably not available any more, I imagine.

Smith&Wessonfan · June 18th, 2007, 08:43 AM

Alliant's Reloder 15.

When I shot Highpower across the course, I reloaded LOTS of 223 with a 75 gr Hornady and 24.7 grains of Reloder 15. All my ammo meant for the 200 and 300 yard lines was dropped with a RCBS Uniflow measure and the consistency was good enough to net me cleans if I held hard.

For 600 yard ammo, I throw short and trickle to exact weight.

Sig 210 · June 18th, 2007, 09:28 AM

For the past 35 years i have used IMR 3031 in my .223 with 40 and 45 grain bullets. All my loads using IMR 3031are very accurate and very consistent. Killed hundreds of coyotes with IMR 3031 and Winchester, Remington and Sierra 45 grain bullets.

Bud White · June 18th, 2007, 09:46 AM

h-335 here see pic at left

Jamie Young · June 18th, 2007, 10:22 AM

WC844- Cheap and get good results with 55gr and 62gr bullets.

N140
N540
AA2230

The only one I'm still looking to buy is Varget.

P95Carry · June 18th, 2007, 02:28 PM

Hmmm - may have to try some H-335 perhaps - but gonna have to use the Varget anyways.

Quote:

For the past 35 years i have used IMR 3031 in my .223

Hmmm - well have some of that but had used it for hot 45-70 loads in the Ruger #1 ..... in fact wasn't over impressed with it for metering IIRC. I only have 1# remaining so may not start on using it for .223 - well yet.

Thx tho guys for the input - always useful.

threefeathers · June 18th, 2007, 03:52 PM

I've loaded thousands of rounds with most of the above powders with good results.
This is what I've decided on.
Ramshot TAC for my standard loads. 62 grain Golden West bullet driven by 26 grains of TAC and a Winchester primer.

Match load. 25.5 grains of Varget driving the Berger 73 grain pill, with Bench Rest primers.

P95Carry · June 18th, 2007, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Match load. 25.5 grains of Varget driving the Berger 73 grain pill, with Bench Rest primers.

Thx for info - so I assume you liked Varget. I am just finishing a 100 rounds with just 55's over 26.4 of it .... see how they run but, still finding when throwing the charge that sometimes it is getting ''chopped'' and not overly consistent.

I am going with that for now as haven't the time or patience to weigh each charge and trickle - just not that critical. Still - good to know what others have found. Thx again.

dodge · June 23rd, 2007, 07:07 AM

I use Win. 748 in my .223. My load consist od 28.0 grs 748, Hornady 50 gr V-max, CCI 400 primer with Federal cases. From my Remington 700 VLS I get 3400 fps.

June 18th, 2007, 02:52 AM	#2
Captain Crunch 1943 - 2009 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Montana Posts: 10,408	When I reloaded .223 back in the stone age, I used either H-335 or Hodgdon's Ball-C(2). The latter was powder that was reclaimed from condemned lots of military 5.56 by Hodgdon and repackaged for the retail trade. It's probably not available any more, I imagine. __________________ When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains, And the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains, And go to your God like a soldier. Rudyard Kipling Terry

June 18th, 2007, 10:22 AM	#6
Jamie Young Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: PA Posts: 499	WC844- Cheap and get good results with 55gr and 62gr bullets. N140 N540 AA2230 The only one I'm still looking to buy is Varget. __________________ Find out about Gun Shows and Training activities. www.TheRallyPoint.org Get your gun club involved!! RogueElite.net

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June 18th, 2007, 01:34 AM	#1
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,468	Powders - for .223 I have just finished a 2# jug of N-133 for reloads - about close to 500 .... love it and wish I had more. It is small rod in type and meters very well. I have 2# of Varget - a powder I have heard quite a bit about for the cal and so switched to that - time to try it out. But heck - hate the metering!!! It is also rod but larger than N-133 - and tho I set up for a drop of 26.5 - I am not happy that this is consistent - even tho I reckon my Hornady measure is usually good to +/- a tenth grain. So - anyone loading .223 .. any thoughts re other powders? Varget is almost next to N-140 in burning rate and I use N-140 for .243 and do not want to use that instead for .223. I doubt I'll be buying so much Vhit powder anymore cos of cost. Hodgdon H-335 is close to N-133 for burn rate - any users? __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

June 18th, 2007, 08:43 AM	#3
Smith&Wessonfan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 508	Alliant's Reloder 15. When I shot Highpower across the course, I reloaded LOTS of 223 with a 75 gr Hornady and 24.7 grains of Reloder 15. All my ammo meant for the 200 and 300 yard lines was dropped with a RCBS Uniflow measure and the consistency was good enough to net me cleans if I held hard. For 600 yard ammo, I throw short and trickle to exact weight.

June 18th, 2007, 09:28 AM	#4
Sig 210 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwestern OK Posts: 800	For the past 35 years i have used IMR 3031 in my .223 with 40 and 45 grain bullets. All my loads using IMR 3031are very accurate and very consistent. Killed hundreds of coyotes with IMR 3031 and Winchester, Remington and Sierra 45 grain bullets.

June 18th, 2007, 09:46 AM	#5
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Gone from Here Posts: 17,375	h-335 here see pic at left

June 18th, 2007, 03:52 PM	#8
threefeathers Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 525	I've loaded thousands of rounds with most of the above powders with good results. This is what I've decided on. Ramshot TAC for my standard loads. 62 grain Golden West bullet driven by 26 grains of TAC and a Winchester primer. Match load. 25.5 grains of Varget driving the Berger 73 grain pill, with Bench Rest primers.

June 23rd, 2007, 07:07 AM	#10
dodge New Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: pA. Posts: 3	I use Win. 748 in my .223. My load consist od 28.0 grs 748, Hornady 50 gr V-max, CCI 400 primer with Federal cases. From my Remington 700 VLS I get 3400 fps.