Favorite powder for .223/5.56? - Page 2

farmerboy · January 4, 2011, 07:35 PM

+1 for 4runnerman's Varget recipe. On post #16. Varget and Hornady 55 gr. V-max's, What a great combo (in most guns that is)

ericfp · January 12, 2011, 11:27 PM

My best group was with Ramshot X-Exterminator
21.9 g behind a sierra 69 g HPBT Match.
out of a Sig 556 1 in 7 twist

Linear Thinker · January 13, 2011, 07:43 PM

AA2230 for 55gr bullets, AA2520 for 62 grainers, Vihta N140 for Sierra MK 69gr. Those are AR loads. I adjust the powder weight based on the kind of brass I'm using: less powder for thick military cases, more powder for commercial cases.

For 223 bolt guns, Varget is my favorite. I use only Norma brass. My loads:
27 grains with 52gr (or was it 53?) Hornady Boat-tails
26 grains with Sierra 69 MKs.
LT

riverwalker76 · January 13, 2011, 08:31 PM

I prefer NOT to use Accurate 2230. It's a really dirty powder which closely resembles a military surplus powder in my opinion.

Any of the following are good powders for .223 ...

Accurate 2520 works well with heavier bullets in the range of 68 - 80 gr.

Reloder 15 is a favorite among a lot of .223 shooters for a broad range of bullet weights.

Hodgdon H335 and Benchmark are great.

IMR 8208 XBR has been unsurpased in my book by anything other than Vihtavuori .

Vihtavuori powders surpass any other powder sold in the US in my opinion. I have had cleaner barrels, and better groups out of Vihtavuori powders than anything I've been able to get commercially here in the US.

Bamashooter · January 13, 2011, 08:37 PM

as you can see everyone has their favorite. just pick one and go with it.

thallub · January 14, 2011, 08:41 AM

Started re-loading .223 ammo in the mid to late 1960s. After experimenting with the powders available at the time, i settled on IMR 3031: Still use IMR 3031 almost exclusively for my loads: Those loads are limited to bullets no heavier than 55 grains. Several of my 5.56mm/.223 rifles make 1/4" to 1/2" three shot groups at 100 yards using my IMR 3031 loads.

603Country · January 15, 2011, 09:02 PM

I use AA2230 for my 223, which is a new Ruger Hawkeye. I have to admit that I used 2230 mostly because I had an excess of it, and wanted to shoot it up. And I noticed in my Lyman book that with the 55 grain bullet, the suggested 'most accurate' load was about the fastest velocity shown for any of the powders, though that fastest powder wasn't the 2230. Still, AA2230 also pushes the 55 grain to about that same velocity, so why not give it a try. I loaded up 100 rounds, with new Nosler cases, and it shot real well at 24.5 grains, with CCI BR4 primers. After necksizing and reloading, I've found that it shoots a real nice round group, with no flyers, and the grouping is about .75 inches at 100 yards, and might get better if I can beef up my shooting bench to reduce wobble. It might not be the absolute best powder for that caliber, but it is pretty darn good. I might go to 25 grains (which I think may be the indicated max) and see how it shoots. And I might dust off the can of IMR 3031 which is also in excess on my shelf. And...just for info, I like the Ruger Hawkeye. I think it's going to turn out to be a real good shooter.

rustypigeon · January 16, 2011, 01:08 PM

For 55gr bullets I like H335.

For 75gr bullets I like Varget.

Varget seems to get its best accuracy and consistency with the heavier bullets. H335 meters very well, I have had great results with it using lighter bullets.

jake556 · January 16, 2011, 10:19 PM

Varget is good for me but recently have gotten better groups with Benchmark I will probably choose Benchmark over Varget in the future

CherokeeT · January 17, 2011, 06:50 PM

One of my best loads for the last 30+ years of loading 5.56 is the Hornady 55 JSP and H335. You can substitutre WC844 if you can find it. A2230 and TAC are also good.

January 13, 2011, 07:43 PM	#28
Linear Thinker Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2007 Location: Blue State, NE US Posts: 202	AA2230 for 55gr bullets, AA2520 for 62 grainers, Vihta N140 for Sierra MK 69gr. Those are AR loads. I adjust the powder weight based on the kind of brass I'm using: less powder for thick military cases, more powder for commercial cases. For 223 bolt guns, Varget is my favorite. I use only Norma brass. My loads: 27 grains with 52gr (or was it 53?) Hornady Boat-tails 26 grains with Sierra 69 MKs. LT Last edited by Linear Thinker; January 13, 2011 at 07:54 PM.

January 13, 2011, 08:31 PM	#29
riverwalker76 Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 993	I prefer NOT to use Accurate 2230. It's a really dirty powder which closely resembles a military surplus powder in my opinion. Any of the following are good powders for .223 ... Accurate 2520 works well with heavier bullets in the range of 68 - 80 gr. Reloder 15 is a favorite among a lot of .223 shooters for a broad range of bullet weights. Hodgdon H335 and Benchmark are great. IMR 8208 XBR has been unsurpased in my book by anything other than Vihtavuori . Vihtavuori powders surpass any other powder sold in the US in my opinion. I have had cleaner barrels, and better groups out of Vihtavuori powders than anything I've been able to get commercially here in the US. __________________ *Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto* - “You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.” Last edited by riverwalker76; January 13, 2011 at 08:41 PM.

January 17, 2011, 06:50 PM	#35
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 273	One of my best loads for the last 30+ years of loading 5.56 is the Hornady 55 JSP and H335. You can substitutre WC844 if you can find it. A2230 and TAC are also good. __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

January 4, 2011, 07:35 PM	#26
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	+1 for 4runnerman's Varget recipe. On post #16. Varget and Hornady 55 gr. V-max's, What a great combo (in most guns that is)

January 12, 2011, 11:27 PM	#27
ericfp Junior Member Join Date: January 12, 2011 Posts: 2	My best group was with Ramshot X-Exterminator 21.9 g behind a sierra 69 g HPBT Match. out of a Sig 556 1 in 7 twist

January 13, 2011, 08:37 PM	#30
Bamashooter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2010 Posts: 1,860	as you can see everyone has their favorite. just pick one and go with it.

January 14, 2011, 08:41 AM	#31
thallub Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: South Western OK Posts: 3,112	Started re-loading .223 ammo in the mid to late 1960s. After experimenting with the powders available at the time, i settled on IMR 3031: Still use IMR 3031 almost exclusively for my loads: Those loads are limited to bullets no heavier than 55 grains. Several of my 5.56mm/.223 rifles make 1/4" to 1/2" three shot groups at 100 yards using my IMR 3031 loads.

January 15, 2011, 09:02 PM	#32
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I use AA2230 for my 223, which is a new Ruger Hawkeye. I have to admit that I used 2230 mostly because I had an excess of it, and wanted to shoot it up. And I noticed in my Lyman book that with the 55 grain bullet, the suggested 'most accurate' load was about the fastest velocity shown for any of the powders, though that fastest powder wasn't the 2230. Still, AA2230 also pushes the 55 grain to about that same velocity, so why not give it a try. I loaded up 100 rounds, with new Nosler cases, and it shot real well at 24.5 grains, with CCI BR4 primers. After necksizing and reloading, I've found that it shoots a real nice round group, with no flyers, and the grouping is about .75 inches at 100 yards, and might get better if I can beef up my shooting bench to reduce wobble. It might not be the absolute best powder for that caliber, but it is pretty darn good. I might go to 25 grains (which I think may be the indicated max) and see how it shoots. And I might dust off the can of IMR 3031 which is also in excess on my shelf. And...just for info, I like the Ruger Hawkeye. I think it's going to turn out to be a real good shooter.

January 16, 2011, 01:08 PM	#33
rustypigeon Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Location: PA Posts: 18	For 55gr bullets I like H335. For 75gr bullets I like Varget. Varget seems to get its best accuracy and consistency with the heavier bullets. H335 meters very well, I have had great results with it using lighter bullets.

January 16, 2011, 10:19 PM	#34
jake556 Member Join Date: November 12, 2010 Posts: 25	Varget is good for me but recently have gotten better groups with Benchmark I will probably choose Benchmark over Varget in the future