Which powder to start with?

JesseN · January 4, 2005, 10:43 AM

I have read everything I can get my hands on and have started collecting all the reloading equipment I need to get started. I plan to start with .223REM and a 55gr bullet. Do I randomly choose a powder from one of the many recipes and start fine tuning it? Is there any rhyme or reason to choosing a starting point like starting with a medium speed powder and go from there?

Any advise?

bill k · January 4, 2005, 11:17 AM

My Nosler book recommends H335 powder. They compare the results from all the powders and select what they feel is the most accurate powder tested.

knightkrawler00 · January 4, 2005, 11:54 AM

I've used BLC-(2) with pretty good results under a 50gr. VMAX in my AR15. Tried the H335 under 69gr. Sierra Match Kings, I have a 1:9 twist, and it worked out okay, though I know it would do better. Have heard that a lot of people are getting very good results with Varget. I bought some, but have not had the time to try it out.

My suggestion would be to try the Varget and then the H335 and see what works for your rifle.

Northwest Cajun · January 4, 2005, 12:15 PM

I'll suggest Varget, It's good in lots of centerfire cartridges.
I use it in;
.223
25-35
7-08 in the near future
300 savage
308
30-06
338-06
45-70
I've developed MOA loads in all rifles. It's also very tempature stable, as in tempature dosent affect it as much as some other powders

try it
Cajun

HSMITH · January 4, 2005, 11:18 PM

I would suggest Varget or BLC-2.

I like to pick powders near the top in velocity ratings that also have a high loading density. This is where I have found the best results in my guns.

rn22723 · January 5, 2005, 04:08 AM

With the no exception Varget is a great choice for 223 applications from light bullets to heavy bullets. The problem with Varget is that is not friendly to consistent throws from most powder measures. And, in the light bullet applications you might need a drop tube. Another thought, is Ramshot TAC I have read BHA uses a lot of TAC!

Leftoverdj · January 5, 2005, 11:31 AM

Fact is that there are a lot of powders that will work pretty good in the .223. Which one you use depends on what you are doing. Needs of a bench rest shooter are a bit different from those of someone who wants to duplicate military ammo for an AR or Mini-14.

I'm cheap, I shoot a lot, and I expect to be shooting for the rest of my life so I get my powder from www.gibrass.com. Jeff sells milsurp powder and he sells it cheap, eight pounds jugs for about the price of three pounds of commercial powder. WC 846 will do fine for you, but start off with H 335 data rather than Bl-C (2). He's got other powders suitable for the .223 as well.

A mixed case is a bit of an investment, but it will be years before you need to buy any more powder. An active reloader can easily spend the cost of a case in one year picking up a pound at a time. The other big advantage of buying in bulk is that once you have a load, you don't need to worry about can to can variation and workup.

arthurrh · January 5, 2005, 11:50 AM

I've gotten my best results with W748. Varget was almost as good, but more difficult to meter.

farmall · January 5, 2005, 10:39 PM

id suggest ramshot tac. they give 24.7 grains for a starting load with 55 grain bullet. tac meters extremely well and i havent noticed any temp sensivity. very clean too. my prairie dog load is 25.2gr over 55gr vmax win primer- 15 shots in 5/8 at 100 yds about 3250 fps in my ar-15. just my 2cents!

January 4, 2005, 10:43 AM	#1
JesseN Junior Member Join Date: December 10, 2004 Posts: 5	Which powder to start with? I have read everything I can get my hands on and have started collecting all the reloading equipment I need to get started. I plan to start with .223REM and a 55gr bullet. Do I randomly choose a powder from one of the many recipes and start fine tuning it? Is there any rhyme or reason to choosing a starting point like starting with a medium speed powder and go from there? Any advise?

January 4, 2005, 11:17 AM	#2
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	My Nosler book recommends H335 powder. They compare the results from all the powders and select what they feel is the most accurate powder tested. Last edited by bill k; January 4, 2005 at 12:44 PM.

January 4, 2005, 12:15 PM	#4
Northwest Cajun Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 1999 Location: Spanaway Wa. &Lafayette La,(Cajun Country) Posts: 189	I'll suggest Varget, It's good in lots of centerfire cartridges. I use it in; .223 25-35 7-08 in the near future 300 savage 308 30-06 338-06 45-70 I've developed MOA loads in all rifles. It's also very tempature stable, as in tempature dosent affect it as much as some other powders try it Cajun __________________ Laizzes Les Bon Temps Rouler!

January 4, 2005, 11:54 AM	#3
knightkrawler00 Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2004 Location: Prosser WA Posts: 103	I've used BLC-(2) with pretty good results under a 50gr. VMAX in my AR15. Tried the H335 under 69gr. Sierra Match Kings, I have a 1:9 twist, and it worked out okay, though I know it would do better. Have heard that a lot of people are getting very good results with Varget. I bought some, but have not had the time to try it out. My suggestion would be to try the Varget and then the H335 and see what works for your rifle.

January 4, 2005, 11:18 PM	#5
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	I would suggest Varget or BLC-2. I like to pick powders near the top in velocity ratings that also have a high loading density. This is where I have found the best results in my guns.

January 5, 2005, 04:08 AM	#6
rn22723 Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2001 Location: Burbs of Minneapolis Posts: 676	With the no exception Varget is a great choice for 223 applications from light bullets to heavy bullets. The problem with Varget is that is not friendly to consistent throws from most powder measures. And, in the light bullet applications you might need a drop tube. Another thought, is Ramshot TAC I have read BHA uses a lot of TAC!

January 5, 2005, 11:31 AM	#7
Leftoverdj Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2004 Posts: 934	Fact is that there are a lot of powders that will work pretty good in the .223. Which one you use depends on what you are doing. Needs of a bench rest shooter are a bit different from those of someone who wants to duplicate military ammo for an AR or Mini-14. I'm cheap, I shoot a lot, and I expect to be shooting for the rest of my life so I get my powder from www.gibrass.com. Jeff sells milsurp powder and he sells it cheap, eight pounds jugs for about the price of three pounds of commercial powder. WC 846 will do fine for you, but start off with H 335 data rather than Bl-C (2). He's got other powders suitable for the .223 as well. A mixed case is a bit of an investment, but it will be years before you need to buy any more powder. An active reloader can easily spend the cost of a case in one year picking up a pound at a time. The other big advantage of buying in bulk is that once you have a load, you don't need to worry about can to can variation and workup.

January 5, 2005, 11:50 AM	#8
arthurrh Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2004 Posts: 189	I've gotten my best results with W748. Varget was almost as good, but more difficult to meter.

January 5, 2005, 10:39 PM	#9
farmall Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2004 Location: Beatrice Nebraska Posts: 613	id suggest ramshot tac. they give 24.7 grains for a starting load with 55 grain bullet. tac meters extremely well and i havent noticed any temp sensivity. very clean too. my prairie dog load is 25.2gr over 55gr vmax win primer- 15 shots in 5/8 at 100 yds about 3250 fps in my ar-15. just my 2cents!