new gun, new powder, need suggestions

Lilswede1 · March 2, 2015, 12:03 PM

Browning X Bolt, .223 Varmit Special, 1:12 twist, 24" barrel.
Can't find any Accurate 2230 so am going to try 2200.
Bullet is a Sierra Blitz King, 50 gr.
Having a little trouble getting it to sub MOA.
How much freebore do you leave in your loads?

**Unclenick** · March 2, 2015, 12:28 PM

I don't know of any way to predetermine what will work best in your particular gun. Back the load off 10% and start with the bullet in the lands and tweak the load for best accuracy. Back up in 0.030" steps as Berger recommends.

9MMand223only · March 2, 2015, 06:22 PM

If you like 2230, try 2460, its nearly the same powder except it will take about .4 grains more or so to get the same results as the 2230.

in a 50 grain bullet with 2.260 or longer OAL, variable, I know...I would start at like 25.5 grains and work up to 26.X. The sweet spot will probably be a little over 26, depending on OAL

skizzums · March 2, 2015, 06:43 PM

whats wrong with good ol' fashioned 335 or 322 for lightweight .223's? maybe easier to get ahold of and does a pretty fantastic job

Hidalgo1 · March 2, 2015, 07:08 PM

H335 is great although can be temperature sensitive at times. All 3 of my .223s perform extremely well with 50 & 60 grain bullets and Benchmark.

As for OAL, like as already been said you'll have to tailor that to your particular rifle.

skizzums · March 3, 2015, 06:20 PM

I saw a couple #'s of hodgdon'd "BENCHMARK" today. it was priced 8$ a pound more than the standard .223 powders, so I guess it's more for a reason. does anyone have experience with it? is it really 30% better than the others?

from hodgdon

Quote:

As the name implies, this Extreme Extruded propellant was developed for precision cartridges. As such, it is ideally suited for benchrest and small varmint cartridges like the 6mm PPC, 22 PPC, 6mm BR, 223 Rem. and 222 Rem. Additionally, it performs superbly in the 204 Ruger and with light match bullets in 308 Winchester. With small, easy metering granules, competitors will love how it flows through progressive presses. Available in 1 lb. & 8 lb. containers

sounds interesting, but I figure if I did work up a good load, I would probably not be able to find it again

Hidalgo1 · March 3, 2015, 06:27 PM

Are you reading your thread? See post #5..........

skizzums · March 3, 2015, 06:58 PM

guess not, I did not see that.

Hidalgo1 · March 3, 2015, 08:47 PM

Sorry for the blunt post ........................ got some bad medical news from the Doc and it's been a very trying day.

Benchmark is a great powder for the .223 and several other cartridges. It rarely displays temperature reactions and burns cleaner than a lot of others. It meters well through most powder measures and I have also found it to be fairly consistent from lot to lot. It is my go-to powder for our .204 and .223 caliber rifles.

JeepHammer · March 4, 2015, 08:36 AM

Hidalgo,
Don't want to butt into another guys thread...
How does Benchmark do with 60 Gr. Varmint loads?
I mostly shoot 55 & 60 grain V-max for Coyotes and I was wondering about Benchmark, some other guys talk it up like crazy...

Longshot4 · March 4, 2015, 07:24 PM

It's easy not to get groups under 1" at 100Yds. I suspect you could be shooting in a cross wind, poor rest there could be lots of reasons you are having problems. Give us more info detail.

Fritz34 · March 4, 2015, 07:46 PM

I have about 16lbs of WC-844, military surplus powder, which is about the same H335. I get great results with it, but it is pretty temp sensitive like others stated. I recently bought some Benchmark and have been getting some very impressive results out of my 223's. Probably my new favorite for the 223.

Hidalgo1 · March 4, 2015, 08:30 PM

@JeepHammer:

The 60 VMax is about all we shoot in our ARs. Does a wonderful job on coyotes and feral hogs. Benchmark with the 60s is well under MOA on all 3 of our rifles.

JeepHammer · March 5, 2015, 10:20 AM

Thank you! I'll but out now.

mikld · March 5, 2015, 12:58 PM

Mebbe I'm jes ignert, but not being familiar with AA powders I checked my Lyman 49th, and in the data section for .223 I saw no loads for 40-60 gr bullets using 2200. I then checked the Powder chapter and saw no reference to 2200 in the Accurate Powders section. Am I missing something? What's 2200

?

Machineguntony · March 7, 2015, 02:15 AM

AA 2200 works well in 223. I use 19.5 grains of powder with a 55 grain projectile. For a while, AA2200 was everywhere, and cheap, too, at $140/8lbs jug.

March 2, 2015, 12:03 PM	#1
Lilswede1 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2008 Location: NW Wash State Posts: 216	new gun, new powder, need suggestions Browning X Bolt, .223 Varmit Special, 1:12 twist, 24" barrel. Can't find any Accurate 2230 so am going to try 2200. Bullet is a Sierra Blitz King, 50 gr. Having a little trouble getting it to sub MOA. How much freebore do you leave in your loads?

March 2, 2015, 12:28 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,057	I don't know of any way to predetermine what will work best in your particular gun. Back the load off 10% and start with the bullet in the lands and tweak the load for best accuracy. Back up in 0.030" steps as Berger recommends. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

March 2, 2015, 06:43 PM	#4
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	whats wrong with good ol' fashioned 335 or 322 for lightweight .223's? maybe easier to get ahold of and does a pretty fantastic job __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

March 3, 2015, 06:58 PM	#8
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	guess not, I did not see that. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

March 5, 2015, 12:58 PM	#15
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	Mebbe I'm jes ignert, but not being familiar with AA powders I checked my Lyman 49th, and in the data section for .223 I saw no loads for 40-60 gr bullets using 2200. I then checked the Powder chapter and saw no reference to 2200 in the Accurate Powders section. Am I missing something? What's 2200? __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

March 2, 2015, 06:22 PM	#3
9MMand223only Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2014 Posts: 283	If you like 2230, try 2460, its nearly the same powder except it will take about .4 grains more or so to get the same results as the 2230. in a 50 grain bullet with 2.260 or longer OAL, variable, I know...I would start at like 25.5 grains and work up to 26.X. The sweet spot will probably be a little over 26, depending on OAL

March 2, 2015, 07:08 PM	#5
Hidalgo1 Member Join Date: November 22, 2014 Location: East TN Posts: 23	H335 is great although can be temperature sensitive at times. All 3 of my .223s perform extremely well with 50 & 60 grain bullets and Benchmark. As for OAL, like as already been said you'll have to tailor that to your particular rifle.

March 3, 2015, 06:27 PM	#7
Hidalgo1 Member Join Date: November 22, 2014 Location: East TN Posts: 23	Are you reading your thread? See post #5..........

March 3, 2015, 08:47 PM	#9
Hidalgo1 Member Join Date: November 22, 2014 Location: East TN Posts: 23	Sorry for the blunt post ........................ got some bad medical news from the Doc and it's been a very trying day. Benchmark is a great powder for the .223 and several other cartridges. It rarely displays temperature reactions and burns cleaner than a lot of others. It meters well through most powder measures and I have also found it to be fairly consistent from lot to lot. It is my go-to powder for our .204 and .223 caliber rifles.

March 4, 2015, 08:36 AM	#10
JeepHammer Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2015 Posts: 1,768	Hidalgo, Don't want to butt into another guys thread... How does Benchmark do with 60 Gr. Varmint loads? I mostly shoot 55 & 60 grain V-max for Coyotes and I was wondering about Benchmark, some other guys talk it up like crazy...

March 4, 2015, 07:24 PM	#11
Longshot4 Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2014 Posts: 868	It's easy not to get groups under 1" at 100Yds. I suspect you could be shooting in a cross wind, poor rest there could be lots of reasons you are having problems. Give us more info detail.

March 4, 2015, 07:46 PM	#12
Fritz34 Member Join Date: March 3, 2015 Posts: 29	I have about 16lbs of WC-844, military surplus powder, which is about the same H335. I get great results with it, but it is pretty temp sensitive like others stated. I recently bought some Benchmark and have been getting some very impressive results out of my 223's. Probably my new favorite for the 223.

March 4, 2015, 08:30 PM	#13
Hidalgo1 Member Join Date: November 22, 2014 Location: East TN Posts: 23	@JeepHammer: The 60 VMax is about all we shoot in our ARs. Does a wonderful job on coyotes and feral hogs. Benchmark with the 60s is well under MOA on all 3 of our rifles.

March 5, 2015, 10:20 AM	#14
JeepHammer Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2015 Posts: 1,768	Thank you! I'll but out now.

March 7, 2015, 02:15 AM	#16
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	AA 2200 works well in 223. I use 19.5 grains of powder with a 55 grain projectile. For a while, AA2200 was everywhere, and cheap, too, at $140/8lbs jug. __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x

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