Best powder for .223 in AR-15?

[9mmSkeeter]

I haven't picked a bullet weight yet but I'm thinking 55 gn, in the middle practically. I want accuracy through a DPMS AR15, but also lighter recoil. I'll be using CCI Small Rifle Primers. I made a list and Here's what my LGS has in stock :

IMR 8208 XBR
VARGET
BENCHMARK
H-380
H414
H4198
BLC2
H335
SUPERFORMANCE
IMR 4320
IMR 4895
IMR 4166
IMR 4198
IMR 4064
Winchester 748

Leaning towards the 748 for some reason. Thanks!

Oh I also actually HAVE IMR 3031 in my posession but I have not tried it in the ar yet as I don't have that quite yet (layaway)

[Fisher]

With the 55 gr. bullets it's hard to go wrong with Varget. I get very good accuracy out of my Rock River with a 1:8 twist and an 18" barrel using 24 gr. of Varget. If you decide on a heavier bullet Varget should still do the job. You might consider Reloader 15 or H322 if you can find it.

Jim

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

For blast away ammo its been:
IMR 4198 my choice for that purpose.
For targeting (not seen on you're list due to it (not) being a Hodgdon business holding.)
Accurate Arms-2230 always has been my prefered for 223 targeting.

[Ifishsum]

Nothing wrong with W748 at all, or BL-C(2). I use those the most for my 53-55gr loads. I shoot a lot of 100-200 yd matches and use a lot of those loads; I like ball powder for higher volume stuff because it meters perfectly and consistently, and I can load them up twice as fast as I would if I was trickling up each charge.

H335 is also a very good choice; I would probably have tried more of that but the supply for it has been meager around here for a few years and I wanted to develop a load I could get a supply of powder for. W748 and BL-C(2) seem to have been easier to get my hands on lately.

I do prefer to use magnum primers with ball; I have used 400s without issue but ball powder has a reputation for being harder to ignite, especially in cold weather. FWIW

[Road_Clam]

Lots of excellent powders out there for 5.56 gas gun. My top performing powders are

1) Win 748 (excellent powder for 52-77gr bullets)
2) Benchmark (favors lighter 52-55 gr bullets)
3) XBR-8208 ( This worked excellent for 55's FMJ's and the 62gr SS109 steel core bullets)

There are also others such as H335 and Varget but I have not tested these powders in an AR platform. I read a lot of positive feedback on these as well.

[Nathan]

I have used Benchmark with 55 fmj's...

If wide open, I like cfe223 and Tac.

[WVMountaineer]

On your list, 748 is going to be hard to beat. It is a great 5.56 powder. I use Ramshot TAC though, which isn't on your list. Stick with the 748. God Bless

[Gravedigger56]

Only powder I have ever used in my AR-15 so far has been IMR-4895. Meters well and I really like it for it's nice soft recoil with a 55gr bullet. Recently I picked up some Varget and H335 that I will be trying soon.

[Machineguntony]

If you're looking for accuracy, I can't vouch for any of those powders.

I've shot tens of thousands of .223 using many of those powders, and they all cycle the action. I say go for the cheapest powder per shot.

Outside of accuracy, as long as they reliably cycle the action, it's all good.

I say that, but when when I see Ramshot TAC available ($140/8lbs), I act like an 18 year old girl who just ran into Justin Bieber.

[rebs]

Here is my favorites for a 55 gr bullet in my AR, CFE223, H335, 3031. All very accurate and reliable.

[madmo44mag]

VARGET, Accurate Arms-2230, IMR 4198 are the three powders I can find locally on a regular bases.
Just last week I ran across a smoking deal on 8lb of AR Comp so I bought it.
Not sure if I am going to like it. It seems best suited for heavy bullets and I have about 6k 55gr FMJ on hand.
I guess we will see.

[waveslayer]

I like running CFE223, Vargwt and XBR, have had some awesome results with those powders from 55 grain all the way up to 77gr

[rg1]

Most popular powder on your list for 55 grain AR loads is H335 by a wide margin. Win 748 is a good powder also but it takes more powder to equal H335 in velocity. Higher than 26 grains of Win 748 is required to equal 25 grains of H335. Plus Win 748 is known to be temperature sensitive. A max load worked up in cool temperatures will be over max in 95 degree summertime. I've loaded a lot of 748 though and would consider maximum to be 26.4 grains with 55 grain bullets. My 2 cents: Forget the IMR powders from IMR 4198 through IMR 4064 and H 4198, H380, or H414. The 4198 powders are the most troublesome powders in AR's with 55 gr. bullets. Takes a near max charge just to cycle the action of AR's Avoid 4198 unless it's the only powder you can find. Benchmark, Varget, and 8208 work well BUT I still recommend H335 with 55 grain bullets. Varget works well for heavier 69-77 match bullets. Another popular powder for 55 gr. loads is Tac. Follow Hodgdon's data for H335 and you will be pleased with the results. Again, use Hodgdon's data for 55 gr. bullets. In your area with extreme cold and also hot summer temperature I'd consider using CCI 450, BR4, or CCI 41's as they are considered a magnum primer but only slightly warmer than others. They would possibly work better in extreme cold?

[Blue Grass]

It will depend on what "your" rifle likes. My "go to" powder is AA-2460 but you'll have to find what works for you. Ain't no shortcut to trying different components.

[Jim243]

H-335, Varget, CFE223 and the old standby H-4895 or IMR-4895.

Jim

[oley55]

I sure do wish there was a LGS in my area with a selection like that.........

[skizzums]

50-60 gr I would go 4198. 60-70gr varget, 70+ I like 4064

H335 is my fav for 55, but its not on your list

[9mmSkeeter]

Found a powder at Scheels today. It was $19.99 so I went for it. Accurate Arms 2015BR. Hope I made a good choice!

[WVMountaineer]

"I say that, but when when I see Ramshot TAC available ($140/8lbs), I act like an 18 year old girl who just ran into Justin Bieber.".

Me too brother. Me too. 8 lbs is going for $180 around here. God Bless

[rg1]

That wasn't on your list and you didn't regard any recommendations but that powder should work ok.

[9mmSkeeter]

Are you angry? I checked load data, I figured for a $20 bill since it works I might as well try it.

[rg1]

No, not angry at all. Just after 35 or so years of reloading I've lost the interest in experimenting with components. When I start a new caliber such as my 6.5 Grendel or 300 Blackout I want to pick the most popular and proven powder and bullets to work up loads and have a combination to last for the life of my rifle. Nothing wrong with your choice but it's not one of the most popular powders that most often gets recommended . You'll get approximately 275 rounds from your pound of powder and if you like it and find a safe and accurate load then you can buy more or switch. That's one fun part of reloading for a new gun but having grown older I've kind of lost patience for trying new things. Old curmudgeon syndrome kicking in??

[imagunnut]

Don't want to dissuade you from trying different powders but the AR is a very light, felt recoil rifle. If you have an adj. gas block, try closing it off, you barely feel any recoil! Most AR's are over-gassed so you'll feel a lot of input from the system. A small change such as a heavier buffer might help with this. Some go the other route and use very light components or even piston driven systems.
I'm not recommending either this or that, it can get very expensive to deviate from OEM and you may give up some reliability.

Point is, you might get frustrated (like I did) if you expect powders to give you certain characteristics which they may or may not be engineered for, especially if you plan on shooting only 55gr for accuracy and try to chase low recoil at the same time. I'd address the recoil using factory ammo first, kinda like setting up your hardware, then work on software (hand reloads).

[JeepHammer]

I used 748 & Varget for years.
748 is dirty, but it shoots good,
Varget got hard to find when everyone lost their minds.

I haven't tried hot days yet with Benchmark,
But with 55-60 grain V-max bullets, about 26.5 grains is about as accurate as anything I've shot so far in 40+ years of reloading for .223 rem.

When we get some warm/hot days I'll see if it has the same issues with temperature that 748 has or not.
Most people say it doesn't, which is why I picked it to try.

The issue I had with Varget was when I loaded light weight bullets.
Varget starts to really shine around 65 grain bullets and up,
Although I had a Ruger M77 mkII that shot Varget and 55 grain bullets really good...
Varget can be a little heat sensitive when it gets real hot...

Benchmark is EXPENSIVE around here, but its working really good for me so far.

'Felt Recoil' is a function of gas VOLUME hitting the bolt/carrier.
Even 'non-adjustable' AR style rifles can be tuned for a specific load pretty easily and cheaply.

Since this isn't a 'Smith' forum, and I've been 'Warned' about giving 'Smith' information in the open forums,
Send me a PM and I'll explain how to tune your gas block port for about any load you choose.

[Road_Clam]

Originally Posted by Machineguntony

when when I see Ramshot TAC available ($140/8lbs),

Would love to know where you can get 8lbs of anything for $140, are we talking a LGS ??. No matter what brand you going to pay about $210 / 8lbs out my way at the LGS. If there comes a price point of $140 / 8lbs there WILL be knuckle games and blood at the reloading supplies counter.....