5.56 Powder Question - Page 3

MarkCO · August 17, 2022, 09:20 AM

For 50 to 60 grain, AA2200 meters great and is relatively inexpensive. While the days of cheap surplus "Data 2200" are gone, still a great economical powder.

For over 60 grains, I switch to TAC. Also economical, but a bit better in the accuracy department.

reynolds357 · August 17, 2022, 05:16 PM

All the powder I am seeing these days is $40 per pound. IMR, Hodgdon, Ramshot, Accurate, Alliant, all 40 a pound.
Lovex is $35. Vhitavuri and Norma $45.
I have no idea what "cheap" powder is now days.

MarkCO · August 17, 2022, 09:28 PM

I've seen TAC and AA2200 for $30/lb. More than it was in 2019, but stlll not outrageous.

tangolima · August 17, 2022, 10:34 PM

Anything less than $30 a pound is a deal nowadays. I monitored local gun fora. From time to time, I pick up very good deals.

The key for it to work is flexibility. If you insist on certain make and model, it is hard to have a good deal.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

enstorm · August 20, 2022, 02:56 PM

my 55g fmj nato "clone": TAC 27 grains

for green tip clone: TAC 26.2

Marco Califo · August 20, 2022, 06:28 PM

I have an 8 lb jug of WC844, and have used more than half of it. Firing a Savage Axis with a sporter weight barrel gave me a too hot to handle barrel before I finished 20 rounds. I upgraded to several Heavy & Threaded barrel Axis, and Savage model 10. That made the heat generated much more manageable. For information, the brass comes out very hot, too.
Gas guns have handguards for a reason.

Airborne Falcon · August 21, 2022, 09:21 AM

I mean W 748 is one .... but you only have IMR powders? Any 4895?

hdwhit · August 26, 2022, 07:11 PM

Which military load are you trying to duplicate?

The original 55 grain bullet, or the 62 grain bullet?

What length barrel do you have? Most ARs sold today ave shorter barrels than the ones from the Vietnam War. You will need to match the powder to your bullet and your barrel length.

In 1979, I bought a Mini-14 with an 18 inch barrel. Since this was shorter than the barrel of the then-available AR-15 model, I knew I couldn't match the published 3300 fps from a 55 grain bullet, but I developed a 60 grain load that consistently reaches above 2800 fps.

August 17, 2022, 09:20 AM	#51
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	For 50 to 60 grain, AA2200 meters great and is relatively inexpensive. While the days of cheap surplus "Data 2200" are gone, still a great economical powder. For over 60 grains, I switch to TAC. Also economical, but a bit better in the accuracy department. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

August 17, 2022, 09:28 PM	#53
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	I've seen TAC and AA2200 for $30/lb. More than it was in 2019, but stlll not outrageous. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

August 20, 2022, 06:28 PM	#56
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	H335 / WC844 burns HOT I have an 8 lb jug of WC844, and have used more than half of it. Firing a Savage Axis with a sporter weight barrel gave me a too hot to handle barrel before I finished 20 rounds. I upgraded to several Heavy & Threaded barrel Axis, and Savage model 10. That made the heat generated much more manageable. For information, the brass comes out very hot, too. Gas guns have handguards for a reason. __________________ ............

August 21, 2022, 09:21 AM	#57
Airborne Falcon Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2005 Location: Capital City, SC Posts: 138	I mean W 748 is one .... but you only have IMR powders? Any 4895? __________________ What you think about, you do ... what you do, you become.

August 17, 2022, 05:16 PM	#52
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	All the powder I am seeing these days is $40 per pound. IMR, Hodgdon, Ramshot, Accurate, Alliant, all 40 a pound. Lovex is $35. Vhitavuri and Norma $45. I have no idea what "cheap" powder is now days.

August 17, 2022, 10:34 PM	#54
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,827	Anything less than $30 a pound is a deal nowadays. I monitored local gun fora. From time to time, I pick up very good deals. The key for it to work is flexibility. If you insist on certain make and model, it is hard to have a good deal. -TL Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

August 20, 2022, 02:56 PM	#55
enstorm Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2005 Posts: 217	my 55g fmj nato "clone": TAC 27 grains for green tip clone: TAC 26.2

August 26, 2022, 07:11 PM	#58
hdwhit Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2017 Posts: 1,011	Which military load are you trying to duplicate? The original 55 grain bullet, or the 62 grain bullet? What length barrel do you have? Most ARs sold today ave shorter barrels than the ones from the Vietnam War. You will need to match the powder to your bullet and your barrel length. In 1979, I bought a Mini-14 with an 18 inch barrel. Since this was shorter than the barrel of the then-available AR-15 model, I knew I couldn't match the published 3300 fps from a 55 grain bullet, but I developed a 60 grain load that consistently reaches above 2800 fps.