Powder Recommendation for 20 Practical, 223, and 22BR?

[RabbitSlayer]

I want to stock up on powder, but I am feeling a little overwhelmed by the choices and the price tag. I am hoping someone can recommend 1 powder that will work well for all my varmint rifle needs. I would like to stick to powders that are not too temp sensitive, so no ball powders.

I am searching for 1 powder that will work really well for:
20 Practical with 40 gr vmax
223 with 53 gr vmax up to 60 gr sierra TMK (if they are ever available again)
22BR with 53 gr vmax, 60 gr sierra TMK, 62 gr ELD-VT (when they hit the shelves)

I am considering H4895, LT-32, IMR 8208 XBR, N133/N135. I'm certainly open to your recommendations. If it is actually something that is in stock will be even better! Maybe I being too hopeful and I really need more than 1 powder?

 

[Mark M.]

N133

 

[GLShooter]

8208 and Benchmark will do fine as will RL10
Really any decent 223 powder has done well in my 20 Prac and TAC guns over the years.

 

[Elwood]

22BR, H322 and Benchmark for 50-55 grain projectiles and N135 worked well for 60 grains and above.

 

[dusterdave173]

The VV133 and 135 are amazing --they used to be considered expensive but these days offer the best value out there as other brands have increased
I find them Very clean---single digit es/sd seems to be easy
N133 and 53Vmax is a golden combo!

 

[jepp2]

Maybe I being too hopeful and I really need more than 1 powder?

Only if you want to get the best out of each rifle. For the 20P N133, LT-32 and H322 are my top 3.

 

[nmkid]

I guess I'll be the odd man out...H-335 has worked magically in my 20P.

 

[Jerry Snyder]

I load sub MOA with IMR 8208, SMKT 77 grains, 223 Lapua brass. Hard to find at this moment.....

 

[Timon]

I only shoot 223’s and have tried a number of powders over the years. I’m shooting 52 grain bullets and am currently using N133. I have not found any of the other powders that shoots these weight bullets as well. For a long time I used 26 gr of Benchmark. Currently I’m shooting 24.2 of N133 and the velocities are higher, the groups smaller and ES/SD’s are very low as compared to using Benchmark. The N133 for your bullets to 55, I’d go N135, for the heavier ones to 60.

 

[jds holler]

8208, Benchmark, H335, BLC-2, -- all will work fine, probably great, for those cartridges. jd

 

[hogpatrol]

My 2¢, No powder will be optimum for all three. 133/Xterminator for the 20P, toss a coin for the .223 and Benchmark for the 22BR with light bullets, RL17 for the heavies.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

With the price of 8lbs of n133 on powder valley I think I will start with that. It looks like we are headed for another shortage, so I just want to make sure I have something on hand that will work, even if it is not ideal for all 3. We all know it can take literally years for them to make a run of the powder you really want. Thanks for all the input.

 

[sdbob]

TAC is my go to in my dog guns. Cheaper and plentiful.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

TAC is my go to in my dog guns. Cheaper and plentiful.

N133 for 8lbs is about the same price as tac at powder valley. I have 5 lbs of xterminator I run in my AR with 53gr vmax for coyotes. Want temp stable for PDs though cuz I work up the loads in the winter but hunt in 100 degrees in july. Coyotes I do load development and hunt both in winter.

 

[Longtrain]

After similar thought, I chose LT-32 for 50gr ish bullets in my 1:12 223. Accuracy is amazing and it meters just about perfectly from my Harrell’s. Easy peasy…but, many of the others will work very well too. Metering was an important factor in my choice or I was probably going to go with N133.

 

[COLT45SA]

22BR, H322 and Benchmark for 50-55 grain projectiles and N135 worked well for 60 grains and above.

Top choice would be H-322

 

[COLT45SA]

Top choice would be H-322

I'm with you brother~!

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Just thought I would follow up. I ended up getting 8lbs n133 and 8lbs of TAC. Not sure what I will do with the TAC, but the price was right. They shall live on the shelf till the fall. Ended up going with a 223 ai instead of a 20 practical. It's off to pac nor for a new tube.

 

[Lefty2506]

I know this thread has some age to it, but I am kicking around the idea of a 20 practical for PDs and had the same question. By coincidence, I keep a fair amount of TAC on hand for plinking loads for my ARs, and I keep N133 on hand to go with my 53gr vmax which is my current PD load. At the time (2 years ago) I bought TAC because it was relatively cheap (well under $30/lb). Now, its cheaper to buy a keg of N133. I've enjoyed shooting VV powders for over 20 years now, but I never thought I'd see the day when they were the more economical choice.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I know this thread has some age to it, but I am kicking around the idea of a 20 practical for PDs and had the same question. By coincidence, I keep a fair amount of TAC on hand for plinking loads for my ARs, and I keep N133 on hand to go with my 53gr vmax which is my current PD load. At the time (2 years ago) I bought TAC because it was relatively cheap (well under $30/lb). Now, its cheaper to buy a keg of N133. I've enjoyed shooting VV powders for over 20 years now, but I never thought I'd see the day when they were the more economical choice.

The TAC was old stock. I suspect next time they get a shipment it will be expensive.