Best powder for .223/5.56

[ricco1949]

The only things coming to mind are police department and public domain. What is PD season?

Aw come on Leo....Prairie Dog season...

 

[shamrock12]

Pay attention to the bullet weights … the OP said 55 to 62 grains which are on the lighter side of spectrum. H335, Benchmark, IMR 3031, IMR 8208 XBR, Ramshot X-Terminator and Tac should work well for that.

I see several here mentioned Varget, 748, BLC2 and CFE223 which may still work but they are more suitable for heavies. They are slower burning and further down on the burn rate chart.

 

[Leo_B]

Keeping a rough tally list, the two leading choices by a fair margin are CFE223 and H335 with Benchmark, TAC and (expensive relatively) Varget making the second tier. Given the leading nominations and lower cost I'm looking at coin flipping on the first two with H335 currently ahead in the tally and lower cost, win/win.

 

[DShortt]

Keeping a rough tally list, the two leading choices by a fair margin are CFE223 and H335 with Benchmark, TAC and (expensive relatively) Varget making the second tier. Given the leading nominations and lower cost I'm looking at coin flipping on the first two with H335 currently ahead in the tally and lower cost, win/win.

I personally haven't had impressive results with Varget, but I'm beginning to think my bullet choice hasn't been helpful.
Not many have great things to say about Hornady 68 grain BTHP Match in an 8 twist barrel. Wouldn't you know? That's what I've been working with.

Live and learn.

So, to the OP. You might want.to check your bullet choice along with powder.

I have had good results with Hornady 55 grain V-Max and H335 in a 9 twist barrel.

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

Any opinions on Accurate 2520 (besides it being dirty)? My oldest daughter wants to begin reloading for her Ruger AR-556 with a 16.1" barrel. 1 in 8 twist. She wants to keep things simple by using straight powder measure drops without messing with a trickler. And I want her to be safe. I'm figuring that 2520 offers a bit more pressure safety margin leeway for measure dropped charges, at a sacrifice of MV, accuracy, and dirtiness. She wants to begin with 55 grain FMJ Hornady's. She wants to stay within .223 SAAMI 55,000 PSI and not wander into 5.56 NATO pressure territory.

 

[shamrock12]

Keeping a rough tally list, the two leading choices by a fair margin are CFE223 and H335 with Benchmark, TAC and (expensive relatively) Varget making the second tier. Given the leading nominations and lower cost I'm looking at coin flipping on the first two with H335 currently ahead in the tally and lower cost, win/win.

I think most of those that mentioned CFE223 failed to pay attention to the fact that you are using lighter bullets. It still would work but not ideal. You are asking us what is the “best” powder for your .223/5.56 with 55-62 grain bullets and while there is no clear front runner, CFE223 is not one of those ideal choices, despite their popularity. I think a lot of folks got sucked onto the CFE223 bandwagon because it says 223 on it with “copper fouling eraser” technology. That powder is quite way down on the burn rate chart (one of slowest) as compared to almost all other popular .223 powders.

You really need to do your homework first. Choosing a powder should not be done by coin tossing your poll!

 

[Texas Solo]

AA2230

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I've been using, Win 748 Ball Powder for Years with, 55 gr NBT's up to, the 65 gr. GK's & 69 gr. SMK's, BUT,..
when I run Out of, that chit, I'll be using, the Temp IN-sensitive,.. IMR 8208 xbr for, .223 / 5;56 !
I've been doing, My Homework and am trying it Now with, 60 gr. NBT's, in a .22-250 and, IT,.. "Shoot's" !

 

[DShortt]

I think most of those that mentioned CFE223 failed to pay attention to the fact that you are using lighter bullets. It still would work but not ideal. You are asking us what is the “best” powder for your .223/5.56 with 55-62 grain bullets and while there is no clear front runner, CFE223 is not one of those ideal choices, despite their popularity. I think a lot of folks got sucked onto the CFE223 bandwagon because it says 223 on it with “copper fouling eraser” technology. That powder is quite way down on the burn rate chart (one of slowest) as compared to almost all other popular .223 powders.

You really need to do your homework first. Choosing a powder should not be done by coin tossing your poll!

As I stated above, I have had good results with H332 and 55 grain bullets.

 

[shamrock12]

As I stated above, I have had good results with H332 and 55 grain bullets.

Yep, H322 is a faster burning powder which is suitable for lighter bullets like 55gr and less. Benchmark which is next to H335 on the burn rate chart would be a slightly better match for between 55 and 62 grains which is what the OP is using.

To the OP: H322 and Benchmark are extruded sticks, they should be more accurate as they are not as temperature sensitive as H335 which is a double based spherical (ball) powder. For many folks, the cheaper powder like H335 is good for plinking.

H322/H335/Benchmade are on the faster end of spectrum (suitable for light .223 bullets) while Varget/BLC2/748 and especially CFE223 are on the slower end of spectrum (suitable for heavy .223 bullets).

 

[shamrock12]

I've been using, Win 748 Ball Powder for Years with, 55 gr NBT's up to, the 65 gr. GK's & 69 gr. SMK's, BUT,..
when I run Out of, that chit, I'll be using, the Temp IN-sensitive,.. IMR 8208 xbr for, .223 / 5;56 !
I've been doing, My Homework and am trying it Now with, 60 gr. NBT's, in a .22-250 and, IT,.. "Shoot's" !

748 works but is not ideal for lighter bullets like 55gr. XBR 8208 would be a good choice for that but you may want to look into another powder for your 69gr. for optimal performance. Winchester recently came out with StaBall Match which is right next to 748 on the burn rate chart and is supposedly to be accurate and temperature stable.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

748 works but is not ideal for lighter bullets like 55gr. XBR 8208 would be a good choice for that but you may want to look into another powder for your 69gr. for optimal performance. Winchester recently came out with StaBall Match which is right next to 748 on the burn rate chart and is supposedly to be accurate and temperature stable.

I hardly shoot, the 5.56 anymore ( Saving it, for grandson and in-case, the SHTF,.. some day ) but, it Likes, 60 NBT's and 65 gr. GK's,. "Best" !
I'm into Fast, Flat & Accurate, .22-250's nowadays for, Varm'nts and Steel plates.
IMR 8208 for Light Bullets ( 55 & 60's ) and IMR 4350 ( or, StaBall 65 ) for, the Heavies ( 65 grs to 80 ish )

 

[Hammer]

If I read the Hodgdon load data website correctly…

CFE 223 gives the highest velocity when compared to more than twenty of their other powders for a couple of 55 grain bullets where it’s listed.

Doesn’t make a reference to accuracy.

.

 

[jk80]

Oh well, relatively speaking, of course. Talk of $4 a pound is like telling the “walked to school in the snow uphill both ways” stories.

That's right. It was so cold mom would bake two potatoes to put in my coat pockets to keep my hands warm and then I had em for lunch. Man, was there some cold walks home without those potatoes!!!!

 

[SD guy]

I am not seeing a consensus here. I'll confuse this a bit more & suggest Benchmark. Though this is quite close to IMR 8208 which has only been suggested once. so I will give 8208 a thumbs up. BTW what is the intended distance?

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I am not seeing a consensus here. I'll confuse this a bit more & suggest Benchmark. Though this is quite close to IMR 8208 which has only been suggester once. so I will give 8208 a thumbs up. BTW what is the intended distance?

There are, 4 or 5 of Us recommending,.. IMR 8208 xbr for, 55 to 62 grain Bullets, in the .223,..
Look at posts, on,.. Page 2 and 3.
It's some,.. "Good Chit",.. IMO ! ( Just NOT, widely used,.. YET ! )

 

[shamrock12]

If I read the Hodgdon load data website correctly…

CFE 223 gives the highest velocity when compared to more than twenty of their other powders for a couple of 55 grain bullets where it’s listed.

Doesn’t make a reference to accuracy.

.

That would make sense with them being one of the slowest burning .223 powders. Slow powders build pressure more slowly and keep it higher for a longer period, resulting in greater velocity.

 

[KMW 1954]

I spent 3 10-week seasons shooting a 223 in an informal local bench league. I spent a lot of time and materials learning and refining my working load. So for what it is worth, I can say I was able to find a very serviceable load with just about every bullet/powder combination I tried. Some may not have been as fast, but I easily found a sub-MOA load, and these were at distances out to 300yds.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I think most of those that mentioned CFE223 failed to pay attention to the fact that you are using lighter bullets. It still would work but not ideal. You are asking us what is the “best” powder for your .223/5.56 with 55-62 grain bullets and while there is no clear front runner, CFE223 is not one of those ideal choices, despite their popularity. I think a lot of folks got sucked onto the CFE223 bandwagon because it says 223 on it with “copper fouling eraser” technology. That powder is quite way down on the burn rate chart (one of slowest) as compared to almost all other popular .223 powders.

You really need to do your homework first. Choosing a powder should not be done by coin tossing your poll!

It's also the highest velocity or dang near everytime in the book.

 

[jlorenzo]

I have had great luck with Ramshot Tac, Varget is also good if you can deal with the longer extruded kernels.

I see no reason either of those powders wouldn't work with 55gr bullets and up, the lightest I've tried is 62gr but they both seem to work very well.