223 Powder Choice

[Bottom Fodder]

H322 has been my go-to powder in 223 for many years, I have a recipe which seems to shoot well in every gun I’ve tried it in. Even as powders are coming back I still haven’t seen H322 in a long time, I’m going to run low in another 6-12 months. CFE223 has been gangbusters in my 223AI, I’ll probably try it in regular 223. H322 has found MANY uses, my wildcat 358, 458 SOCOM…I’m sure I’ll always want to keep some in stock.

I shot some more loads with the 80’s with H322 in the 223. They all shot great, I’m having a hard time deciding witch load to go with. Which can be a good thing

 

[6Creed73]

X2 on that!

As has already been mentioned, the list of powders that work well in 223's is very long and it's not a finicky cartridge to load for at all.

Longtrain said: "Just put on a new Hart 223 1:12 twist barrel. This is the first 1:12 I’ve had as I mostly shot heavy bullets in other 223 1:8’s. I plan to use 52-55 grain bullets.

I picked up a pound of LT-32, what about N133, AA2015 or RE7, etc? Looking for easy and accurate metering from a powder measure. Any powder rise above the others in terms of accuracy, performance and barrel life?"

Well, Hart makes one of the best button rifled barrels you can buy, I have a few of them, so you're certainly off to a great start.

With the powders you already have you'll likely be able to work up a load that serves you well. I haven't used any in awhile but one that I used to use a lot of in different 223's and it worked with a very wide range of bullet weights was Win 748. Win 748 has been around for a long time and as new powders have been developed it doesn't get used as much but that doesn't mean it still doesn't work extremely well in 223's and it's typically easy to find on the shelf and for less than the crazy 50 bucks a pound that a lot of powders are selling for now days. Also, Win 748 flows like water through a powder measure/dispenser. I use a lot of Hodgdon Benchmark with 53's in 223's and it too meters very consistently and shoots well but I don't know that it shoots any better then 748 and 748 always produced a little faster velocities.

My first 223 was a heavy barrel Olympic Arms AR I bought in 1986. It wasn't anything special but it shot the mid 50's really well with 748 and I loaded for it on a progressive. I have AR's now that are much fancier and cost way more but I don't know that any of them shoot any better then that HB Oly Arms AR did, go figure....

I agree, Win748 is an underrated powder for 223. I use it a lot with 50-62gr bullets

 

[SeabeeKen]

My best results in 223 with 52 gr bergers has been with N-133 and H-322. Both have been superb but went with N-133 since phasing out Hodgsdon from my cabinet

 

[searcher]

Talking best accuracy only in bullets from 40 to 55 grain in .223, the best powders came from one of the following for a number of rifles; Accurate LT32, Reloader 7, IMR8208XBR, TAC, W748. Have always been able get something really outstanding with one of these five. Have also shot a lot of Varget, Varmint, H4198, CFE223, Exterminator, H322, etc. - but the results were usually overshadowed by one of that first five.

 

[Lefty2506]

Just put on a new Hart 223 1:12 twist barrel. This is the first 1:12 I’ve had as I mostly shot heavy bullets in other 223 1:8’s. I plan to use 52-55 grain bullets.

I picked up a pound of LT-32, what about N133, AA2015 or RE7, etc? Looking for easy and accurate metering from a powder measure. Any powder rise above the others in terms of accuracy, performance and barrel life?

FWIW, I've been trying to get a good load for my 223 Savage using 53gr Vmax and N133, and haven't been having much luck. 1 MOA is about the best I've been able to get. Seems to shoot best near the top end of the range, and it's giving me +3400 fps, but I'm getting a lot of variation in my MV. Years ago I worked up loads with N133 using 40gr and 50gr noslers from a RRA 20" flat top. Single feeding them gave me a ragged hole at 100 yds.

I'm going to clean everything really good and give it another try. If it doesn't work out, I'm going to try TAC next since I keep it on the shelf. If that doesn't work, I'm going to go back to noslers. 1 MOA just won't cut it on PDs at 400 yds.

 

[Longtrain]

Accuracy was my first concern, but being able to load from a powder measure was desired also. I loaded 52 SMK’s behind LT-32 and CCI400 primers. At a 100 meter prone fun match, my first 6 shots of a ten shot string was one hole. The remainders were tight too. Everyone was right with that being an accurate powder. Thanks.