.223 Rem & backwards powder?

[TresMon]

Greetings. I'm confused.

I shoot an AR @ 1000yds.,F-t/r class.) I started with a 20' barrel.
I got best velocity with N150,75 & 80 A-Max.)

I was quickly hooked on 1K f-class so I got a 26' barrel. I have begun to work up loads for it. I'm getting low velocity at best with n150.
Only a little better with n140.

To make a long story moderate, I have worked with faster and faster powders until today, I have gotten the highest velocity with H335, the fastest powder yet. I'm getting 3100fps with the 75g. at not even max loads.,I'll take it!)

Is this not backwards? Don't fast powders work in short barrels and slow powders in long barrels?

Thanks,
Tres

 

[Steve]

just a guess but probably since you shoot a gas gun instead of a bolt gun then that would be true.

 

[Travelor]

I think you will be better served with RL-15 or VARGET. You also might try either the 77 or 80 grain Sierra MatchKings and Remington 7 1/2 primers.

 

[SooStan]

Not necessarily as your results show. I read some where some time ago where a rifle barrel was tested with a fast powder and a slow powder as the barrel was continually shortened down to legal limit. What ever gave the highest velocity in the long barrel also gave the highest velocity when the barrel was shorten. Second the Varget or RL-15 suggestion.

 

[TresMon]

I tried n150, N140, Varget, H4895, AA2520 & H335.

I'm getting highest velocity & the lowest SD's with the H335. but I should use Varg?

Thanks,

Tres

 

[JERRYHM]

Tres,

Us the powder that gives you the best group at 1000 yards and remains about the speed of sound. Short range testing is almost a waste of time. More than once I found some of worse loads at 100 yards shot very well at 1K.

Remember the awards are for High Score, not high MV or Low ES.

Jerry

 

[DukeDuke]

I get 3100fps with 75 a-max + RL15 out of my stock PSS with phenomenal accuracy. After your post though, I have to try H335.

 

[memilanuk]

It does sound screwy, but if it works, it works. Just keep in mind that temperatures are likely to get warmer as we progress throughout the spring and summer, and H335 is not exactly noted for good behaviour going from cold to hot - what may be a warm load now may be nuclear come July. I've talked to a person who swears by Benchmark,closer in burn rate to H335 than Varget or RE-15, the 'traditional' LR powders for a .223, and supposedly a bit more moderate in temperature swings) for his long range loads. I have some, but haven't gotten around to testing yet - 24.2-24.6gr RE-15 nets me 2840-2860 depending on the gun and excellent accuracy.

Good luck,

Monte

 

[TresMon]

Thanks for commenting everyone.

Milanuk;

Bingo- I had decided to go get me a keg of Benchmark, for exactly the reasons you said. Burns like H335, but Bmark is an 'extreme' powder so should be far less temp freaky.

Thanks every one.

Tres

 

[venatic]

TAC maybe something to look at also. Similar in burn rate to H335 without the temp sensitivity and burns cleaner.

 

[jpattersonnh]

I use H335 in my DCM. Nothing else compares w/ the accuracy I get. I also use it to reload hunting bullets for Coyotes. 0 degrees one day, 40 the next. 90 in the summer. Benchmark is a little to fast. I've tried IMR4064 w/ some vg results. It gave the fastest velocity, but lacked the accuracy. I backed it down slightly and the groups came together nicely.