Best powder for .223/5.56

[Mark W]

Yup!!! I remember the guns stuffed into a wooden barrel at the gun stores! I kinda remember “Your choice for $25.” On the side of the barrel. Mausers, 1903s and such war relics.

I have a Webley .455 revolver that my wife’s grandfather gave me many years ago. He said that he bought it out of a wooden barrel at hardware store for $10.

 

[charlie b]

Yup!!! I remember the guns stuffed into a wooden barrel at the gun stores! I kinda remember “Your choice for $25.” On the side of the barrel. Mausers, 1903s and such war relics.

LOL

I remember those too, at the local Yellow Front surplus store. I was 13 and wanted to buy my first rifle. I had gone through all the books and was ready to get a Mauser for $27. Considering that was paper route money for a month, it wasn't that cheap.

But, my dad stepped in with typical fatherly advice. He calmly asked "How much does ammunition cost?" I had to look it up. Finally went back to him and told him he was right, I'd be better off with a .22. That Rem 581 cost me $50 back then, a small fortune to me. Ammo was a penny a shot, IIRC.

Heck, not that long ago there were barrels of SKS's for less than $100. I do wish I had picked one up back then. Or Yugo mausers for $150.

Sorry...not related to .223 stuff at all...

 

[Njorg]

Imr 8208 xbr or varget

 

[Leo_B]

I'm almost 69 so all that stuff is life to me, not history. I remember at least a time or two seeing "rifle barrels" that weren't small tubes to direct bullets. And 49c boxes of .22lr ammo. And the open box on Mr. Lobb's counter where you could buy single rounds 6 for a dime when you couldn't afford a whole box. Lots of good times.

 

[CF Junkie]

DShortt,

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.

I, too, have had no success with the 68 gr Hornady Match bullets. They shot the worst in my 1:9 twist Savage 12 FV. It's not the bullet weight, its the bullet. It think it is an older design. A 1:9 twist barrel should shoot up to 73 gr bullets with no problem and maybe even 75s.

Sierra 69 SMKs, Berger 73s and even 77 SMKs shot great in my 1:9 twist 12 FV. 77 gr bullets are not supposed to stabilize in a 1:9 twist.
I measured the barrel twist at 1:8.75 so the twist seemed to be just fast enough to stabilize the 77 SMKs.
Your 1:8 will shoot 77 gr bullets without any problems. Just try some of them.

 

[brokeasajoke]

I'm using 8208Xbr with 55gr Hornady sp. Plenty good enough for me in my AR at 200yds which is about the distance limit around my house.

 

[Leo_B]

On the powder front, for my current expected use of 50-62gr rounds, likely mostly 55gr, H335 gets the most nods and at $148 for a 4# jug it's reasonable, in now-days terms. I'm using a store credit for it and have enough for another 1# bottle of something, maybe AA2015 or 2230 to give another brand a shot (intended).

 

[coford]

Is there a single powder really good for both .223 and 5.56 when loading 55gr. and 62gr. bullets?

Accurate 2460 is my first choice for the past 20 years. It is very similar to 335 but burns cooler - so it's easier on barrels. I meters like water so it works great in a powder measure. Most importantly it handles the bullet weight you listed and is very accurate. YMMV

 

[Leo_B]

2460 sounds like an interesting powder but my source doesn't carry it. Hopefully next time I can add it to try out.

 

[BULLET 05]

N133

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Personally if I had to narrow down to one powder only for the 223 it would be Benchmark.

Not saying it's the best for every bullet weight but it will fit the bill for most factory rifles and their twist rates.

If it's for 55-62gr bullets then definitely H4895.
BTW, H4895 is the most versatile powder made for cartridges. It can be used in more cartridges than any other powder.

 

[Leo_B]

Hodgdon has an interesting white paper on H4895 and reduced recoil loadings. It has been mentioned a few times. A bit more expensive than some of the other most mentioned but definitely a suspect.

 

[KMW 1954]

Accurate 2460 is my first choice for the past 20 years. It is very similar to 335 but burns cooler - so it's easier on barrels. I meters like water so it works great in a powder measure. Most importantly it handles the bullet weight you listed and is very accurate. YMMV

I had been using Benchmark in my Match ammo until it disappeared. I then started using my backup powder and shot for over a year with it.

That power was Accurate 2460. Used it with 69gr SMK and also with Hornady 60gr VMAX. It was available when Benchmark wasn't and is actually less expensive per pound.

I like it so much I still load with it and right now have about 3lbs left of an 8lb jug.

 

[DShortt]

I had been using Benchmark in my Match ammo until it disappeared. I then started using my backup powder and shot for over a year with it.

That power was Accurate 2460. Used it with 69gr SMK and also with Hornady 60gr VMAX. It was available when Benchmark wasn't and is actually less expensive per pound.

I like it so much I still load with it and right now have about 3lbs left of an 8lb jug.

So, I keep seeing references to the SMK. Is this a newer offering from Sierra?
I tried looking on their website and it's...... a bit difficult to navigate.
I have a desk pad from 2019 and it shows a 69 grain HPBT Matchking, product #1380 and a 69 grain TMK, product #7169 in the 22 caliber line.
I see no mention of a SMK in 69 grains.
Just trying to make sure what is being referenced.

 

[jelenko]

So, I keep seeing references to the SMK. Is this a newer offering from Sierra?
I tried looking on their website and it's...... a bit difficult to navigate.
I have a desk pad from 2019 and it shows a 69 grain HPBT Matchking, product #1380 and a 69 grain TMK, product #7169 in the 22 caliber line.
I see no mention of a SMK in 69 grains.
Just trying to make sure what is being referenced.

SMK -> Sierra MatchKing. Same as the 69 gr HPBT's.
TMK -> Tipped MatchKing. Has a polymer tip. I think all the TMK's have a higher BC than the HPBT's with the same weight.

 

[DShortt]

SMK -> Sierra MatchKing. Same as the 69 gr HPBT's.
TMK -> Tipped MatchKing. Has a polymer tip. I think all the TMK's have a higher BC than the HPBT's with the same weight.

OK, thank you.

 

[searcher]

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 had posted IMR 8208 XBR as my favorite pick on the 50-62 grain bullets. Two of my rifles shoot a 40-grain lead-free load that thrives on W748 above all else. I've done considerable shooting of those 50-grain pills of various makes. Three favor Accurate LT32, another IMR8208XBR and two like Reloader 7. While my choice of powders was IMR8208XBR, it was most accurate in only one of my 7 rifles - but shot acceptably well in all rifles. The powder that shoots the best in the most rifles is the LT32, though is shot rather mediocre in a few of the rifles, as did the W748. If I could only pick one for a 50 grain, I'd throw a dart at a board that had IMR8202XBR, Accurate LT32 and Reloader 7. I could make any of the three work for me.

I have also shot a lot of H322, Varmint, CFE223, Varget, H335, IMR4064, Benchmark, Tac and a few others. The poorest accuracy performer in my average rifle was CFE223, being poor in all of my rifles. Each of the other powders provided at least one fantastic, useable load. Varmint was a particularly good one. I'd really hate to be with only one powder!

 

[Dgd6mm]

searcher, are these AR platform rifles, bolt actions, or both?

 

[CF Junkie]

Most of us simply use the "S" in SMK to keep from having to type Sierra all the time.
The "T" simply stands for tipped.
Your Sierra part numbers are right on and have been in use for years.

The 77grs part numbers are #9377 for the 77 SMKs and #7177 for the 77 TMKs.
The 77s are newer issues and Sierra finally seemed to get their part numbers to make sense.

 

[KMW 1954]

it shows a 69 grain HPBT Matchking, product #1380 and a 69 grain TMK, product #7169 in the 22 caliber line.
I see no mention of a SMK in 69 grains.
Just trying to make sure what is being referenced.

Yes, the Sierra Match King is commonly referred to as the SMK, while the Tipped Match King as the TMK. Both Sierra offerings are available in different weights and diameters.

Another bit of info tat I did not know until just a few months ago, Barnes Bullets is also owned by Sierra. Which could be why the SMK and the Match Burner shoot so much alike.