Easy pouring .223/5.56 powder?

[s4s4u]

I've been loading Varget for my bolt gun as I get good performance from it, but will be loading higher volume for a semi-auto and Varget doesn't meter all that consistantly. Is there a propellant that will deliver similar performance with 50 to 69 grainers but will drop from a Lyman 55 with a little better predictability?

TIA, Rod.

 

[CharlieNC]

I like CFE223, it meters like water. You should also be able to get higher velocities with lower pressure vs Varget.

 

[spclark]

IMR 8208XBR oughta work.

 

[s4s4u]

Thanks guys. I'll have to keep an eye out for them. Just checked data at Hodgdon website and the CFE223 looks to be a little quicker of the two based on a 24" barrel. Does barrel length make a difference between those two relative to velocity? Will be sporting a 16" tube so I know I'm gonna be a few hundred slower regardless.

 

[86alaskan]

You may also try H335, I go through lbs of it to feed my AR. I meters very well and gives good velocities out of my 20" HBAR 9twist with 55gr FMJ.

 

[waterfwlr]

I've been loading Varget for my bolt gun as I get good performance from it, but will be loading higher volume for a semi-auto and Varget doesn't meter all that consistantly. Is there a propellant that will deliver similar performance with 50 to 69 grainers but will drop from a Lyman 55 with a little better predictability?

TIA, Rod.

H335, absolutely. Meters beautifully. Been using it for years with 55 grainers.

 

[morpheus]

I have had good luck with AR-Comp. I find that it meters very well. AR-Comp is formulated to be similar to Reloder 15 (also from Alliant), but it is less temperature sensitive. The burning speed is slightly faster than Reloder 15 and Varget, so employ all the usual precautions.

 

[Mozella]

My burn chart shows that CFE-223 burns a little slower than Varget and IMR 8208 XBR is faster. In my Howa 1500 1:9 twist 24" barrel I find that the best recipe is 69gr Sierra Match Kings with 22.2gr of IMR 8208 XBR. That's a pretty mild load by the way.

I didn't have much luck with CFE-223 in my .223 guns, but it works quite well with my 6mm BR. In any case, although CFE-223 is a really fine ball powder and does indeed pour like water, my tests with a Hornady Lock-N-Load case activated powder dispenser shows that the IMR 8208 XBR (a short stick powder) meters every bit as accurately as CFE-223 and produces smaller groups. Of course every gun is different.

 

[Tim Singleton]

AR comp works well with the 69s for me. H335 for the 55s

 

[mac86951]

Agreed with all of these, and will add win 748. Ball powders meter well, ar-comp is a shorter stick, so does a little better.

Mac

 

[Terry]

I've been loading Varget for my bolt gun as I get good performance from it, but will be loading higher volume for a semi-auto and Varget doesn't meter all that consistantly. Is there a propellant that will deliver similar performance with 50 to 69 grainers but will drop from a Lyman 55 with a little better predictability?

TIA, Rod.

I have done well with Accurate 2230. 40's-80gr. Verry Accurate!

 

[CJ6]

Win 748, Hog BLC-2, H-335, 2230 all will flow like water through a measure and work well in a 223.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

335 for me

 

[TheOtherZilla]

TAC, or W748 is what I use. 335 in the bolt gun

 

[JASmith]

CFE gives excellent velocity for pressure and has the added advantage of taming much of the copper fouling in the higher velocity loads.

 

[ssv1761982]

H335 is my go to powder for 50 - 55 gr bullets in the 223. It works good enuff for me but I haven't tried any of the newer powders.

 

[kountryboy2]

Can't go wrong with H335. Ive tryed and used other but keep coming back to H335.

 

[russ compton]

Can't go wrong with H335. Ive tryed and used other but keep coming back to H335.

BLC-2 and CFE

 

[s4s4u]

Well it looks like I have quite a few options. Gonna have to see what is available around here and go from there. Thanks to all who have given their 2 cents.

 

[Puzzaz01]

As kountryboy2 said..... H335 is my go to powder for 50-55 gr .223 loads. I've been using it for years. I also use varget in my BR rifles, but when loading up for a 14 day prairie dog hunt I run H335 in a couple thousand rounds quick. In all honesty the H335 isn't that much a noticeable difference than the Varget. Try it I'm sure you'll find it meters excellent and you probably won't see any difference in your group sizes.