Most forgiving powder for 223

[Jtate]

I want reload mixed head stamp brass, (slight volume difference) on a progressive loader. The powder dump has a variance of + or - 3/10 a grain. Which powder under these conditions will give me the most accurate loads. (40 grain vmaxs) Thanks Jon

 

[Klong]

Plus or minus 3/10 is a total of 6/10 swing. No powder will give you good accuracy in the small 223 case with that variance. You need to do something about that powder thrower. What kind is it?

 

[Jtate]

Dillon

 

[Hector]

I use H335, and have no problems. Might be 1/10th variance but normally OK. If you are not useing a Ball powder, that is probably your problem. I'm using 3 different Dillon measures.

 

[Steve Blair]

Hector is correct. Your best bets are powders like H335, WW 748 or AA 2520. They are a little slow for 40 grain bullets but all should flow very well in your measure. They do in my Dillon.

.223 brass has a pretty consistent internal volume, even among different manufacturers. Take a look at the linked article below. About halfway down is an internal volume table.

http://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html

Don't push max loads and you will be fine.

 

[BoydAllen]

Friends have worn out .223 barrels shooting 748 and 50 grain V-Maxes and Ballistic Tips. Ball powders measure much more accurately and judging by their results, I think that you will be satisfied with this combination.

 

[kentuckytroutbum]

Hector is correct. Your best bets are powders like H335, WW 748 or AA 2520. They are a little slow for 40 grain bullets but all should flow very well in your measure. They do in my Dillon.

.223 brass has a pretty consistent internal volume, even among different manufacturers. Take a look at the linked article below. About halfway down is an internal volume table.

http://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html

Don't push max loads and you will be fine.

My experience with Win 748 and A 2520 mirrors sleepygators. I use both powders with 68 & 75 gr. Hornadys in my Service Rifle AR15 in HP XTC matches.

However, I gave up on the Dillon powder measure on my Dillon 550 progressive press. It would not consistantly throw accurate charges of any powder. I ended up buying a RCBS Uniflow powder measure with the micrometer adjustment and the case activated linkage kit. It will throw charges within 1/10 grain. Just my $0.02 worth.

Bill

 

[tnhunter]

I load my 223s on a dillion 550 b with 52 gr MK over win 748. The first powder bar I had was not consistant. I called dillion and less than a week I had a new powder bar that throughs 1/10. The only problem is Win 748 runs a little dirty in my AR.

 

[ar15topgun]

You could also try BL-C(2). Your bullet weight will determine which powder. I personally use TAC but only with bullets they weigh 68gr or more.

 

[OldDoug]

My 550 B Dillon throw H335 at =/-.10 grain. 9 of 10 charges is right on 26 grains. I use 55 grain Vmax and Bal tips. It is a Hot load so make sure it is OK by working up to it. Old Doug

 

[Rust]

My best 40 gr load uses IMR 4198, but the charges have to be weighed as it doesn't throw worth a hoot. That said, H335 has given me very good results with 40 grainers in a 26" barrel and it throws very well from a Dillon measure.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

With the 40 Gr. bullets I'd go with H4198, RL7, N133 or 2015

 

[cliffy]

You could try Alliant ReLoder 10x, but then you'd have the very best, and actually rival my 200 yard perfection. So why do I offer this powder advice? Because that's just me. A fifty-five grain premium projectile powered via a CCI 450 primed basic load of 24.0 grains of RL-10x is entering the realm of accuracy and potency as it truly exists. Suffer the gambit of offered powders with countless reloading let-downs, or actually listen to me and my countless powder/grain failures. I'm not the end-all of perfection, as I'm not even an EXPERT regarding results, but I try hard and often to find the best results. Cliffy

 

[cliffy]

If one HAD to use a 36 grain Barnes LEAD-FREE LOAD, one could select RamShot X-Terminator powder or Alliant RL-10x powder for top results. If 3950 fps result from the muzzle meant anything out of a .223 Remington 1-in-12" twist rifle at 22' BARREL length, RL-10x is impossible to beat, velocitywise. RamShot X-Terminator is no bottom-feeder at 3845 fps. Both powders represent perfection regarding top-flight PDog loads at 200-300 yards. BOTH powders perform to expectation at up-to 300 yards. Three-Hundred yards is a respectible range regarding any .22 Centerfire prowess. Cliffy

 

[Rust]

Expanded explanation:

Dillon powder measure = ball powders for most accurate powder charges.

H335 gave my second best load with a 40 gr Nosler out of a 26" barrel with a nice node at about 3600 fps. H335 throws accurately out of a Dillon powder measure on a progressive like the 650. It does like a hotter primer though so I use Winchesters.

 

[cliffy]

H335 smells funny to my nose, but not so badly as some others. RL-10x does not offend my nose, whilst delivering top velocity. Bad smells aside, performance counts most, but smell often kills the shot for me with breezes back into my nostrils. If powder smell offends you, try another, because all powers do not smell the same when fired. RamShot X-Terminator isn't a bad smell to me, but Alliant RL-10x smells like victory. Cliffy