Powder question on 223

[Bayou1535]

Long time reader, first time poster and I have a question or two in regards to powder selection for an AR SPR 18" barrel as well as a couple SBR's. I have been reloading pistol for awhile and now I have almost everything for rifle on a dillon 550. The powders I have questions about is H335, 8208 and RL15 with hornady 55 Sp's and something heavier. I see H335 mentioned alot for lighter and plinking rounds but does H335 give good accuracy? And if it does how does it do do with heavier rounds, say 69gr. Not looking at shooting 600 yds but more like 50 for the SBR and 200-300 yds with the SPR. I was set on trying H335 for the 55's and maybe trying a pound of Rl15 or 8208 but I have been reading alot about 8208 and seems like a good powder also. I'm wanting to stay with a ball powder or a short extruded powder for throwing abilities easy throwing abilities with an dillon measure. Any input would be appreciated, thanks

 

[jbpmidas]

I load 69 SMK's or NCC's over 23.0 H335. This is a very light charge and runs about 2650, if I remember correctly. I had a flattop Danial Defense, 7 twist, 16" that would put 10 of those under an inch at 100 yards.

 

[Terry]

I shoot a lot of AA2230 in my .223 with 30-80 grain bullets. 25gr. with 55 grain bullets is my PD load. It's one of my most accurate powders with 80gr. bullets.

 

[fredhorace77]

i shoot 8208,varget,H4895 and benchmark...in all my 223s and love all 4 of them

 

[Bayou1535]

I see that H335 is mentioned alot for 55's but what about pushing the 55 Hornady SP's out to 200-300 yds?

 

[300 RUM]

To be honest a .223 in a 16" or shorter (SBR) the faster the powder the better when using light bullets (under 60gr). For me I love Ramshot TAC and Hodgdon H895

 

[navyrad8r]

+1 for TAC also consider BLC(2)..but RL15 is a great choice for what you are trying to do with the round. all of those meter quite nice. good luck.
cheers,
doc

 

[Bayou1535]

The SBR is 12.5" and I figured the faster powder like H335 would be better but I was wondering about the powder with an 18" both 1 in 7. I will just have to try the 55 SP's out of the 18" and see how they do. When I get the H335 I will get a lb of 8208 also.

 

[300 RUM]

The SBR is 12.5" and I figured the faster powder like H335 would be better but I was wondering about the powder with an 18" both 1 in 7. I will just have to try the 55 SP's out of the 18" and see how they do. When I get the H335 I will get a lb of 8208 also.

Out of the 18" TAC will work with hornady 68gr or Lapua 77gr well

 

[markm87]

We've tried about all the powders mentioned. But nothing compares to H322 when combined with WOLF SRM primers.

Just amazing accuracy in all our guns, gas and bolt .223s. (69 and 77 gr SMKs loaded to about the published maximum charge)

 

[Terry]

We've tried about all the powders mentioned. But nothing compares to H322 when combined with WOLF SRM primers.

Just amazing accuracy in all our guns, gas and bolt .223s. (69 and 77 gr SMKs loaded to about the published maximum charge)

Examples of your loads?

 

[markm87]

22.9 grains H322 with 69gr SMK.

21.7 grains H322 with 77gr SMK.

Those are the two sweeties that we fill 7.62 ammo cans with. I mean... we're blowing and going with mixed brass on a Dillon 550b and getting 1/4" groups out of the bolt gun on good wind days.

And the loads shoot really good across the board in all the guns... ARs, etc. H322 gives up a little in velocity, but it's worth it on the accuracy side of it all.

 

[Bayou1535]

I just looked H322 and it's a extruded powder but you are using it on a dillon 550? I would assume that it would not measure to well, unless it's a short stick extruded like 8208.

 

[FroggyOne2]

Never assume! He may bel weighing each charge and pouring it in with the funnel.

 

[markm87]

Nope.. not at all. H322 and benchmark have such small, short cut kernels they meter nearly as well as ball powder.

I will literally load 500 SMKs at a time and fill up a 7.62 ammo can.

Varget and IMR, etc.... I run through the chargemaster.

 

[FroggyOne2]

Naturally, first thought of course is that extruded powder would not be small enough, I can though understand with the other powders, like RL15, the extruded powder are different lenghts, which makes near impossible to anything but weigh the charges. I use a Lyman DPSIII to drop the load, then verify it on my Denver TP-153.

 

[mcxring]

great forum, Im looking for max accuracy out of my ar 15, I have been using cfe 223, not bad groups but i think ill try some 322 next time, is a slower powder better for accuracy, mike

 

[Bayou1535]

Well, I guess I will get some H335 and 8208 and have a go at it. Won't be able to order anything for a couple of weeks since I placed a order for a Giraud the other day. Seems silly to a Giraud for my quantity but my reasoning is that we have such little time and I can't take the money with me.

 

[markm87]

great forum, Im looking for max accuracy out of my ar 15, I have been using cfe 223, not bad groups but i think ill try some 322 next time, is a slower powder better for accuracy, mike

No. Not necessarily. H322 is on the faster end actually. Much faster than cfe223. I'd suggest pairing 322 with WOLF SRM primers. I think I posted before that we did a primer comparison, and WOLFs smoked the rest of them in a 100 yard group size test.

As fast as H322 is, it'll still run a full rifle gas system with a 69 gr SMK... so it's not completely at the end of the pressure curve even with a relatively heavy, longer dwelling bullet.

I do keep hearing an old timer on the High Power range talk about how he's had good luck with that CFE 223.

The longest barrel we shoot .223 out of is 20". Most of the time we're shooting H322 through 14.5", but anything including, 11.5, 12.5, 14.5, 16, 18, and 20 inch barrels.... so the H322 makes sense for us.

 

[remo101]

I`ve been shooting H335 in my Bushmaster 1 in 9 twist with a 55 GR.Sierra for the past 5 years .It`s produced a pile of 3/8 inch groups at 200 yards.I use it to shoot prairie dogs and papper when I want to make myself feel good.I swear by it.BOB