Powder recommendation for .223

[Forum Boss]

Suggest you consider the new Hodgdon CFE-223 powder. We have heard very positive reports from the folks who've tried it, and it should offer good velocity in your .223 Rem with a 50-grainer. This powder meters very well.

For comparison purposes, Hodgdon lists the following load for a 50gr Speer Soft Point. Since your bullet is different, proceed with caution.

50 GR. SPR SP Hodgdon CFE 223 .224" 2.210" COAL
Start load: 27.0gr 3241 fps 41,500 PSI
Max load: 28.5gr 3505 fps 53,600 PSI

 

[Jim747]

One thing about your quest is to reconsider maximum loads in extreme conditions and short periods between shots.
You want your rifles to last and the accuracy to be constant for the life of the rifle. I don't shoot the maximum loads
and strive for accuracy instead of speed. If you want speed shoot the 34 grain bullets @ 3800+ fps. the damage is
as good as the 204's and the recoil slight. I really like IMR 8208 with the 34's and 53's in a dogtown. Varget is also great.

Good point A_Gamehog. For the reasons you mentioned, I'll have three rifles with me. A .17 calibur and two .223's. I'll be shooting with a friend who will have at least two so we should be able to keep them cool.

I also agree that max loads will add wear and tear to my barrels so your suggestion to keep things below top speed makes good common sense. My tests stopped at 26 gr Varget which fills to the neck of my Winchester brass. A Hodgdon book I recently picked up shows compressed loads up to 27.5 gr but I wouldn't ever want to compress powder that much. My 25.8 to 26 gr loads at 3100+ are very accurate so maybe I'll make that my standard load for this trip.

My trip is the end of August so I can tinker with some of the other suggestions. Thanks

Jim

 

[Jim747]

Jim,
Not to sound like a broken record, but I would try BLC-2 in your rifle. I know H335 is loved by many in their rifles (not to mention Sierra lists it as their "Accuracy Load" for 52 & 53 Gr bullets), but was amongst the worst I tested in my Model 12 VLP when all other factors were the same in the rounds loaded. And to me, the SD on your list is way too much that could be caused by factors OTHER than loading flubs, though they do seem somewhat extreme to me. I have a friend who shoots again the same model 12 VLP rifle who swears by BLC-2 and his SD is usually 8-10 when he chronies his loads and he's big time into hunting PD's.

Shynloco - I've eliminated H335 because of temperature sensitive. Today, I talked to a gunsmith at a pretty large reloading store. He said Varget is [by far] their top selling rifle powder a lot of guys like BLC-2 and quite few are using IMR 8208 XBR. I want to give them a look. Thanks

Jim

 

[huffmanite]

Surprised I didn't see anyone suggest Ramshot TAC powder....leastways I ddn't notice it. TAC meters great, as does the other Ramshot rifle powders, burns clean and probably a little lower priced than most .223 powders. My preferred powder for the .223.