VARGET is the wrong choice for .223 load 50-55gr Target Load. what is best choic

[Dgd6mm]

I didn't reserect anything, this post is active??????

Opinions very.

 

[stosh]

Opinions very.

Yes and I am entitled to mine! There are new people coming to the site all the time that have new information or looking for past information, what is a forum for but to communicate? Just because this post hadn't been discussed in a few years doesn't mean new information isn't available! And because I had pertinant information to the subject, why wouldn't I share it. Things can change !

 

[jelenko]

I don't see anything wrong with responding to 'old' threads if the reply is relevant to thread.
Actually, it seems kinda neat that we build our 'knowledge base'.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Yes and I am entitled to mine! There are new people coming to the site all the time that have new information or looking for past information, what is a forum for but to communicate? Just because this post hadn't been discussed in a few years doesn't mean new information isn't available! And because I had pertinant information to the subject, why wouldn't I share it. Things can change !

Yes, you are correct. However I did post new information on a 6 year old resurrected thread, and in my second post I pointed out Opinions very. This makes my 3rd.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Inquiring Minds, want to KNOW,.. IF,.. Vhit N-140 "Meters",.. decently ??
I'm having a HARD Time, finding ( Temp IN-sensitive ) Gun powder here, in Southern Idaho as, everyone, HERE, freakin',.. "Shoots " !
NO,.. Varget, 8208XBR, AR Comp, CFE 223, TAC, or, RL-15,.. at my lgs.
Anybody try it with, Hornady, 68 grain, BTHP Match in, a 1-7 twist, AR- 14, "Coyote special"
N-140, "Looks to be",.. Temp OK and produces, good velocity !
Asking for, a Friend
Thanks, in advance !

 

[RegionRat]

If that N-140 is from recent manufacture, you are in luck as far as being temp insensitive.
(Older batches are not, and at the moment I don't remember when the change hit.)
It ran as good as Varget and RE-15 for me in a 20" AR and also a heavy bbl bolt gun (Sendero).

As far as metering, the kernels are not small enough for my taste so I have not tried to throw it yet. All that work I mentioned was run on a AutoTrickler/FX120i just because it was the easy way to run tests.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Thanks RegionRat,. I was afraid of,.. that !
I was hoping it metered, +- a couple of, Tenths !
Yes, it's,.. the NEW, Powder !
Spendy but,. available, HERE !
I have 3-4 lbs of 748 but, wanted an "all year" 400 yard, coyote, load !
Can be, 7-8 degrees, in winter and 100+ in summer !

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

If that N-140 is from recent manufacture, you are in luck as far as being temp insensitive.
(Older batches are not, and at the moment I don't remember when the change hit.)
It ran as good as Varget and RE-15 for me in a 20" AR and also a heavy bbl bolt gun (Sendero).

As far as metering, the kernels are not small enough for my taste so I have not tried to throw it yet. All that work I mentioned was run on a AutoTrickler/FX120i just because it was the easy way to run tests.

Let me know, IF, you get curious enough to, "throw" a few test charges, out of, your old Powder measure,..
say 4 or 5 chg's at, 25 grains, to see how they,.. average,.
I'd be, forever,.. in your Debt !

 

[RegionRat]

Let me know, IF, you get curious enough to, "throw" a few test charges, out of, your old Powder measure,..
say 4 or 5 chg's at, 25 grains, to see how they,.. average,.
I'd be, forever,.. in your Debt !

I threw 25 grains of Varget with a Harrell's powder measure, I get an ES of about 0.2 grains for 15 throws.
I threw 25 grains of N-140, I get an ES of about 0.2 grains for 15 throws.
Looks like the N-140 and Varget would be roughly the same class for powder measures.

In my experience, you will see fine ball powders do better in a powder measure, but it takes a lot more than 15 throws to see if there would be any difference between most stick powders.

 

[BoydAllen]

IMR XBR 8208

 

[ELR LVR]

I want to load 50-55 grain for my bolt cation and AR-15 rifles. What is the best powder choice? There are powders that might be in less demand that I can find available. Is there a preferred powder I should look for to use in target shooting. 50 - 200 yards. I have a Bolt action 1:10 twist and AR rifle 1:8 twist. Lots of choices out there.

6 yrs old....
Almost got me there

 

[SShooterZ]

Timely resurrection. Just finished building my first AR and now I have some ideas to try.

 

[BOB LEE SWAGGER]

I want to load 50-55 grain for my bolt cation and AR-15 rifles. What is the best powder choice? There are powders that might be in less demand that I can find available. Is there a preferred powder I should look for to use in target shooting. 50 - 200 yards. I have a Bolt action 1:10 twist and AR rifle 1:8 twist. Lots of choices out there.

BENCHMARK

 

[Longtrain]

There are so many choices that will simply work. For ease of loading a ball powder would be my choice. I do shoot some fun 100 meter prone matches with 52 SMK’s and AA2460, shoots under 1/2 MOA. TAC is another good choice.
Again, not many wrong answers here. I usually hit up my fellow shoots for a small supply of a powder I want to try before I invest in an 8 pounder.

 

[jelenko]

Did I measure wrong? I set the caliper at 0.224 bullet diameter and then set that as the zero point so for the 0.082 example would actually measure 0.306 or so. It's actually supposed to be a center to center measurement which would be harder to do I think.

Yeah. You did it right.
I keep forgetting about zeroing at the bullet diameter!

 

[Dgd6mm]

I ran out of IMR3031 for my 53 vmax bullets. So seeing how I have 24 pounds of SW Match I'm going to give that a whirl, providing I don't get my hands on some more IMR3031 before I go to loading.

 

[Hohn]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??
The ball powders are too temperature sensitive more my tastes. OK for plinking but not for serious target or varmint work.

I’ve not used H4895 but I’d suggest the part about extruded vs ball is worth your attention OP. Im a huge fan of 8208. It’s my desert island powder. It likes warmer loads but I’ve found amazing accuracy in some slow poke nodes with it.

PP2000 is too slow for 55s and runs pretty dirty in an AR. I’d skip it for light bullets in a gas gun.

AR Comp is excellent, another favorite of mine. It’s like h4895 in many ways.

N133/N135 belong on anyone’s list for that application.

h4198 was the powder used when 5.56 nato was being developed. They moved away only because pressure was too high when they achieved the speed required to pass the steel helmet penetration test (at 500y if I recall.) you could do a lot worse than 4198 for light bullet.223.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I threw 25 grains of Varget with a Harrell's powder measure, I get an ES of about 0.2 grains for 15 throws.
I threw 25 grains of N-140, I get an ES of about 0.2 grains for 15 throws.
Looks like the N-140 and Varget would be roughly the same class for powder measures.

In my experience, you will see fine ball powders do better in a powder measure, but it takes a lot more than 15 throws to see if there would be any difference between most stick powders.

THANK YOU !!!
I have, 4 Pounds of, Win 748 that, "Throws" +- ONE tenth of, a grain and shoots Amazing @, 25.7 gr's with the NBT 60's or, 65 gr. Sierra GK's. So, I'll try it with, the 68's, too ( Backing OFF, a 1/2 grain + tho, ! ).
BUT,. I was hoping for, a better, "Temp stable" Powder for, 7* winters, to 100* Summer Temp's and the 68gr..
I'll be checking other Places for,.. 8208 XBR but, may have to "settle" and Live with, good ole' 748 !
And Varget, WAS,.. my #2 "choice",.. LOL !! * damn, I HATE to, Weigh charges for,.. the .223 !!
Thanks, again !

 

[RegionRat]

ARComp is another good 223 powder for temp stability, but it is not fine grain either.
It would be nice to try some of the new TS-15.5 but that is another unicorn hunt these days.

Some fine grain powders are known to be a little harder to ignite in very cold weather.
I would recommend any ball powder taken into cold country be tested against the primer types.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Agree !
And the Top 5, "Temp Stable" powders, ALL seem to be,.. UN-Obtainum !
Coyotes are a big enough Target that, a good load of, Win. 748 with those, 68's, should do, the "Trick" to 400 yards,.. my Max., .223 "range". Sure would have liked to try, the NEW, N-140, tho !
The Fed 205's seem to Light off, 748 for me, OK,.. so far.
Maybe, I gotta QUIT being,. so,."anal" about my, reloads !