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

[Linko]

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.

 

[ShootDots]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

I want to load 50-55 grain for my bolt cation and AR-15 rifles. What is the next best powder choice after Varget? There are other powders that might be in less demand that I can find available. As an example H110 I see is listed in load manuals. Is there a preferred powder I should look for to use in target shooting. 50 - 200 yards. Bolt action is 1:10 twist and AR rifle is 1:8

I do not shoot AR type rifles, however, my friend does. He uses AR COMP in his and he loves it. In the bolt rifle you might try VV N140 or even N540..

 

[joshb]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

Lots. 8208 XBR , win 748, H335, Benchmark. Tac, 4895. I use a lot of Bl-c2, for plinking because it meters so well. I can get my thrower dialed in, and "run" hundreds, fast. I load them a little light for temp variations. 8208 would be a good start. I have found that most of my AR type rifles shoot tighter with loads closer to MAX, so for my bull barrel "accurate AR" , I have summer and winter loads.

 

[Syncrowave]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

Seems like Varget is pretty darn slow for 55gr bullets. I'm using H322 right now with 55gr bullets (22.6 gr for about 2840 f/s in a 20" AR) and it burns real clean. It's a much faster powder than Varget.


You won't get screaming fast loads with H322, but when I'm looking for accuracy, I don't care so much about screaming fast anyway...

 

[coford]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

26 to 27 grains of 2460 or H335 gives good velocities and great accuracy. They both meter easily also.

 

[Shynloco]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

Might want to give CFE223 a try. Works very nicely in my son's AR for 55gr bullets.

Alex

 

[mshelton]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

ANYTHING WITH ALL CAPS ON THE LABEL.

 

[Road_Clam]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

I'll pass on everyone's pet internet powder Varget as it's always hard to find (especially in the midst of a typical "gun panic"). For me , it's Win 748. Not much internet love for 748 , but per my extensive data, W748 is an excellent and versatile 308 , .223 bolt, and 5.56 gas gun powder. A close second favorite is 8208 XBR.

 

[amlevin]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

I gave up on Varget when it disappeared from the marketplace.

I use IMR4064, CFE223, IMR8208, H4895, and PP2000MR with great results in my .223 and .308's.

CFE and 2000MR seem to yield higher speeds than the others but all give me nice accurate loads for 55-80.5 gr bullets in my .223's. IMR4064 and IMR8208 seem to be the preferred "fuel" for my .308 loads using bullets from 168 to 185 gr.

Patience in working up the loads is required, not only charge weights but seating depths as well. Not ALL loads work well with bullets in the lands or a set "number" as a jump.

 

[DogBuster]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??


My thoughts.....Varget is for 223 & boolits 68 grains & up

55's.....H4895...H335..N133..N135..Benchmark...IMR8208

H322....W748...CFE223..........to name a few of many more.....

 

[FatBoy]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

I'll pass on everyone's pet internet powder Varget as it's always hard to find (especially in the midst of a typical "gun panic"). For me , it's Win 748. Not much internet love for 748 , but per my extensive data, W748 is an excellent and versatile 308 , .223 bolt, and 5.56 gas gun powder. A close second favorite is 8208 XBR.

A buddy turned me onto w748. I have a box of his 55gr FBHPs and they shopt 3/4 MOA at 100 yards from a suppressed mk12 with no load testing. he shoots then at 200 yard walk up Highpower matches because it's super cheap to shoot and yout can throw the loads.

I can't comment on cleanness as the can makes the receiver and BCG filthy.

I found AR comp to be too hot , but is was shooting 77s. I liked MR2000 better. It shot just like rl15.

 

[762willdo]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

2520
2520
2520
2520....... Oh and try some 2520!

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

H4895 or H4198.

The ball powders are too temperature sensitive more my tastes. OK for plinking but not for serious target or varmint work.

 

[Road_Clam]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

H4895 or H4198.

The ball powders are too temperature sensitive more my tastes. OK for plinking but not for serious target or varmint work.

I tried running 4198 with some lighter 52gr smk's in my AR and it did not work at all. 4198 is a fast burning powder, and you will get piston "short stroking" in an AR which will cause FTF issues. 4198 works excellent in my son's Savage 10 Varmint .223 bolt rifle.

 

[waterfwlr]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

H335. Meters beautifully, shoots great.

 

[Richard Jones]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

Benchmark, H322, H335 (great fireballs at night in a short barrel!), BL-C(2), IMR 4198, IMR 4895, V133, AA-2015..................ad infinitum...........

If I had a preference, V133 is it.

Rich

 

[expiper]

Re: IF NO VARGET WHAT IS A SECOND CHOICE FOR .223 LOAD 55GR TARGET LOAD??

OP,,have you noticed how great 223/5.56 is????....its a lot like the 30-06,just about any powder in the right burn rate will work nicely,,,,Roger

 

[WindSurgeon]

Re: IF NO VARGET what is a second choice for .223 load 55gr Target Load??

For 55 grain bullets, I like TAC. These also work well: AA 2015, Benchmark, H335, H4895

Of these, TAC is my favorite. Great velocities and managed pressure. Use it for PD's and 'yotes.

Here's the data from Sierra which is a great guide for AR loading. Start here:

http://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf

 

[Linko]

Re: IF NO VARGET what is a second choice for .223 load 55gr Target Load??

These look to be the most popular recommendations:


W748
IMR8208
Benchmark
H335
H322
MR2000
AA2015
IMR4895
V133
V135
TAC

Within this group how do we rate them. for 55 gr bullets. Clean Burning / ease of metering
I will pick 3 powders and buy a pound of each and see what my 2 AR's like and also my Mossberg MVP.

which 3 shall I pick?

 

[CJ6]

Re: IF NO VARGET what is a second choice for .223 load 55gr Target Load??

8208 XBR, 748, Benchmark, V-135, IMR 4895, RL 10X. The Les Baer prefers 8208XBR (8 tw), Rem Varmint prefers Benchmark (12 tw), Rem. sporter 748 (9 tw), Ruger Am. (V-135) (8 tw), Win Var,IMR 4895 (12 tw), Rem VLS RL 10X (12 tw). Just feed it what the gun likes