What powder is used in LC 86 5.56mm rounds?

[jtbewebber]

I pulled some military 5.56mm rounds and measured the powder weight at 27.6gr. Dropped the weights back and found an excellent load using the reused military powder at 26.5gr topped with a Sierra 60gr HP in my T/C Dimension 223. I was wondering if anyone knew which powder was used in these military rounds? I have been loading the empty lots of brass with Varget at 26.6gr and have been getting half inch groups at 100yds but the military powder rounds are printing in .25".

 

[drop_point]

I believe it wasn't a commercially available powder, but it is supposed to be very similar to H335. H335 is in very short supply at the moment. I have loaded H335 with Sierra 55 gr FMJs and got the same POI and accuracy as Lake City M193 ammo.

 

[Bradley Walker]

55-62 grain used to be WC 844 (H335).

Now it's WC 846 (CFE 223).

 

[jonbearman]

I have lots of wc844 that works very well,but was told it cant shoot because it was surplus.Guess what,these nay sayers were wrong.It shoots consistent and accurate.

 

[jonbearman]

Do you know when lake city changed to cfe223?

 

[Beau]

WC846 is NOT CFE223.

 

[Bradley Walker]

WC846 is NOT CFE223.

I didn't say it was... I was actually referring to the burn rate. I never said they were the "same".

 

[amlevin]

Who knows, maybe it is today.

Regardless, it sure works great in .223 and .308.

 

[jtbewebber]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking it was H335 but wasn't sure. Maybe I will be able to try sure when the supply comes back up.