Winchester 748 is a great .223/5.56mm powder.....

[Woofie]

We all have our biases, and even though they are often formed from our experiences -- sometimes what we've read or heard -- it is well to be aware of them. One bias that is firmly embedded for me is just how outstanding W748 is in .223/5,56.
I was reminded of this yesterday. My shooting buddy and I are working on our offhand shooting with our .458SOCOMs, but for cheaper practice we use our ,223s. In my case that is my AR15 SPR . As it is the first AR15 I built from scratch I am very partial to it. All Seekins except the buttstock (Magpul), bolt group (FailZero), trigger (Geiselle), muzzle fitting (AAC) and barrel (White Oak 18" SPR 1:7) it is a shooter.
I found a Ziplock bag of ammo I had loaded back in 2016. It has sat in my garage for several desert Summers. Mixed cases -- commercial and miltary, CCI #41s, General Dynamics 62 grain perpetrators and thrown charges of 26.5 W748. Went to check my 100 yard zero yesterday, three five-shot groups into 1MOA mas o menos. And that was thrown together blasting ammo. Oh, and a certain bear had to use a plastic ammo can as a rest since he'd left the Harris bipod behind and the Mlok stud won't fit the Sinclair F-class bipod which he did take I will take that. Brass in a nice neat pile too.
That load (26.5) of W748 works for me w/55grain through 70 grain Speers and is always outstanding. I back off to 26.0 with "modern" longer 69grain BTHP bullets. With the old Nosler solid base 69 grain BTHP bullets this was the most accurate load I have ever fired in a .223, that was in my Colt 1:9 twist heavy barrel which I have since sold. I wish those bullets were still available.
This powder just works for me in .223, and doesn't disappoint. I can't seem to find that single powder option in .308/7.62. Wish I could. It's not lost on me that again, this is an unadulterated powder: i.e., no temp stability (I don't care) no copper fouling reducer, etc.
Having read the old threads on W748 I will say I do not think it and BL(C)-2 are proxies one for another. IME, BL(C)-2 is a tad slower, dirtier and gives a greater muzzle flash. Your experience may vary.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Actually 748 is all i use in my m1a so its a very good 308 powder

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I've been using 748, in my .223 / 5.56 for Years, W/ a 1-7 Twist, 16" bbl. @ 25.7 grains ( near Max load) for 60 gr., NBT's and 65 gr. SGK's @ approx. 2,800 FPS but, drop it down, a bit to 24.8 grs for, the 69 grain, Sierra MK's .
748 Meters like Water, in my RCBS Lil' Dandy thrower ( I have, 2 Rotors, Pre-set for these 2, loads ! ).
All 3 these Loads / Bullets, shoot Sub, 1 MOA out of, my VooDoo barrelled, Adams, AA-15, Piston Rifle !
I have Geiselle, SSA, 2 stage Trigger that,.. "Helps" with,.. accuracy !
I see no reason to change Powders, either !

 

[5spd]

It was my go to powder for 20+ years in my 223s, but it just about vanished in 8lb jugs since 2010 and the current times, that I was forced to go h335.

 

[ebb]

My mentor that taught me to reload gave me his load 25.5 748, Win srp or cci, 69 smk OAL to fit the magazine and any piece of brass you run across. When we shoot for bragin rights Ive seen him looking through the container for a dozen with the same headstamp. I told him it was cheating but he just laughed at me> I had bought an 8 pounder of 748 years ago and have used about 2/3s of it then one day a guy from work told me to come get his grandfather's reloading powder 9 lbs of 748. I won't be changing soon.

 

[Woofie]

Actually 748 is all i use in my m1a so its a very good 308 powder

Worked for me in my M1A M21 too. But in other 308s it's always "honourable mention" but never first place. Still love that powder though. Next 6.5 Grendel where I think it, and maybe TAC, will shine. In 308, A2520 is my powder of choice, mostly.

 

[SeabeeKen]

works well in 30-30 also
My 338 RCM shot amazing with it

 

[hoz53]

We all have our biases, and even though they are often formed from our experiences -- sometimes what we've read or heard -- it is well to be aware of them. One bias that is firmly embedded for me is just how outstanding W748 is in .223/5,56.
I was reminded of this yesterday. My shooting buddy and I are working on our offhand shooting with our .458SOCOMs, but for cheaper practice we use our ,223s. In my case that is my AR15 SPR . As it is the first AR15 I built from scratch I am very partial to it. All Seekins except the buttstock (Magpul), bolt group (FailZero), trigger (Geiselle), muzzle fitting (AAC) and barrel (White Oak 18" SPR 1:7) it is a shooter.
I found a Ziplock bag of ammo I had loaded back in 2016. It has sat in my garage for several desert Summers. Mixed cases -- commercial and miltary, CCI #41s, General Dynamics 62 grain perpetrators and thrown charges of 26.5 W748. Went to check my 100 yard zero yesterday, three five-shot groups into 1MOA mas o menos. And that was thrown together blasting ammo. Oh, and a certain bear had to use a plastic ammo can as a rest since he'd left the Harris bipod behind and the Mlok stud won't fit the Sinclair F-class bipod which he did take I will take that. Brass in a nice neat pile too.
That load (26.5) of W748 works for me w/55grain through 70 grain Speers and is always outstanding. I back off to 26.0 with "modern" longer 69grain BTHP bullets. With the old Nosler solid base 69 grain BTHP bullets this was the most accurate load I have ever fired in a .223, that was in my Colt 1:9 twist heavy barrel which I have since sold. I wish those bullets were still available.
This powder just works for me in .223, and doesn't disappoint. I can't seem to find that single powder option in .308/7.62. Wish I could. It's not lost on me that again, this is an unadulterated powder: i.e., no temp stability (I don't care) no copper fouling reducer, etc.
Having read the old threads on W748 I will say I do not think it and BL(C)-2 are proxies one for another. IME, BL(C)-2 is a tad slower, dirtier and gives a greater muzzle flash. Your experience may vary.

Im glad to hear this because I have some

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Worked for me in my M1A M21 too. But in other 308s it's always "honourable mention" but never first place. Still love that powder though. Next 6.5 Grendel where I think it, and maybe TAC, will shine. In 308, A2520 is my powder of choice, mostly.

I bet that staball will work too. The 748 seems to keep the inner workings a bit cleaner than other stick powders

 

[CJ6]

It works great in the 7 BR also.

 

[PopCharlie]

I love w748 in my AR. 25.5 grs. Over Nosler 55gr Ballistics tips. I use cci 400s or whatever non-magnum, non-match srp I have. Any brass....
Just use it to break clays on the ground at 100 yards. It has a 4x scope on it....lots of fun...
PopCharlie

 

[bsekf]

I believe 748 and BL-C are very similar but not the same, like 760 and 414.

 

[ronsatspokane]

Lot of good powders to choose from for both 223 and 308. I've used 748 but tend to prefer Varget or CFE223 these days.

 

[Steve K]

I agree with the respondents. I've been using 748 for 25 years or so and it is the best powder for 5.56/.223. LC brass, CCI 41, 69 grain Nosler CC, 23.7 grains 748, OAL 2.20", White Oak barrel,1-8 twist, and Bushmaster DCP rifle. Accuracy is sub MOA. I use this very low recoil load for 200 yard High Power events and it is easy to get back on target.

 

[GLO123]

I haven’t seen this powder in a few years. I’ve heard good things about this stuff. I’d like to try it for my .308 and will keep looking for this powder.

 

[Joe Maisto]

We all have our biases, and even though they are often formed from our experiences -- sometimes what we've read or heard -- it is well to be aware of them. One bias that is firmly embedded for me is just how outstanding W748 is in .223/5,56.
I was reminded of this yesterday. My shooting buddy and I are working on our offhand shooting with our .458SOCOMs, but for cheaper practice we use our ,223s. In my case that is my AR15 SPR . As it is the first AR15 I built from scratch I am very partial to it. All Seekins except the buttstock (Magpul), bolt group (FailZero), trigger (Geiselle), muzzle fitting (AAC) and barrel (White Oak 18" SPR 1:7) it is a shooter.
I found a Ziplock bag of ammo I had loaded back in 2016. It has sat in my garage for several desert Summers. Mixed cases -- commercial and miltary, CCI #41s, General Dynamics 62 grain perpetrators and thrown charges of 26.5 W748. Went to check my 100 yard zero yesterday, three five-shot groups into 1MOA mas o menos. And that was thrown together blasting ammo. Oh, and a certain bear had to use a plastic ammo can as a rest since he'd left the Harris bipod behind and the Mlok stud won't fit the Sinclair F-class bipod which he did take I will take that. Brass in a nice neat pile too.
That load (26.5) of W748 works for me w/55grain through 70 grain Speers and is always outstanding. I back off to 26.0 with "modern" longer 69grain BTHP bullets. With the old Nosler solid base 69 grain BTHP bullets this was the most accurate load I have ever fired in a .223, that was in my Colt 1:9 twist heavy barrel which I have since sold. I wish those bullets were still available.
This powder just works for me in .223, and doesn't disappoint. I can't seem to find that single powder option in .308/7.62. Wish I could. It's not lost on me that again, this is an unadulterated powder: i.e., no temp stability (I don't care) no copper fouling reducer, etc.
Having read the old threads on W748 I will say I do not think it and BL(C)-2 are proxies one for another. IME, BL(C)-2 is a tad slower, dirtier and gives a greater muzzle flash. Your experience may vary.

I agree . I too have found 748 to be my go to powder for my Ruger #1V .223.

 

[m1jeff]

I use it for my 100 yd reduced service rifle matches. Any case, any primer, 53 gr Sierra Match King and 26-26.5 of 748. If it’s not an X it’s because I didn’t break the shot in the X ring.
Throws perfect through the Dillon every time, no need to weigh charges.

 

[WVRJ]

I use it in 223 and 308 sometimes.It also is great in my 35 Remington barrels for my Contender.One's a 14 inch,the other's a 21 inch.Great velocity and accuracy and not so much flash out of the short barrel.Meters great,and unlike its big brother 760,it's very stable at high temps and max loads.It's been hard to find,and I'm getting low on it so I'm using CFE223 for the 223's so I have it for the 35's.