223 powder choices

[brewer12345]

After reloading for years, I am finally setting up to load for .223. I can't legally hunt big game with it in my state, but I have taken to 6.5 Grendel for hunting and I want to spend some time this summer shooting 100-300 yards with the same platform and a lower cost cartridge. Its cheaper to load 223 than it is Grendel and I can just swap uppers and practice with the cheaper cartridge on the same lower. I've got primers and brass and bullets (55 grain SP and 69 grain HPBT) for 223. The conundrum now is powder.

It looks like Varget is the ideal choice for accuracy. I have some, but supply has been spotty for years. Is there something else readily available that might give good accuracy? Tac and H335 seem to be more readily available and I have been using them for Grendel. Other powders I should be looking at?

 

[AJC1]

N135, 4895, 4064 benchmark 8298xbr, rl15 and the list goes on.

 

[brewer12345]

N135, 4895, 4064 benchmark 8298xbr, rl15 and the list goes on.

I'd love to set on 8208xbr, but it seems to be very rare.

 

[BIZERKO666]

I'm liking BLC-2, Have used CFE223 and H335 with no complaints.

 

[bigpower491]

335 would be right good. I've burned pounds of it in 223, with excellent results

 

[n2omike]

Powder Valley has a ton of powders in stock... even the harder to find choices like CFE222 and Varget... as well as TAC, Benchmark, BLC(2), H335,etc.
https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product-category/reloading-supplies/powder/smokeless-powder/
CFE223
https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/hodgdon-cfe223/
Varget
https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/hodgdon-varget/

 

[Docendo Discimus]

W748 is my personal favorite.

 

[Soonerpesek]

N135, 4895, 4064 benchmark 8298xbr, rl15 and the list goes on.

All's we gotta say to you is: "I bet you won't test the Shooter's World offering"...........................I bet we'll have data and chrono's by Fri........................

 

[ms6852]

This is a 5 shot group at 200 yards. I was trying to find a load my RRA would like. Using Reloader 15.

I also have CFE 223 powder and BLC-2 that I bought for my AR but have not used it yet, not until I run out of RL15.

 

[brewer12345]

All's we gotta say to you is: "I bet you won't test the Shooter's World offering"...........................I bet we'll have data and chrono's by Fri........................

Which shooters world powder did you have in mind?

 

[lightman]

My go to powder for 50 and 55 grain bullets is BL-C2. I have a pound each of 748, 2230 and Tac that I plan to try.

Truthfully, there are a bunch that work well.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Way to many to list, really. (I'll try)
H335, Varget, CFE223, BL-C(2), H322, H4198, Benchmark and probably a few more Hodgdon powders.
IMR4198, IMR4895, IMR3031, IMR8208 and more.
W748 and W760
AA2520, AA2460, AA2230, AA2495, AA2015 and probably more.
Ramshot TAC
AR-Comp, Power Pro 1200R, RL7, RL10x and maybe more.

IMO the best choices are: CFE223, H335, 3031, AA2230, AR-Comp, Power Pro 1200-R and TAC with the very best being TAC, CFE223 and H335. (IMO of course)

I have been using H335 a very long time and while there are probably better choices it works for me and all my load work ups are with it.

 

[Demi-human]

If Varget and a Hornady Vmax don’t shoot small, your rifle is busted.
It is always in high demand. But has been on the shelf for three weeks at PowderValley.com

There is a reason it always disappears first…
And why I’ve only gotten a pound in seven years to try. It is ambrosia.
However, Sum hominid, non dae. I am a man, not a god.
I can be sustained on Tac and CFE223.
In fact, with just minimal seasonal fluctuations in charge weight to keep primers happy, CFE223 is my favorite. A Laser Launcher in a can.

I do wish I could splurge on some Varget right now though. I mean, it’s just sitting there! Why must I be so disciplined?!

 

[Bfh_auto]

For 55 gr benchmark and H4895 are top shelf.
AR plus was showing promise when I tested it. But I didn't get to complete my testing before I moved.
The only other one I didn't see mentioned was AR COMP.

 

[Blue68f100]

After reloading for years, I am finally setting up to load for .223. I can't legally hunt big game with it in my state, but I have taken to 6.5 Grendel for hunting and I want to spend some time this summer shooting 100-300 yards with the same platform and a lower cost cartridge. Its cheaper to load 223 than it is Grendel and I can just swap uppers and practice with the cheaper cartridge on the same lower. I've got primers and brass and bullets (55 grain SP and 69 grain HPBT) for 223. The conundrum now is powder.

It looks like Varget is the ideal choice for accuracy. I have some, but supply has been spotty for years. Is there something else readily available that might give good accuracy? Tac and H335 seem to be more readily available and I have been using them for Grendel. Other powders I should be looking at?

TAC would be my choice for the lighter 55gr bullets. TAC will also work for the 69gr too, but I get better accuracy using Varget. I never had any luck with the H335 powder when I tried it, your results may be different. The TAC has consistently produced sub MOA groups for me with the lighter bullets. With the heavier bullets it's still MOA accuracy but not as tight as Varget.

 

[Walkalong]

Buy good bullets and it's hard to go wrong with powder in .223.

I'm shooting TAC with quality 50, 52, 53, & 55 Gr bullets I have bought on sale over the years.

Why TAC? I had a bunch left over after trying it in 6 PPC.

I was shooting H-322 for the same basic reason, leftover from the stuff I bought from a guy when I started shooting Benchrest.

Many powders work

 

[entropy]

My order of preference;
BL-C(2), Varget, 2230, Power Pro Varmint, IMR 4064, IMR 3031, CFE 223.

 

[jmorris]

There are a number of powders that can give good results. Something inside the red would be a good place to start.



Varget and the IMR extruded powders, while working well don’t meter very good so if I am throwing charges, I generally pick powders that meter great out of measures. 748, TAC, X terminator, H…

 

[brewer12345]

Since I already use varget in 3006 and tac and h335 in grendel, I will experiment with those powders. I suppose once I have loads ginned up I can always switch between them based on what I can get.

 

[N555]

I have been using leverevolution and 69gr bullets for a while. Leverevolution was available well into the plandemic but now the word is out and it's about as hard to find as varget.

 

[kmw1954]

Agree with jmorris. There isn't much that won't find a load in the 223. I have been using 3 powders but have 4. TAC, A2460, Benchmark and BL-C2 all with 62 - 69gr projectiles from a 1:9 twist barrel.

 

[Nature Boy]

I like Benchmark for the lighter bullets and Varget and N140 for the heavier.

I like H4895 for everything. I even put a spoon full in my coffee this morning

 

[rwilky78]

I use H335 in my loads for my AR and CFE-233 in my .223 bolt rifle, getting good results so far. Just got me 2 more pounds of CFE-223 and 2 pounds of Varget to try in my .308 bolt rifle.

 

[Airborne Falcon]

I have been using leverevolution and 69gr bullets for a while. Leverevolution was available well into the plandemic but now the word is out and it's about as hard to find as varget.

Dang ... I need that recipe. I've got a bunch of 69 grainers out there and probably 10-12 pds of LeveRevolution that I'll never use-up loading for leverguns.

You say it works well in .223 with 69 grainers outta of AR platforms? It's so slow ... that kinda surprises me. Seems like if it works well with 69s it might work well with 77s and 80s if it's not too compressed.

1000 of these Nosler 53065s in 69.

 

[W.E.G.]

I used to be a Varget and Sierra guy for 5.56 service rifle loading.

Varget has always had spotty availability. Gotta buy it when its available. Price has been high lately when available.
https://shop.hodgdon.com/hodgdon-varget/



I switched to Ramshot TAC, and I see zero reduction in the accuracy of my ammo.
TAC is a good powder choice for ANY caliber that calls for a medium-burning rifle powder.
I can reliably shoot high-master service-rifle scores with TAC. Well,... except offhand. I admit I suck at offhand because I wobble a lot, and I have poor trigger-control when the gun won't settle. Which has absolutely nothing to do with the accuracy-potential of the ammunition of course.
But put me in a sling-supported position, and my scores are quite respectable. Good position... Good ammo... Good scores.
TAC has remained available, and sensibly-priced during all the recent shortages. I find that amazing.
https://shop.hodgdon.com/ramshot-tac/




And TAC flows through a powder measure like water.
Very unlike Varget - which feels like chopping wood.

I still shoot 80-grain Match Kings at true 600-yard distances.
Anything shorter than true 600 yards, I now use the 69-grain ROCKY MOUNTAIN RELOADING (RMR) bullet.
The 69 RMR bullet is excellent.
https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bul...w-point-boat-tail-3-gun-hunter-bullets-new-2/
The 69 RMR does everything a 69 SMK or a 77 SMK ever could do for me.
And at about half the price of the SMK bullets.



My load for the 69RMR and TAC:
Magazine-length OAL (2.250")
CCI 450 (MAGNUM) primer
Any case
24.2 grains TAC
69-grain Rocky Mountain Reloading bullet
Makes about 2700-2750 fps from a 20" barrel

My load for the 80SMK and TAC:
Exceed magazine-length OAL (2.400")
CCI 450 (MAGNUM) primer
Any case
24.0 grains TAC
80-grain Sierra Match King bullet
Makes about 2700-2750 fps from a 20" barrel