Benchmark for 223?

[stoney1666]

this is all i could find, how good is it for 223?

 

[Bfh_auto]

For 55 grain and lighter bullets it works exceptionally well.
It also meters well in a volumetric measure.

 

[Axis II]

55gr v max or nosler around 24-25gr is amazing

 

[2ndtimer]

One of the best powders for .223 with bullets weighing less than 69 grains. I was shocked how little velocity was lost in sub freezing temperatures with Benchmark compared to ball powders (Ramshot TAC and X-Terminator) with 40 gr V-Max handloads. I still use the ball powders, since the vast majority of my .223 shooting is done in spring summer temps.

 

[lightman]

What everyone said above. Glad you found some, its hard to get.

 

[stoney1666]

Thanks, Bi-Mart here had several #s

 

[IALoder]

Fantastic powder for 40-69gr .223. I really like it with 55's and 62's. Meters well out of a powder measure as well.

 

[Palladan44]

*Thread revival*

I just picked up some of this [Benchmark] stuff myself. Have not tried it yet.
I normally use H335 or CFE223, but of course I shoot in temperatures varying from zero to 100. I'm hoping to get the same(sure hope so) or better (would be really nice) accuracy with it as the other powders, but hope to achieve more consistent performance across the varying temperatures I shoot in.
I'm also hoping it meters just fine in my Dillon 550B thrower having it vary by a few thou ain't going to help stay at that sub MOA at 200.
I currently send RMR 69gr HPBT down range out of my Colt H-Bar CAR A3 w/20" barrel. Am thinking about getting a bolt gun in .223 soon as well.

 

[Necessary_Nutrient]

My benchmark reloads using the SMK 69 grain are more accurate than the Gold Medal factory stuff from Federal- at least in my guns. Love the stuff, looks like around 22.9 Grains was the sweet spot for me, a little over half a grain under max.

To be fair, AR-Comp also produced similar results with the SMK 69 grain so I'd say it's the bullet more than the powder.

 

[Palladan44]

My benchmark reloads using the SMK 69 grain are more accurate than the Gold Medal factory stuff from Federal- at least in my guns. Love the stuff, looks like around 22.9 Grains was the sweet spot for me, a little over half a grain under max.

To be fair, AR-Comp also produced similar results with the SMK 69 grain so I'd say it's the bullet more than the powder.

Hope you dont mind me asking, is your OAL for your above mentioned load at the book number of 2.235" ?

 

[Necessary_Nutrient]

Hope you dont mind me asking, is your OAL for your above mentioned load at the book number of 2.235" ?

I got great results at 2.238-2.240 OAL, then did another test at that, 2.248-2.250 and 2.258-2.260. The results were close enough that I just loaded them all to Mag Length at 2.260.

I checked and the load was
Lake City XM193 cases
GM205M Primer
22.9 Grains Benchmark
SMK 69 Grain HPBT

Velocity was good, too, slightly higher than factory Federal GMM from my limited testing of the factory round.

 

[kmw1954]

I had been using Benchmark in my 223 Savage Model 12 with 26" barrel and 1:9 twist with a 69gr SMK bullet. When it became near extinct a couple years ago I went back to TAC and 2460. Now that it has become more available yet expensive I will be working up a load with the 60gr VMAX.

 

[2ndtimer]

*Thread revival*

I just picked up some of this [Benchmark] stuff myself. Have not tried it yet.
I normally use H335 or CFE223, but of course I shoot in temperatures varying from zero to 100. I'm hoping to get the same(sure hope so) or better (would be really nice) accuracy with it as the other powders, but hope to achieve more consistent performance across the varying temperatures I shoot in.
I'm also hoping it meters just fine in my Dillon 550B thrower having it vary by a few thou ain't going to help stay at that sub MOA at 200.
I currently send RMR 69gr HPBT down range out of my Colt H-Bar CAR A3 w/20" barrel. Am thinking about getting a bolt gun in .223 soon as well.

I haven’t tried it in my Dillon, but it does meter pretty good in my old RCBS Uniflow measure. It also is very temperature insensitive compared to ball powders and will likely give very consistent results from 0 degrees to 100 degrees. (Just work up your loads in warm weather to avoid a potential “summer surprise”). I have a couple pounds of Benchmark on hand, as well as a pound of AR Comp, but am almost afraid to try them for fear of great performance. Both are quite pricey nowadays, as well as frequently unavailable in the past year or two. (Which explains the large supply of Ramshot TAC on hand .

 

[Palladan44]

AR Comp, but am almost afraid to try them for fear of great performance. Both are quite pricey nowadays, as well as frequently unavailable in the past year or two.

All of the remaining Alliant powders, including AR comp were 65$ per pound yesterday at Midwestern Shooters supply. Looks like the shop owner is taking advantage of the old supply and demand system. IMO selling any product above max MSRP if you are a highly respected dealer/distributor is a bit, well.....shoddy.
But I'm sure they will sell out of it all to panickers. It just won't be me buying it.
My favorite powder company always has been Alliant but that might change here......Hodgdon is where it's at for me right now....

 

[Palladan44]

I haven’t tried it in my Dillon, but it does meter pretty good in my old RCBS Uniflow measure. It also is very temperature insensitive compared to ball powders and will likely give very consistent results from 0 degrees to 100 degrees. (Just work up your loads in warm weather to avoid a potential “summer surprise”). I have a couple pounds of Benchmark on hand, as well as a pound of AR Comp, but am almost afraid to try them for fear of great performance. Both are quite pricey nowadays, as well as frequently unavailable in the past year or two. (Which explains the large supply of Ramshot TAC on hand .

I always have H-335 and CFE-223 to fall back on.

 

[Necessary_Nutrient]

I don't know about cold weather performance, but I will say that AR Comp was very close in accuracy and may have been even a little speedier. It was a very close call when I was choosing a powder between those two for the 69 Gr SMK bullet

 

[hdwhit]

I had good luck with Benchmark. Most of what I loaded with it was 55 grain hollow points (Dogtown bullets from Midway) and I was seeing 2,750 fps (per chronograph) from 23.0 grains with my Mini-14s.