Benchmark for varmit rifles?

[02bigdogs17]

I have been loading for my .223 and my friends .204 ruger for a long time and have tried many different powders for them. While I know everyone just about loves H335 or W748 for there 223 loads the best 2 powders I have found for my 223 are Benchmark and BLC-2 and the best powder for my friends 204 has been Benchmark also. I have another friend wanting me to work him up a load for his 22-250 has anyone tried Benchmark for this caliber and what kind of results did you have? I am also thinking about trying it out with some 150gr bullets in my .308. I really like this powder so far seems to shoot very clean and very temp stable. What's your thoughts?

 

[spitballer]

IMHO powder selection should depend on barrel length and bullet hardness. Powders that work ell for a FMJ in a 16" barrel may not do as well in a 26" barrel that uses thin-jacketed varmint bullets. I shoot a lot of 55gr Nosler ballistic tips in my .223 with a 30" barrel, and believe it or not I get very good performance from both H414 and H4350.

 

[MtnCreek]

How much 4350 you putting in that .223 case?

Benchmark did ok for me in .223 and .308w with lighter bullets. I had excessive pressure in both cal's before reaching max. This was about the time they introduced it and the charges listed on the bottle do not match Hodgdon's current data.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Benchmark always produces great loads in .223 for me, with anything from 40gr to 60gr bullets. I haven't tried it with anything lighter as I don't use any lighter bullets, and with heavier bullets I usually reach for Varget if top accuracy is my goal.

I don't own a .22-250 or a .308. Without looking at data I'd wager it won't give high-end velocities but it'd probably give you accurate loads if there's data for it.

 

[spitballer]

How much 4350 you putting in that .223 case?

I won't say how much I use because the powder is not listed for .223 and it will just detract from the discussion. Let's just say that with 55's I could easily compress 29.5 grains in fire-formed cases if I wanted to, but it's too hot for the bullets I use so I don't. But this is for a 30" barrel. 02bigdogs17 didn't specify barrel length. For a standard 26" varmint barrel I wouldn't gamble on a can of 4350 before first trying to work up a usable load with H414, a listed powder which I've found to be very well suited for soft varmint bullets in an old-fashioned long gun. Carbines and FMJ's I don't knoiw too much about.

 

[Clint M]

Benchmark has been as accurate for me as any of the "most accurate 223 powders". It's a fine powder I wished I had 8 pounds of it at the price I purchased pound for testing years ago. I also worked up some loads in 260 rem using benchmark.

 

[Horsemany]

I've used a lot of Benchmark in 223 on prairie dogs. Shoots a bit cleaner than H335 and is just as accurate in my rifle.