Good powder for MATCH GRADE .223 in the AR platform

[Lr_athlete32]

Hi all, I am new to the forum (and reloading) and with the vast variety of "match accurate" powders on the market was hoping you all could shed some light on what powders work best for your 50 and 55 grain .223 match loads. Bullets will be hornady 55g v-max and nosler 50g ballistic varmint tip. Shooting out of a 1:9
Thanks!

 

[cwall64]

I have had great results with Benchmark in 53 - 60 grain bullets and VV N140 in heavier bullets (68 - 77) out of a RRA 20" heavy barrel Varmint model with 1 in 8" twist. I haven't measured the groups per say, but I can cover up 5 shot groups with a dime pretty frequently at 100 yards.

 

[HexHead]

Varget.

 

[Lr_athlete32]

Thanks for the reply cwall! Benchmark was just what I had my eye on but couldn't find solid real-world testing, and now I have it. Thank you

 

[Lr_athlete32]

Hex, my #1 choice would be varget if only I could find some! Everuwhere I look it's out of stock. Do you know where this can be bought or ordered from?

 

[surveyor]

Maybe this post will help
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488892

I have only loaded 77 gr with varget and it works well for me in a 1:8 twist.
When I start on the 50 gr v maxes I'm planning on using a faster powder to start with.

 

[rcmodel]

I much prefer ball powder over stick powder in the .223.

For the simple reason it feeds through powder measures and tiny case necks like water.
With no crunching, and no bridging over.

I started using W-748 in 1971, have never found a reason to try anything else.

rc

 

[Nature Boy]

I echo the Varget recommendations. Tried benchmark but it didn't group as well as Varget. Not to say it won't, just that I haven't found the magic recipe yet.

Since RC says W748 I'm going to try that next

 

[cwall64]

Thanks for the reply cwall! Benchmark was just what I had my eye on but couldn't find solid real-world testing, and now I have it. Thank you

Yes, I had not had any experience with it either, but the Nolser load data seemed to like it in some of the lighter bullet weights (http://www.nosler.com/nosler-load-data/223-remington/), so i took a chance on a 1 pounder, then order an large lot of it after my testing... I mainly use it in their 60 grain BTs. But, they also list it for their 50/52 bullets as most accurate powder.

Sierra seems to favor the VV N133 and N135, RL7, and H335 in their manual as accuracy and hunting loads that work best in the different 50 - 60 grain bullets...

I did get myself 8 pounds of N135 as a Christmas gift, but haven't worked up any loads yet! As always Varget is great, just right now hard to find - I mainly use it in 308 and heavier 223 bullets.

 

[Ifishsum]

My 53gr match loads use BL-C(2) because at the ranges I shoot those it's as accurate as anything else I tried and it meters perfectly so I can bulk load a bit quicker. I have also used W748 with pretty much the same results.

 

[Rule3]

Your rifle, barrel. trigger, will cause more variance than a so called "match" powder. as there are so many good powders you will have to be a really good shooter to determine any difference,

I like ball powders also. Varget gets its rep as being an extreme powder. If you are not shooting in extreme changes in outside temp like from between
0o - 125o it's not an issue.

I like H335 and A 2230(ball powder) Lots of commercial ammi is ball, Heck Federal Match 308 is ball powder

Here is some info that may help

http://www.6mmbr.com/223rem.HTML

 

[JimKirk]

Just don't over look RL 10X when looking for match grade accuracy.... it is not a ball powder but a fine grain stick powder that meters very well... works great for the bullets you mention...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

VARGET...
I loaded up some target ammo using a 55gr Sierra bullet (#1390) and Varget and the results were outstanding. That combination produced sub 1/2 MOA groups @200 yards. When loaded with H335 or TAC the ammo was good but not as good as with Varget.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Metering difficulties aside, I found IMR 4198 to be very accurate.

 

[HJ857]

At what distances will you be shooting? I think part of match accuracy includes temperature stability unless you only shoot in the summer or only in the winter. For example I find TAC has a five click difference at 500 meters with a 50 degree temp change. H4895 shows no difference. That's a 6.875 inch difference.

You could work up a ballistic table for every 10 degree temperature change, and that would work just as well.

Also, with the two bullets you mention, look at the 53 grain VMax, it could easily replace both those bullets and give you a better B/C.

 

[carbine85]

IMR4895. I have used it for many years and just keep going back. Most other powders that are good in the AR are very similar to IMR4895 in the burn rate and pressure curves. H4895 is the closest but it's not the exact same powder.
I get similar results with Varget but just seem to do a little better with 4895

 

[P-32]

Interesting question.

I've found for the lighter match bullets Varget or 748 works well.

For bullets 77 gr and 80 gr Reloader 15 is the one. Burns cleaner than Varget. Of course with your twist no heavy bellets for you.

I also use Remington 7 1/2 match primers.

Uniforming primer pockets does wonders if using GI brass.

 

[W.E.G.]

The AR is an inherently accurate gun.

I haven't found any medium-rate rifle powder that does not work well in the AR.

If you have an aversion to compressed charges, consider the powders on the faster end of the medium-burn group.