Powder for reloading 223

[SMarquez]

No mentions of BL-C2? I have loaded thousands of plinking rounds and it meters like water! I've safely tested up to 28g with a 55g FMJBT without pressure signs, but you will be well served in the 25-26g range.

Agree, I got tiny groups with 25.5 grs. pushing a 69 gr. Sierra Match King. Surprised me because I don't usually get groups that small.

[pennstater]

Glad you mentioned BL-C2 '86. I had forgotten that. Good powder.

[liber]

H335, IMR8208XBR, Varget.

These are exactly what I would recommend and what I use.

FWIW, *IF* they have Varget at a reasonable price, buy it as you can always sell it back in Cali. I'll let you figure out what good is, but Powder Valley sells it for $24, and locally people get from $35-$40/lb in the Bay Area where I live. I see you're in San Jose also...Varget can always be sold if you have too much.

Varget is always a safe bet if you can find it.

I use mostly H335 as it's very common for 223 and I have about 6 lbs. of it left.

I also have a bunch of IMR 8208 XBR I can use for 223 but mostly use it for 308 until my H335 is gone.

[bigbully]

H335 is canister version of what the military uses for M193.

BLC(2) is also very good and is what is used in military 308.

Varget is favored by many, because it is not temperature sensitive, but it meters poorly.

[JDay]

H335, Winchester 748 those 2 are my personal favorite as they meter well and are flake so they won't bridge and spill.
Reloader 15? Variety are good as well but are stick and have had bridging issues which can make a mess.

A little powdered graphite through your hopper will eliminate bridging. It also lubricates your powder measure so that it runs better

[MrBuzzard]

CFE, blc2 is all I use. Tend to stay away from extruded powders in a progressive press.


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[Citadelgrad87]

I scored about 15 lbs of Ramshot Tac on recommendation here to load .223, but haven't tried it yet. It's very fine. Stick powder like 4064 is going to slow the powder drop, won't it?

[mjmagee67]

H335 or Alliant's version Varmint both are excellent.

25gr H335 under 55gr FMJs or 26gr Varmint under the same.

[pennstater]

I scored about 15 lbs of Ramshot Tac on recommendation here to load .223, but haven't tried it yet. It's very fine. Stick powder like 4064 is going to slow the powder drop, won't it?

You're going to like that TAC in .223. Very much.

[repomanNWP]

Been using TAC for years, good stuff for .223.

[Bigtls1]

Many good suggestions, I prefer H335. 25 grains behind a 55gr projectile

[rsrocket1]

Last time I bought powder at Cabela's they only carried 1 pounders. They said it was some fire department regulation.

That is soooo much Bull unless it is a Verdi regulation. Scheels in Sparks and Sportsmans Warehouse near the Costco in Reno sells 4 pound and 8 pound jugs if they are able to get them. Reloader 7 , 10x, 12 will work just fine as well as IMR 3031, H322, H335 and Varget and I know they are often available in 8 pound jugs at those stores.

[Full Clip]

I scored about 15 lbs of Ramshot Tac on recommendation here to load .223, but haven't tried it yet. It's very fine. Stick powder like 4064 is going to slow the powder drop, won't it?

I love TAC. Pours like water.
Reloading with extruded powder like Varget always results in throw weight errors for me. I use an RCBS Chargemaster and it just kinda clumps in the feed tube and meters erratically, often resulting in weight errors.
BLC2 is fine as well.

[bazineta]

I've been using AR-Comp in a .308 AR; quite happy with it. It's extruded, but it does meter well for me.