Powder Suggestions For 223 & 308

[uechikid]

I've decided to start reloading the two rifle calibers we shoot. 223 and 308. I've been reloading for pistol but with the new ammo laws coming soon I thought I'd get setup for rifle as well.
I'm looking for powder suggestions. I was hoping to use the same powder for both but looking at my manuals it appears that there are only a few powders that will accomplish this. And, one powder might be great for one and only OK for the other. I will start loading 55gr FMJ in the 223 and 168gr HPBT or FMJ in the 308.

Thanks

[highpower790]

Varget,RL 15,IMR4895

[bazineta]

There are several options available. As of late, I've been using AR-Comp, which will handle both, as you've requested.

It's a fairly short extruded powder, so it meters nicely. Temperature stable. To me, it's like Swedish Varget. The Nosler site has recently added a lot of load data for it; might check there. I haven't had any problems finding it locally; seems if anyone around here carries powder at all, they'll have AR-Comp.

In 308, my favorite load for it is Lake City brass, CCI 200 primer, 40.0 gr AR-Comp, with a 168 SMK.

Very nice powder IMO.

[highpower790]

There are several options available. As of late, I've been using AR-Comp, which will handle both, as you've requested.

It's a fairly short extruded powder, so it meters nicely. Temperature stable. To me, it's like Swedish Varget. The Nosler site has recently added a lot of load data for it; might check there. I haven't had any problems finding it locally; seems if anyone around here carries powder at all, they'll have AR-Comp.

In 308, my favorite load for it is Lake City brass, CCI 200 primer, 40.0 gr AR-Comp, with a 168 SMK.

Very nice powder IMO.

Varget is Australian mate.

[bazineta]

Varget is Australian mate.

[Bill Steele]

I think a lot depends on how you plan to load them, what your goals, etc.

If you want to load them on a progressive and pump out autoloader volumes, stick with a ball powder or very small grain extruded. If you are going the drop and trickle route for great precision, the metering characteristics are less important.

I frankly think the fixation many have on wanting a single powder for multiple calibers/bullets is the wrong approach. Get what works best in each caliber, but that is just me.

[bigdawg86]

BLC2

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[Citadelgrad87]

I fell in love with 4064 for my .30 rifles, and 7.62 based rifles like .243, before I started loading for 5.62. No way I'm dumping my 4064 recipes and development, and fifteen seconds of trying to get extruded powder to go into a 556 neck told me this one size doesn't fit all.

So I bought a bunch of TAC, and it dumps in tiny necks like talcum powder.

[sghart]

I like W748.

[painkiller]

H335,h/imr 4895

[Divernhunter]

I have used Win 748 for many years with excellent results

[baih777]

Benchmark or H335

[uechikid]

I just purchased a Dillon XL650 for this purpose but I don't anticipate cranking out large amounts of ammo any time soon. Just like with my SDB, slow and cautious until i'm very comfortable with all aspects of reloading rifle rounds.

[Bigtls1]

My favorites are H335 for .223 and Varget for .308. They can be interchanged, but to get better performance you should have one powder for each.

[Paul_R]

Ramshot X-Terminator and TAC. If only one I'd choose TAC for those two calibers.