Recommend a versatile powder for .223?

[SquidBilly]

I'm gonna start reloading .223 and I'm looking for a powder that will work for light to heavy bullets.

I basically will be using the gun for hunting and have been eyeing the 36gr Barnes varmint grenade and then something in the 60-70gr range for heavier work. I'd probably lean towards something lead free like the Barnes 62gr TSX.

According to the newest data I have, especially concerning Barnes bullets, I have come across just a couple powders that are used across that range of bullet weight. Ramshot TAC and A2015.

Any other suggestions and data resources that you guys could offer?

[SBsasquatch]

First decide what bullet weight you'll be using, then you can figure out what powder to use. Understand burn rates vs bullet weights.

I'm reloading heavier bullets for .223 so I'm using a "slower" burning powder...

Go to http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/ lots of info there...

[SBsasquatch]

Also, choose the bullet weight to be best optimized with your barrel twist rate. What ever that is... good luck!

[sargenv]

Alliant Powder has a web site
Hodgdon has a loader guide for Hodgdon, IMR, and Winchester
Vittavouri has a web site
Western powers has a web site (Accurate and Ramshot)
Shooter's World Powders (I've used their Tac rifle in 223, I like it)
Norma powder has a web site

They have all kinds of data for the weight range you want.. I listed them all here but then hit the back button and lost all I was going to post.. so in general, check out the powder web sites and you shall eventually find it.

[highpower790]

Varget

[kcheung2]

There's actually quite a few. Just in the Western Powders world, in order of lighter to heavier, there is Ramshot X-terminator (same as AA2230), AA2460, & TAC. While all 3 of these will work in the range of 36gr-77gr, X-term is better for lighter, 2460 is midrange, etc. These 3 powders are also good for 308 & similar cartridges.

Off the top of my head, IMR3031, H322, H335 are also good.

[cyclopes85]

Varget

I second Varget.

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[Osburnjd]

I've been using BLC-2. Pretty versatile among calibers and moves easily through the powder dispenser.


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[Jimi Jah]

I'm a Dapper Dan man and a Varget fellow.

[ar15barrels]

I'm gonna start reloading .223 and I'm looking for a powder that will work for light to heavy bullets.

I basically will be using the gun for hunting and have been eyeing the 36gr Barnes varmint grenade and then something in the 60-70gr range for heavier work. I'd probably lean towards something lead free like the Barnes 62gr TSX.

According to the newest data I have, especially concerning Barnes bullets, I have come across just a couple powders that are used across that range of bullet weight. Ramshot TAC and A2015.

Any other suggestions and data resources that you guys could offer?

Choosing a powder that "works" with both ends of the weight spectrum means you will be compromising performance on BOTH ends of the weight spectrum.
The best solution is to pick a powder that works the best for EACH load you want to shoot.

[jimmykan]

Choosing a powder that "works" with both ends of the weight spectrum means you will be compromising performance on BOTH ends of the weight spectrum.
The best solution is to pick a powder that works the best for EACH load you want to shoot.

Agreed.

That's such a wide range of bullet weights, the heavy end is almost double that of the light end, trying to use one powder to propel 36 grain bullets AND 70 grain bullets means you will end up with sub-optimal loads for one or the other or both bullet weights.

Too slow powder and you'll run out of case capacity and barrel length before you reach desired velocity.

Too fast powder and you'll reach maximum pressure before you reach desired velocity.

Unless you already have the powder and want to find a use for it, choose an ideal (not just satisfactory) powder for each bullet weight.

For the 36 grain bullets: Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, Hodgdon H322, Hodgdon 4198, Hodgdon Benchmark, IMR 3031, Ramshot X-Terminator

For the 69-70 grain bullets: Alliant Power Pro Varmint, Hodgdon H4895, Hodgdon Varget, IMR 8208 XBR, Ramshot TAC

I prefer ball powders or fine/short-cut extruded powders for loading 223 because they flow better through the narrow case neck and these powders tend to throw from a measure within +/- 0.1 grain so I don't bother to trickle charge and can load more rounds per hour.

[SquidBilly]

Choosing a powder that "works" with both ends of the weight spectrum means you will be compromising performance on BOTH ends of the weight spectrum.
The best solution is to pick a powder that works the best for EACH load you want to shoot.

This is what I was avoiding. But it makes sense.

I've not loaded for rifle before and was hoping for a one powder do it all.

But I should have figured it wouldn't be that way. I use 3 powders to cover all of my pistol needs. I'm going to have to do the same for rifle too.

[jimmykan]

This is what I was avoiding. But it makes sense.

I've not loaded for rifle before and was hoping for a one powder do it all.

But I should have figured it wouldn't be that way. I use 3 powders to cover all of my pistol needs. I'm going to have to do the same for rifle too.

Welcome to rifle reloading, where:

• You have to lube cases before sizing them.
• You should check case length and trim cases too (I don't if they're new or I know it's all once-fired)
• A pound of powder only loads about 300 rounds of 223 ammo or 150 rounds of 308.

[FLIGHT762]

IMR 8208XBR

[TomReloaded]

Scale back up to 55gr at the lowest and then you can very effectively use one powder. A 55gr bullet is still tiny, theres no upside to going lighter. It tends to be cheaper too, as 55gr is by far the most common.

223 is a great caliber to load for. You can use one primer, one powder, one case to load basically any weight. There's exceptions obviously, but in general most people fall within a range of just needing one powder.