Rifle powder

[Fire Guy]

Although I'm not "new" to reloading I am new to reloading for rifles. I took about a 30 year hiatus while I concentrated on family and career so now I'm coming back. My only real experience is reloading magnum hand guns for competition in a friends garage. We were young and made WAY to many mistakes. That's a whole other post. That being said I am now reloading rifles fro the first time. I've done around 200 .223 (they weren't bad) and I'm preparing to load 7.62 Russian. So far I've only used CFE 223 powder. I have a hard time finding anything in the Speer, Hornady, to Lyman manuals for 62gn bullets for the .223. I'm ready to try a different power. I't seems Varget is popular but I have no experience with this powder. What's your favorite?

[highpower790]

Varget,RL15,IMR8208,IMR4895 are powders I use.all work very well in gas guns .

[MrElectric03]

For .223 I used IMR3031 for a while with good results but recently went to H335 as it meters better in my Dillon. I have not yet started 7.62x39, someday I'll get an AK and have a need.

[JackEllis]

For 62 grain Federal Fusion pulls, I used 25.5 grains of W748, 2.255 OAL in both a Tikka T3 Lite and a Howa 1500 Varmint. I thought they'd be plinking ammunition but the loads shoot under an inch (I realize that's nothing to brag about for precision shooters) in both rifles.

[sghart]

I like W748, H335, TAC and Varget.

I used to use surplus powders like 842 or 844 but they have become expensive lately especially when you factor in shipping, hazmat, etc.

[kevins750]

For bulk 223 I use AA2230, meters well

Bulk X39 I use AA1680, meters well.

[kcheung2]

I also use AA2230 (and Ramshot X-Terminator, which is the same thing). I also have a supply of Ramshot TAC as a backup because it works well in both .223 and .308. And as a backup to backup that I also have some AA 2460, which no one seems to use but during the shortage it was abundant. From my research, it's in between X-term and TAC in burn rate.

You've gotta be more specific than "7.62 Russian" because they used 7.62x39, 7.62x54R, and 7.62x25. Also note that their 7.62 is .311 dia, not like our .308, so make sure you get the right sized projectiles.

[JagerDog]

I've mostly shot Benchrest in .223, but got a bunch of TAC on a steal of a deal. Still need to work that up and save the Benchrest for rounds I care more about. Then again, maybe TAC will outperform the Benchrest.

BLC2 is/was a go to .mil copy/clone.

[racinjason233]

25-26 grains of BLC-2 is good for 62 grain boolits. See what works best in your rifle.

[Fire Guy]

I also use AA2230 (and Ramshot X-Terminator, which is the same thing). I also have a supply of Ramshot TAC as a backup because it works well in both .223 and .308. And as a backup to backup that I also have some AA 2460, which no one seems to use but during the shortage it was abundant. From my research, it's in between X-term and TAC in burn rate.

You've gotta be more specific than "7.62 Russian" because they used 7.62x39, 7.62x54R, and 7.62x25. Also note that their 7.62 is .311 dia, not like our .308, so make sure you get the right sized projectiles.

I'm sorry, you are right I should be more specific. 7.62 X 54R is what I'll be working on soon. The bullet diameter is good t know. Thanks.

Thank you all. I'm going to be busy researching all these powders. Metering is a big factor for me. Burn rate is as well. Thanks again.

[kevins750]

I'm sorry, you are right I should be more specific. 7.62 X 54R is what I'll be working on soon. The bullet diameter is good t know. Thanks.

Thank you all. I'm going to be busy researching all these powders. Metering is a big factor for me. Burn rate is as well. Thanks again.

H335 or H4895 can be used in 223 and x54r.

[kcstott]

Bullet weight in the lod manuals don't need to be perfect either.

for a 62grain bullet i'd have no problem using data for a 60-65 grain bullet.

you don't need to find data for your exact bullet.

Hornady lists a 60gr bullet with CFE 223 from 24.5 to 27.4 well knowing that heavier bullets require less powder to get to the same pressure back that max off 1 grain and lower the start by 1 grain and go for it.

[JagerDog]

Bullet weight in the lod manuals don't need to be perfect either.

for a 62grain bullet i'd have no problem using data for a 60-65 grain bullet.

you don't need to find data for your exact bullet.

Hornady lists a 60gr bullet with CFE 223 from 24.5 to 27.4 well knowing that heavier bullets require less powder to get to the same pressure back that max off 1 grain and lower the start by 1 grain and go for it.

Agreed.

[choprzrul]

I use Ramshot Xterminator in my Howa 223 mini action. I really like using a powder with the decoppering agents in them.

Here is their load data, and it includes the 62gr class bullets you are using:

https://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/WPHandloading-Guide-7.0-Web-REV.pdf