Powders - Where to Start?

[Phil3]

I am new to reloading and will be making my first rounds hopefully January. I am somewhat puzzled as to where to start load development in regards to powders and even primers. I am shooting an AR15 223 Remington, 1:9" twist barrel, at 100 - 300 yards (mostly 100), and looking for top accuracy on paper targets. Bullets will be Sierra MatchKings in 52/53 and 69 grain. There isn't much in between for target bullets.

There are so many powders, not sure where to begin. I'd hate to buy a lot of powders only to find that many of them won't work well. Maybe I should just flip a coin. Here is what I am considering. I know I will need to try different powders, just wondering a good choice to start with. The availability shown is from ONE vendor. If I can avoid, want to buy from just one source to avoid multiple Hazmat charges, but would consider buying a group of right powders at any source.

52 - 55 grain bullets

Accurate AA2015 - Available.
Hodgdon Benchmark - Available.
Hodgdon H335 - NA.
Hodgdon H4895 - NA.
Ramshot TAC - Available.
Vhitavouri N133 - NA.
Alliant Reloder 7 - Available.
Winchester 748 - NA.
Vhitavouri N130 - NA.

69 grain bullets

Accurate AA2520 - Available.
Vhitavouri N540 - NA.
Alliant Reloder 15 - Available.
Hodgdon Varget - NA.

------------

Hodgdon H322 - Available.
Accurate AA2230 - Available.

Too many choices!

- Phil

[xrMike]

I can't speak about the other powders you mention, never used them, but I know that Ramshot TAC is capable of excellent accuracy at 100 and 300 when used with match grade 69 grain bullets. It should work well with a quality 1:9 barrel.

[buffybuster]

If you're just starting out, to make life simpler, RS-TAC, 4895, Benchmark, H335 will work well with both 55's & 69's. Varget and R15 will work better with the heavies (68-77gr).

Find what's available/cheaper and roll with it.

[freonr22]

I had heard that Alliant 2230 was good for 50-55gr

[Phil3]

Also saw that 2230 was good. Am considering these five for using with bullets from 52 to 69 grain. All these powders available from one vendor.

Ramshot TAC
Accurate 2230
Alliant Reloder 15 (RE15)
Hodgdon Benchmark
Hodgdon R322

$120 worth...hope most of it works well. Between this and five different bullets, I should be able to find a good load. Using CCI #400 primers.

- Phil

[Chemtchr]

I've tried a few different powders for .223 including 4895, H335, BL-C2, Varget and TAC. Personally, I think Varget and TAC worked the best for 55 grain Hornady's and 69 grain SMK's. I will buy more of those two whenever I place a powder order. The others I will just use up here and there.

[22popnsplat]

The .223 is a very easy cartridge to load for as there Are alot of combinations that work well . I recently bought my 5th 223 , a Savage single shot heavy barrel and the first load i tried was sierra match 52s with 2015 and that load shot in the low 3s for 5 shot goups @100 yards without even adjusting seating depth . i have had good succes with blc-2,748,335 and I belive it wc846 (a surplus powder) shooting the 50 grain v-max . All of my previous .223 had a 1:12 twist , by the way my #6 is in the works now.

[hockeeplayrr]

If you reload other calibers. You might want to cross reference your manual and see what powders will work in those cartridges. That might lower the choices a bit. Just a thought. I use the Lyman 49th edition.
Be safe and enjoy.

[Bug Splat]

I only use Varget for my 69SMK loads plus I think it smells nice . I've actually on more than one occasion gotten a few compliments from guys next to me on the bench saying it smelt nice. Weird right?

For the lighter loads I use H335. Easy to measure out and burns well.

[f4tweet]

H335