cheap 223 powder?

[rbahri5206]

im looking for a cheap powder to use for .223 plinking ammo. I am using hodgdon h335 at 23-25 grains, still trying to dial it in but its kind of pricey ($27.99 Local no hazmat) any recommendations?

[lpspinner]

Using this chart I created Hodgdon's H4198 is the most efficient. Using factory starting charge, a pound of H4198 will give you approximately 368 rounds per bottle.

[NotEnufGarage]

WC844.

[FLIGHT762]

WC844.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


H-4198 or IMR 4198 is not a good powder for .223/5.56 in a gas gun. A little too fast burning and may not give enough port pressure to cycle an autoloader. It may work with very light bullets.

[choprzrul]

Powder Valley 8lb keg of Winchester 748


powder + hazmat + shipping == roughly $22/pound

.

[Southpaw45]

Yep! WC844. Just so you know that its a pulled down powder. "Demilled". There out of stock but this is what it looks like. >>> http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...ir=278|283|999

[sargenv]

www.gibrass.com, WC844 surplus, $88/8# must buy 6 cans to make it this cheap.. no hazmat on 6 jug order, just need pay shipping. $528/6 jugs plus shipping.. UPS says $70 to ship it ground, but these places usually have some sort of contract that makes shipping cheaper. but $640/48# makes it $13.34/#. This is Surplus.. but you asked for "Cheap".. this is cheap.

Ask a buddy or two to chip in with you.. sometimes they even offer free hazmat and shipping.. You just need to be looking when the deals become available and hop on it..

[CalTeacher]

WC844 or 846

[NotEnufGarage]

www.gibrass.com, WC844 surplus, $88/8# must buy 6 cans to make it this cheap.. no hazmat on 6 jug order, just need pay shipping. $528/6 jugs plus shipping.. UPS says $70 to ship it ground, but these places usually have some sort of contract that makes shipping cheaper. but $640/48# makes it $13.34/#. This is Surplus.. but you asked for "Cheap".. this is cheap.

Ask a buddy or two to chip in with you.. sometimes they even offer free hazmat and shipping.. You just need to be looking when the deals become available and hop on it..

Better deal is to get it from Hi-techammo.com for $85/8lb jug, buy 4 and no hazmat fee. I think it was around $30 for shipping.

[Ken Woodford]

im looking for a cheap powder to use for .223 plinking ammo. I am using hodgdon h335 at 23-25 grains, still trying to dial it in but its kind of pricey ($27.99 Local no hazmat) any recommendations?

I'm going to reply in staright talk to you...

IMR 4198 is the powder needed if you are looking for more reloads per pound. Some say it doesn't work...I say it does. I have a friend who uses it and it works fine. Could it not work in your rifle..possibly as with any powder. So why take another poster's advice and buy an 8 pound keg. I've been reloading since 1986 and never bought more than 2 pounds at once...especially if I am trying a new powder as you are. 8 pound is crazy and if it doesn't work do you think anyone here will buy it from you unsealed? NO!!

The same goes with that chart. In order to save money at those prices including shipping and hazmatt you would have to buy 3 or 4 pounds. Same issue as above.

I use H335 and another friend uses W748. Both area spherical powder and meter well. IMR is a grain type powder and honestly doesn't meter well...could be that issue of inconsisent powder charges causing inconsistent cycling...I don't know. I've use IMR 4064 and although a pain to get in that tiny .223 opening it worked very well.

My next powder I want to try is AR Comp...but I will not be buying an 8 pound keg on a new powder regardles of how much it will save me.

Bottom line is find a powder that meters well and not worry about getting an extra 20 to 50 loads out of a pound.

I know I will get blasted by some because of a difference of opinion but hey...that's the internet for you.

Ken

[FLIGHT762]

im looking for a cheap powder to use for .223 plinking ammo. I am using hodgdon h335 at 23-25 grains, still trying to dial it in but its kind of pricey ($27.99 Local no hazmat) any recommendations?

If you want to shoot economical loads for plinking, get an 8# jug or two of surplus WC844, either pulldown or new. This is the powder the U S government has used to load M-193 and M-855 ammo. It costs about $85.00-$100.00 for 8# from the three main surplus powder dealers. Pat's reloading, High Tech and Jeff Bartlett. Hodgdon markets this same powder under the name H-335.

The 8# jug of WC-844 comes out to about $12.50-$14.00 per#, depending on how much you buy and where you buy it. You're not going to find anything cheaper that will work this well.


I've been using H-335 to load .223 ammo for the AR-15 since the early 1970's. After doing some research and finding out that the Pull down or surplus WC-844 is the same, I've been using WC-844 for a few years.

The bottom line is WC-844 will do all you want for 223/5.56 practice ammo on the cheap.

Again as far as using H-4198 or IMR 4198 for the AR-15, you can research it your self.
Here's a couple here:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=552407

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=458849

I tried 4198 many years ago and gave up on it for use in a gas gun.


Take all of the information from all who posted in this thread and make your own, informed choice.

[lpspinner]

The same goes with that chart. In order to save money at those prices including shipping and hazmatt you would have to buy 3 or 4 pounds. Same issue as above.

I guess you didn't click on to the my 1st post in that thread. (I changed the link now to go to the begining of that thread, instead of going right to the .223 section)

The chart was created as a reference only based on powder cost from Graf & Sons, with the exception of the surplus power.

I stated that brass, hazmat and shipping was not intentionally included. I broke things down to the most common denominator possible to get as close to an even keel comparison as I can.

However, the loads per bottle does not change with cost, so you have that as one of the tools to use as a comparison.

[Ken Woodford]

I guess you didn't click on to the my 1st post in that thread. (I changed the link now to go to the begining of that thread, instead of going right to the .223 section)

The chart was created as a reference only based on powder cost from Graf & Sons, with the exception of the surplus power.

I stated that brass, hazmat and shipping was not intentionally included. I broke things down to the most common denominator possible to get as close to an even keel comparison as I can.

However, the loads per bottle does not change with cost, so you have that as one of the tools to use as a comparison.

I intentionally didn't include brass, hazmat and shipping in my reply either. However the cost per load will change depending on the amount per pound correct? For example you have 1 lbs IMR 4064 @ $22.79 at 21 grs per load. I use 23 grs and I pay 29.99 per pound. Sure I can get it for 24.49 at midway plus 25 hazmat plus shipping...so now that's over 50 bucks a pound....unless I buy at least 5 or 6 pounds. So the chart is accurate with those prices and per load cost doesn't necessarily coincide with real world price per pound.

But you have to agree with me for those who DO NOT but multiple pounds of powder at a time...on line is not the cheapest way to go. That was my part of what I was attempting to say to the OP. If I could afford it I would buy multiple pounds at a time and buy on-line...but it's just not feasible for me and I am sure for others too.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Here's one suggestion:

Just find a powder you like, that works well in your particular weapon, and buy the powder in bulk. The cost per pound decreases quite a bit when you buy in 8lbs cans instead of 1lbs cans. That will do more for you than trying to find the cheapest powder per pound and you won't have to worry about doing a bunch of research to find out what's cheapest.

[sargenv]

While I can respect those of us who only purchase a little at a time, the original poster asked what powder was "cheap" and several of us have suggested ways in which to buy it cheap.. bulk is the best way.. I too used to buy a pound here or there.. it's just not worth it to me to pay anything more than about $15/lb for most stuff.. so I get it in as big a bulk as possible, asking friends local to me when I place my order so I can get it as cheap as possible.. we all combine the hazmat and shipping so none of us have to pay the big prices.. if I can get free hazmat, shipping, or both, I'll do that to reduce costs also.. I've gotten some good deals in that manner just watching the various web sites over the years..