.223 reloading request

[spy-d]

For years, I use IMR4198 powder for my AR.

21.5g for a 55g FMJ. So a can loaded a lot of rounds.

But, it takes time. The results of my load was that I was shooting a shot group the size of a quarter at 75m range.

That was back then in the mid 80s.

I would like a better powder for my .223

Any one have a favorite powder I might like?

[Dark Mod]

I usually use IMR4895 or Varget

[msnm]

check out mil surplus powder, it is about half price per keg

[spy-d]

Mil surplus powder. If it's less, I'll take a 55 gal drum.... Maybe 4 drums.

[bohoki]

was your brass really sooty?

i tried reducing loads and it really made my brass dirty

[spy-d]

Imr-4198 is like small rods. Tubler. It does burn a lot cleaner than ball.
If you look at history, and the M16 problems of Nam, the AR was design for IMR powder. So, it didn't need cleaning. However, IMR powder is very hard to load with large loaders. So, the military went with Ball Powder. Easer and faster to load. But ball powder is dirty.

So, I am thinking that someone has a powder that is as easy to load like Ball and as clean burning as IMR.

[rudynix]

Try some cfe223 powder by hodgdon. Burns pretty clean, and I get pretty good accuracy from it. I load the 75 grain HPBT bullet, but it is still usable for the 55 grain. The hogdon site has reloading data.

[spy-d]

Great. I'll check it out.

[scotty99]

CFE223 has become my new favorite, but Winchester 748 is also a great .223 powder. Both meter really well.

[Bill Steele]

You might give AR Comp a try. I tried some with my 308 bolt gun. I was looking for a powder that would rival IMR 4064 or Varget for accuracy but meter better. It metered great.

I never did get it to group as well as the others, but I got some amazing SD's. I had a few strings with an SD of zero. Most were low single digit. Amazingly consistent burn, at least in a 308 Win case.

I have to believe had I stayed with it, I could have gotten at least as good a grouping with it, given the SD's I was seeing, as my favorite 4064 and Varget loads. I was struggling with bullet issues at the same time, which could have contributed to the less than outstanding results on paper.

[Full Clip]

TAC

[madjack956]

I use Imr 4064 for .223.

[EL_NinO619]

TAC, BL(C)-2, 748 all ball, all great. TAC is where its at..

[GeoffLinder]

748 or Varget are good choices

[Wrangler John]

TAC also contains anti copper fouling ingredients like CFE223.

My best results are with Varget and Reloader 10x, with TAC and CFE223 second. Across several rifles, bolt action varmint rifles and the AR-15, Reloader-10x has proven consistently the most accurate.