Planning to load a few hundred of these for the first time. What would be the favored powder for these? I have H4350, unique, and ww296 and 231.. and 2400..none of which seem to be in the books for this caliber. Plan to use them in a mini 14 and my son's AR.

Bullet weight will be 55 gr.

Will look up load date in one of several manuals, just curious if there is a preferred powder.

The other rifles I will load for are 30.06 and 300 Savage

Robert

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

I use h335, burns great, great velocity at max out of an 11.8 AR upper...

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This is the way....

I load 55gr for BA & single shot 223. I have used BCL-2 for over 50yrs. I tried IMR-3031 & 4198 but was PIA because of volume required just to equal GI load at 3250fps. I was loading for varmit accuracy not for velocity or auto rifles. I had used BCL-2 in 222 for years with good results, also with 55gr bullets.

I like varget,very accurate and not temperature sensitive

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Larry

I use 748.

The H4350 would only be useful in the 30-06 but only with the heavier bullets, it's too slow of burn rate.
The 223 and 30-06 should be with medium burn rate rifle powders like 4895 & 4064. I'm not saying to use those powders, just a reference for the medium burn rate realm. A powder burn rate chart would provide 'similars'.

Varget here as well but I also have plenty of H335 when that runs out.

Here's a burn rate chart to give you a idea of the powders that can be used.
https://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-co...burn_rates.pdf

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SWHF #595

Of the powders you listed, only H4350 is a rifle powder.

I don't know what this chart means, or what any of that tells me? Is there a document that tells me how to use this?

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

None of those powders are suitable for the 223. In fact, using the 296, 231 or 2400 could result in damaging your gun. Stick with the recipes in the loading manuals. I have had great luck in the 223 with BL-C(2), H322, IMR4895 and several others. You will find that there are lots of good powders for the 223 so in these times, go with what you can find. I can't emphasize enough: Get a good loading manual and stick with their recommendations. They are based on science and engineering that is way beyond what hobby reloaders can accomplish.

Varget or 3031.

The 'linked' burn rate chart, fastest powders are at top, slowest powders are at bottom. Down to about the 4227s' are for handgun, below the 4227s' starts the rifle powders, starting at 4350 and downward are the slower burn powders typically useful in the magnum rifles.
So in between the 4227s and 4350 are the medium burn rates, 4198 is too fast of a burn rate for 223 and 4320 is too slow for 223, so in that range, the middle of that range is best for 223. Then across is the equivalent powders from various manufacturers.
Print the chart out and cross out 4198 and above and cross out 4320 and below. The remaining un-crossed range is the medium burners and within that range the middle one would probably be best.
BUT STILL work with published reloading tables.

Attached Images

burn_rates shadowed.jpg (86.9 KB, 51 views)

Just to clarify, I fully intend to stick to published reloading data. Just that there are so many powders for the 223, some of which can be used for other calibers I load.

Thanks for the clarification on the burn chart.

I was looking to see which powders were most popular with uaers here, and if any might cross over. Looks like whatever powder I choose will be for 223 only at this point.

Robert

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Popular with me, IMR3031 for 17Rem, 223Rem, 243Win, 6mmRem, 308Win, & 30-06.

When I seen 223 Rem and someone was going to reload them
I just had to share what powder I use.

I like to use IMR 4198 (fastest) and IMR 4895.

From my Reload'n Notes both have served me well, shooting
within a Dime at 100yds. Keep in mind I am a Single Stage
Press, NO Powder Drop Machine kind of guy.

My circa 2007 High Standard AR15 M4 .223 is accurate with
these powders. I stuck with IMR 4198 / 55gr for this rifle (just
accurate).

For comparison, also my old circa 1977 stock Remington
Model 788 222, (222Rem) shoots accurate with either.

Now days there are so many powders (probably better,
but 4198/4895 just works for me).

If I started from scratch now, I'd use the NOT Temperature/Position
sensitive, flow easy measure stuff.

Back when, I just used a Hornady Reloading Manual and
followed what their chart said.

H.S. M4 223 and Rem Mdl 7 223

Attached Images

High Std AR Rem 7.jpg (4.8 KB, 278 views)

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

^^^ I like also the IMR4198 for reduced loads.

Lots of good powders. I'd try at least three if you can get them. Avoid full metal jacket bullets unless that's all you can find. They generally won't shoot as accurately as a soft point or hollow point target or varmint bullet, but, here again, you might not have much of a selection right now.

Best to study several load manuals; those will be your prime sources.

I like Ball C 2, It really meters nice.
SWCA 892

I use CFE 223 as my go to powder for the 223, it's also the best I've found for my 8x57mm Mauser (giving 7mm Rem Mag ballistics) with about a third less powder. [Check out the Hodgdon load data]

Use any of the Winchester 748, Varget, CFE 223, H335, BLC 2, even H322 and you should be happy.

All these powder meter great. Varget is quite versatile and what I use most for accuracy loads in several calibers.

Be sure your brass is properly sized and trimmed. It's also a good practice to use the less sensitive(harder) primers for the AR platform.

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

Varget is what I use because it works well for me.

The Reproduction Bench Rest powder IMP 8208XBR is in the same area of burn rate. It meters and shoots consistently.

While it is a great powder, BLC-2 has been discontinued.

TAC is a great powder for 223 also.

Your primer makes huge difference. Don't blindly substitute Mag for standard.

Ivan

...but I use that in all my rifles because it is so versatile. There are surely more optimum powders.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

It has? Hodgdon's home site still lists it.

If you want just one powder that will work for a .22 up to a .30 caliber load.............

I would suggest one of the 4895 powders.

It works for me in my 22/250 & 30-06 loads.

Have fun.

I've used H335, TAC and XTerminator for .223 and they all work great. Can't say one is better than the other. Stay in that middle area of the burn rate chart and you'll be fine (following your re-loading manual of course). If you want a powder that's super versatile and can be used for larger caliber rifles as well, hard to beat Varget (if you can find any).

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What could possibly go wrong?

I would sit down with a manual and make a list of what will give you a load in the ballpark velocity you want. Many powders will work. Some will be easier to use and give better results than others. In the manual will be/ should be a chart that gives various characteristics of each powder. Take the list down to your local shop(s) and see what you can really buy. That may well be the hardest part.

I'm not sure where this is coming from. Do you know something we don't? Even though everything is out of stock, It is still listed in 1 and 8 pound canisters with back ordering allowed at all of the usual distributors.

The last powder I bought, last fall was BLC-2. Got 2lbs at Cabelas. I doesn’t make much sense to me to look for one powder that “can” be used for all your guns. The chances of it being the best for anything is slim. I can take IMR-4198 and launch almost anything but it won’t be best or near best. I don’t think you could duplicate factory loads across several cartridges with one powder. To me the cartridge case size and approx velocity range help choose powder to start with. It’s like bore diameters seem to have a sweet spot for weight. Much more or less usually gives poor results.

Either version of 4198 will work for near factory duplication. Been using them for decades with 55 gr bullets. RE7 is another choice. AR Comp will also work with 55 gr, but really does better with heavy for caliber (~70-75 gr) bullets. 748 will work, probably won't give you great accuracy with 55 gr bullets.

The burn rate charts are to give you a rough idea of powders that are similar to powders you may be using but cannot get. DO NOT use the chart to guesstimate load data.

I use BenchMark for 40 gr bullets thru 55 grain bullets. CFE gets the nod for 60 to 77 grain loads. If I had to be stuck with just one powder for the 223 it would be CFE223.

This x1000. FPNI!!

I like H322.

Currently on a short dinner break from loading 223 55 grain Sierra SBTs.
I am using:
Varget
H335
Benchmark

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213th FBINA