.223 Rem

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Magload

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I am going to start reloading for my new M&P 15 and have never reloaded rifle. I have to start buying dies for my 550 and all a few other things. My question is what power should I try to find for loading 55gr bullets? I see that I can use CFE 223 and even Titegroup which I have some of. I am really liking CFE Pistol so the 223 might be the ticket as long as I really watch out when I grad the jug of powder with the big CFE on it.

Guys i know when I started loading for my handguns I asked a lot of questions on this forum I will try to hold these rifle questions to a minimum. Don
 
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I have four .223s - an older Remington 700BDL, a 700VSF, a 700VTR and an XP-100R. The BDL likes 52-grain Sierra MatchKings and W748 powder, the VSF prints one-hole groups with 64-grain Bergers and Varget powder, the VTR occasionally puts 50-grain Nosler Varmint Ballistic Tips in the same hole with Benchmark powder and the XP does best with 50-grain V-Max bullets and Varget.

There are probably as many good recipes for that cartridge as there are guns chambered for it. Thanks to pleasant recoil and lower-cost loading, experimenting is painless.

Ed
 
Many fellow NRA Hi Power Rifle shooters us Varget, 2230,BL-C2, 748, AA 2460/2520. I have also had very good results with IMR 4895.

Randy
 
I'm not enough of a connoisseur to be able to tell the difference. (I've been loading for only about a year.) But I've used H335, BL-C(2) and W748. The BL-C(2) worked fine. I cannot tell you why - but I just wasn't drawn to buying more. I like H335 a lot - mostly because I've heard it is a VERY common and established .223 powder; and I've been able to work up some loads that perform very well with it. W748 is supposed to be great - and I like it. But I've heard it can be temperature sensitive and not necessarily perform well in cold temps.

Right now I've got a couple of lbs of W748 and a few lbs of H335 - and my guess is H335 will likely be my go-to.

BTW - I'm shooting this stuff out of an M&P 15 Sport.

OR
 
Seems the most popular powder is H335 with 55 gr. bullets. Most load from 24-25 grains. Lots of choices.
 
My 223 features a 20 inch Shilen Match barrel with 1:8 rifling and when I am up to shooting well enough sub 0.3 MOA cloverleafs are doable with a load using a 68 grain Hornady BTHP Match bullet and 23.7 grains of CFE223. Change the bullet to a 60 grain Nosler Ballistic tip and I can not get this bullet under 2 MOA at any charge level with CFE223. However load that Nosler bullet with 23.7 grains of Varget and sub 0.4 MOA results are predictable for 3 shot groups with the rifle rested front and rear.

I just love the metering qualities of CFE223, it is nearly as good as H110. However for some reason that has me totally mystified it just doesn't work with that Nosler Ballistic tip bullet. I would advise that you hold off on buying an 8 lbs. keg of the CFE223 and instead purchase just 1 lbs. to try out. That way if it doesn't work with you primary bullet you can set it aside until you find a bullet it works well with and use something else with your favorite bullet. BTW, Varget also works very very well with that Hornady bullet but it meters so poorly that I hand weigh every single charge thrown using Varget.

PS; I would just love it if someone could explain to me why that Nosler bullet running 2950 fps with CFE223 groups over 2 inches at 100 yards but the same bullet at 2950 fps with Varget is sub 1/2 MOA. Frankly I am completely and totally befuddled by this and would really love to hear why and how this can happen.

PSS; I will also note that that poorly metering Varget shoots much cleaner in regards to deposits on the Bolt Carrier Group than CFE223. I suspect that something in that Copper Eliminator results in an oily feeling black residue on the BCG. Some good news is that by installing an adjustable gas block on the 223 I have reduced the cleanup time for the BCG when using the CFE223.
 
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Another vote for H335 and Accurate 2230 but there are so many good powders and for general 223/556 any of the listed powders are good.

I like ball (spherical) powders for ease of metering.)no stick cutting_ some say stick powders are better but I am no bench rest shooter. Most factory stuff is ball.
 
A lot of us grew up with the old powders of the 60's and 70's but we have learned that the new 2003 powders can also be a good powder to use.

Flake, extruded or Ball powder it all can work just depends on the rifle and bullets that you chose to use.
Some matches will not work, some will be average and a few tack drivers. That is the fun of reloading but you need to first figure out what weight bullet will work with your barrel twist.

Many try for the top loads and high fps but many of us have learned that light target loads can be very accurate and easier on the barrels life and parts.
I load both but paper and small critters do not know the difference from a bullet going 4,000 fps or one at 2800.

You will probably need three powders to start with the 55gr bullet and then try a 52 or 64gr depending on your twist if things don't work out.
There are just so many different shaped bullets and styles that it takes time to find a good match unless you are lucky right off.

I found a powder/bullet that does 5 @ .36" at 100 yards after two years..............ten years later I am still testing for a better combo.

Good loading.
 
I wouldn't use TG for pistol, much less rifle. No, a good spherical powder that meters well is the way to go for 223. Tac, H335, Blc2, aa2520, w748, CFE223, all will give good results in 223 w/ all bullet wts.
 
Like an earlier reply stated there are a BUNCH of powders that do well in 223.
My favorites are IMR3031, H335, and Reloder 10x. Varget and Benchmark throw nice groups as well.
The fun in reloading is searching for, and finding the best combination of bullet/powder/charge. Then starting all over.
 
I loaded a batch of 20,000 rounds in the mid 80's with WW 748 and 55 grain Win FMJBT and CCI primers on pre preped military once fired mixed brass.This was done on a Dillon 450 with the push-bar priming and powder drop. 30 years later, this same batch of ammo is down to 6500 rounds and still shoots very well in an AR and bolt guns. AR-15: 5 shots, 100 yards = .250" centers. 2 different Cooper 21 bolt actions: 5 shots, 100 yards = a single hole! all guns on good rests and 20 power scopes.

I have varmint loads using H335 with Federal 205 primers and highly recommend it.

The dies I used for the large batch were RCBS small base dies. If I was buying now I would buy RCBS balck box AR dies (carbide) or Dillon's carbide dies. You still need to lube a little bit at the shoulder, but with Imperial Sizing Wax, it is about every 3rd or 4th case. With steel dies I would a spray lube in a bucket with 100-150 cases and shake it around while it is still wet (that is what I did on the big batch, using a different lube.

De-prime and swadge primer crimps before running through your 550. I tumbled in between these stages, but cleaning isn't absolutely necessary. If you are roll crimping you should trim to length in there some place too (I do that after cleaning and sizing FL), but depending on the type of firearm used tape crimp or tight neck tension could be all you need (then trimming isn't as critical).

IMR 3031 and Varget are both fantastic powders for 223, but to get good accuracy/consistency each charge should weighed (I do this on my 1000 yard bolt action loads.) I have not used CFE 223, but have 3 friends ( good shooters) who recommend it.

Have fun, and feel free to PM me if you need any clarification or just have questions. Ivan
 
scooter123 said:
My 223 features a 20 inch Shilen Match barrel with 1:8 rifling and when I am up to shooting well enough sub 0.3 MOA cloverleafs are doable with a load using a 68 grain Hornady BTHP Match bullet and 23.7 grains of CFE223. Change the bullet to a 60 grain Nosler Ballistic tip and I can not get this bullet under 2 MOA at any charge level with CFE223. However load that Nosler bullet with 23.7 grains of Varget and sub 0.4 MOA results are predictable for 3 shot groups with the rifle rested front and rear.

I just love the metering qualities of CFE223, it is nearly as good as H110. However for some reason that has me totally mystified it just doesn't work with that Nosler Ballistic tip bullet. I would advise that you hold off on buying an 8 lbs. keg of the CFE223 and instead purchase just 1 lbs. to try out. That way if it doesn't work with you primary bullet you can set it aside until you find a bullet it works well with and use something else with your favorite bullet. BTW, Varget also works very very well with that Hornady bullet but it meters so poorly that I hand weigh every single charge thrown using Varget.

PS; I would just love it if someone could explain to me why that Nosler bullet running 2950 fps with CFE223 groups over 2 inches at 100 yards but the same bullet at 2950 fps with Varget is sub 1/2 MOA. Frankly I am completely and totally befuddled by this and would really love to hear why and how this can happen.

PSS; I will also note that that poorly metering Varget shoots much cleaner in regards to deposits on the Bolt Carrier Group than CFE223. I suspect that something in that Copper Eliminator results in an oily feeling black residue on the BCG. Some good news is that by installing an adjustable gas block on the 223 I have reduced the cleanup time for the BCG when using the CFE223.
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Looks to me like this load development is going to be a lot of fun. Hodgdon site list Titegroup for one of the choices so since I got a little over a 1/4 pound left I might give it a try first. Don
 
This is what I will be shooting with. Brand new.

Smith and Wesson- LE/Military Model M&P15 MOE Mid MAGPUL® SPEC SERIES™
Barrel Length: 16” / 40.6 cm
Barrel Twist: 1 in 8” 5R Rifling
Using a Barska 3-12 scope
Off a Allen Company Ft. Lupton Shooting Rest w/ Windage Adjust just didn't have the money left for a Lead Sled.
I sighted in at the indoor range yesterday and as I could only shoot 20yds I used a ballistic calculator and adjusted the scope and Fastfire III to be zero'ed at 200yds. It was punching one hole 3 shot groups at 20yds that was hard to tell it was 3 shots, but then at that distance it should. My son and I are headed to the outdoor range Saturday morning. We can shoot up to 200yds there. Don
 
I too am a USN (ret) and VN vet I use both IMR 4198 & CFE 223 you can get more reloads per lb from the IMR. I shoot once or twice a week so after a while it really adds up
 
I've used both BL-C(2) and CFE-223 and both worked well for me. As others have suggested, you should develop your loads using 1 lb bottles of powder and 100 bullets at a time. When you find a powder / bullet combination that works well, then you should buy in bulk.
 
Magload said:
Looks to me like this load development is going to be a lot of fun. Hodgdon site list Titegroup for one of the choices so since I got a little over a 1/4 pound left I might give it a try first. Don
Click to expand...


Why????? One of the fastest handgun powders in a High pressure rifle?? Not a good choice.
 
Rule3 said:
Why????? One of the fastest handgun powders in a High pressure rifle?? Not a good choice.
Click to expand...

I don't know you would have to ask Hodgdon that they list 3.1gr with a 55gr HDY FMJ as a Max load running at 1,064 fps out of a 24" barrel. They only list a Max load no starting load. This seams like a petty sucky load for a .223 rifle but if it shoots tight groups, run the gun it would poke holes in paper at short ranges and you would get a lot of loads out of a pound. I am saving my Titegroup for my pistols. Don
 
The one Titegroup load at just 3.1 grs may need some type of "Case Filler" to keep it next to the primer.

Most "Plinker Loads" are not worth the trouble unless they call for around 14 grs of powder...... and those cases should not be reused for standard loads due to the way they expand in the chamber, at least in some of the manuals that I have read.
Keep them separate and in a box marked "Plinkers".

SR 4759 is one powder used for these but it is being discontinued.
You might look into a 4895 powder for light loads....
it is the 223 type 4891 used in the larger cases that fills the case nicely for low fps and safe pressures.

Have fun.
 
Nevada Ed said:
The one Titegroup load at just 3.1 grs may need some type of "Case Filler" to keep it next to the primer.

Most "Plinker Loads" are not worth the trouble unless they call for around 14 grs of powder...... and those cases should not be reused for standard loads due to the way they expand in the chamber, at least in some of the manuals that I have read.
Keep them separate and in a box marked "Plinkers".

SR 4759 is one powder used for these but it is being discontinued.
You might look into a 4895 powder for light loads....
it is the 223 type 4891 used in the larger cases that fills the case nicely for low fps and safe pressures.

Have fun.
Click to expand...

Ed thanks for the info but if I want to plink I will just shoot my 22LR. I can't believe these would be cheap 223 plinking loads.
 
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