If you had to pick one powder for 223/556 AND 308 Win?

Rule3

Rule3

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What powder would it be? I know one powder is not always the absolute best, but a good all around powder for general shooting of these calibers. No super long distance or benchrest competition. Both bolt and semi auto (AR)Leaning more to use in the 223/556

Probably 55 gr bullets in 223/556 and 150-168 gr in the 308. Anything other than VARGET as it is impossible to find.;)

Sorta like Unique or HP 38 will work well in most handguns.

I posted this on another forum so trying to get a broader result.
 
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Hodgdon BLC-2
Measures good and it's thrifty. It's been my staple for those two calibers for years.
It is the original military powder for the 7.62x51 ala .308 Winchester.
It's well regarded for the .223 as well.
 
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I know it's a bit different caliber but I load 150gr. Sierras in my 3006 and 55gr fmjs for the AR with BLC2. Works great for both. Don't know about the heaver bullets for the 30 cal. FYI

Shoot, Shoot, Shoot and Shoot some more.
We must all be proficient.
 
A couple of Accurate branded powders that would do the job are A 2460 and A 2520. 2460 is just a little faster than 2520 but both will do the job. I've actually shot 2460 in my AR and it shot very well. I don't own a 308 rifle, but Accurate shows quite a few loads with it from 110 grain to 210 grain bullets in 308.
 
The recently released copper fouling controlling IMR powders are great for accuracy. IMR4166 in the .223 and IMR4451 in the .308 should be winners for you - 4166 might even do well in both according to IMR's description of that powder. Every cartridge in which I've tried them have shot with small muzzle velocity deviation numbers and corresponding good accuracy. They won't give you the highest velocities but if accuracy is your main objective, that doesn't matter.

I can't recall my exact results without going to my records on my loading bench and I'm too lazy to go down there now and have never used them in the .308 (don't own one) but I have used 4451 in the .260 REM, which is a necked-down .308. Muzzle velocity with the same bullet, the 120-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, was down about 100 feet per second but my 100-yard groups shrunk to 4/10ths of an inch from a standard Model 700BDL.

Ed
 
By the way, Varget is worth seeking out as it might be a perfect powder for your uses. It's been readily available around here for some time and should be everywhere now. I don't think a more flexible powder exists but those new IMR powders come darned close!

Ed
 
Winchester 748 without a doubt. Since it isn't new anymore it seems
to be overlooked by many handloaders. Winchester developed the 308
and 748 powder, and from what I have read 748 ball powder was the
powder that would develop near 30-06 ballistics in the compact 308
case. With 150 and 165 gr bullets 748 will give velocities in the 308
that will likely exceed factory 30-06 velocities in the same barrel
length. 47.0 grs, 1/2 gr under Lyman's max, Win brass and primer,
165 gr Hornady = 2765 fps out of my 22" Ruger 77MKII 308. In the
5.56. 748 reaches near top velocity with 55 gr bullets at modest
pressure levels. Great powder in the 30-30, 300 Savage, 303 British
and 8mm, available and cheaper than many others, long lived ball
powder, what more could you want?
 
I've used AA 2520 for 5.56 and like it; but can't get any. So I've gone to H335 as it's readily available.

I have lots of pulldown 4895 for .30 calibers, so really must try it in 5.56. I suspect that proper charges of it won't give me the same velocities, but I guess only the chronograph will tell me that for sure...
 
You will find that 4895 really shines in both casings. Have shot many 8lb jugs of it in NRA Service Rifle Matches with high levels of success. Try it you'll like.....

Randy
 
I have loaded both in 748, Benchmark, Varget, and IMR-3031. So it depends How you are loading the rounds, and what purpose you are loading the rounds for. My Bolt Action, Long Range guns, currently get a diet of only Varget and Match projectiles loaded on a turret press and each charge weighed by hand! My Semi-autos get a diet of 748 loaded on a progressive. Don't think the Bolt Guns/Varget shoot better than the Semi-auto/740, they don't! Both combos shoot 1/10" group @ 100 yards. The problem is for accuracy, the Semi-autos I have require bullets that run out of steam around 500 yards. I shoot the both bolt guns to 1000 yards regularly and the 308 to 1100+ on occasion. (IMR-3031 is so accurate/consistent, that for over 4 decades, the custom shop at Remington only used 3031 for load development to prove each rifle's accuracy! It also used to be the least expensive, when bought in large kegs.)

The old adage of, you can only have one type of powder for pistol (that would be Unique) one for rifle (that would be 30-31 1st choice, 748 second choice) and for shot gun (hardest choice when you shot 4 gauges, Green Dot and The Unique, I already have) And If I could only have one powder at all; it would be Black Powder FFFg!

Hope this helps.

Ivan
 
Another fanboy of 748, as it flows consistently through measure and provides ex accuracy in bolt/semi 223/308. Lots of good powders, but am not interested in weighing individual charges and it is usually very easy/cheap to find. However it has been reported to be temp sensitive, which am not worried about up here. It also prefers (not requires) mag primers for accuracy in the over dozen rifles am using it for, except 30-30.
 
Another BL-C(2) user here. It's working fine in .223, .308 & .30-06. There may be better powders but I'm getting decent velocities, safe pressures, and accuracy with it.
 
Thanks for all the replies!

OK now I am more confused:D Did I mention I would prefer ball or really short extruded powder?;)

I have a little bit of a lot of rifle powders

H335, H322, IMR 4064, IMR 8208, IMR 4320 and AA 2230

So I would like to use these up and just have one or two powders. H335 or AA2230 works fine for me in the 223/556.

I do not shoot the 308 as much so I really do not know good from great in that caliber, I need to simplify my life!:D
 
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