Preferred powders for 5.56

[Beans]

Although many have had good results with W748 powder I never did.
My Colt H-bar produces less then 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards using Accurate 2230 powder. I have also gotten good results with Varget and RE15.

 

[rasmith3442]

I agree with Beans on all 3 powders.

AA2230 for my M4, shooting 62 gr. M855's and Sierra 65 BT's. Meters like water through a progressive (I now hate that word) press.

RE15 for my Remington 700 VTR, shooting 70 gr. Bergers.

Varget for my custom Kimber shooting 80gr. Bergers.

S/F,

RAS

 

[CookE]

.223 Powder..........

I used "ACCURATE 2230" for years with absolutely no problems.

CookE..

 

[arc2x4]

24.5 grains of varget, 69gr Sierra HPBT match King, and a federal match primer shoots consistently small groups in my AR's.

 

[rck281]

My first choice is W748. I have used a lot of H335 but have found it more sensitive to temperature than I like. I intend to try the new Hodgdon CFE223 powder. I think H322 is too fast for those bullet weights and is better suited to slightly smaller cartridges as the 222 and 6mmPPC. Varget is a little slow but I use it in my 22-250. Not sure how it would work in the 223.

 

[kbox]

BLC-2 works great and drops dead on. Also use it in my 308.

 

[oneyeopn]

Hi guys my first post in this forum...I have been loading my 8x57's with IMR4895 and have it on hand. I started reloading for my Sport in .223rem, Hodgdon's reloading data said I could use it with the 55grain and 69 grain (I have hornady 68grain BTHP Match). I wasnt very happy with the performance. Yesterday I picked up 2 pounds of CFE223 and going to start loading with it tonight. Are there any particulars that I should look out for? How has it performed for any of you who use it? Thanks Alot.

 

[Curt Blunt]

Hi guys my first post in this forum...I have been loading my 8x57's with IMR4895 and have it on hand. I started reloading for my Sport in .223rem, Hodgdon's reloading data said I could use it with the 55grain and 69 grain (I have hornady 68grain BTHP Match). I wasnt very happy with the performance. Yesterday I picked up 2 pounds of CFE223 and going to start loading with it tonight. Are there any particulars that I should look out for? How has it performed for any of you who use it? Thanks Alot.

In what way was the performance lacking? Cuz I'm thinking of starting with H-4895, which I know is close but not identical.

 

[oneyeopn]

I wasnt getting the performance that I thought I should. my groups were good but really no better than the federal xm193 5.56 that I have been shooting, plus I was having bridging problems in my Perfect Powder Measure, which I didnt have with the 8mm Mausers.

 

[oneyeopn]

Ok I loaded 100 55gr Hornady Zmax and 50 55gr Hornady Vmax 26.8 grains of CFE223, toward the low end of the recommended loading scale, Misc. Brass and CCI #41 5.56 primers. The Zmax cost me $.25 to load and the Vmax cost me $.27 per bullet. I saw the Zmax at our local wallyworld for a buck a round so I feel pretty good for the cost.

 

[fredj338]

24.5 grains of varget, 69gr Sierra HPBT match King, and a federal match primer shoots consistently small groups in my AR's.

AA bills their AA2520 as a ball equiv to Varget. I have to say, accuracy in my 16" M+P is quite a bit better than TAC or H322. I have other powder to paly w/ but they have to be ball/spherical for my 550B.

 

[Frank46]

Used to use H335 when loading 223 with 55 grain bullets. When I went to the 62 grain bullets switched to WW748. Frank

 

[M_E_]

What ever powder you use MAKE SURE IT IS TEMPERATURE INSENSITIVE!!! That way you get same point of impact any time of year. Some powders point of impact have been tested by the NRA where the point of impact MOVES up to 10 inches with just temperature changes.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Just an addition to my original answer, a friend just bought some of that new Hodgdon CFE223 powder and loaded up some AR ammo. Well let me tell you I was very impressed. Not only is that powder as clean as advertised it also delivered superior accuracy and velocity than most anything else I've ever tried. Sorry I can't tell you what the charge weight is because I forgot what he said but I do know it was used with a 55gr bullet.

I will be buying some soon and doing some tests of my own. I have had good success with H335 or WC844 in my AR ammo and with Varget, W748 and H4895 for bolt action rifle ammo but if all works out like I think it will I just might be switching over to CFE223 for both, soon...

 

[philevans]

Ok I loaded 100 55gr Hornady Zmax and 50 55gr Hornady Vmax 26.8 grains of CFE223, toward the low end of the recommended loading scale, Misc. Brass and CCI #41 5.56 primers. The Zmax cost me $.25 to load and the Vmax cost me $.27 per bullet. I saw the Zmax at our local wallyworld for a buck a round so I feel pretty good for the cost.

my initial trials with S&W M&P Sport:
27.5CFE, Hornaday 55gr hpbt, .651moa.
25.0CFE, Sierra 69gr hpbt MK, .905moa.
24.0Varget, 60gr A-max, .668moa = best 5 shot groups so far.
powder individually weighed by rcbs balance beam.
~ >20yr old cci blue box bench rest primers.