Win 748 new to me.

[LostintheOzone]

Yesterday I was doing my annual purchase of powder and primers and ran into a problem. I normally use Alliant AR Comp for my 223/5.56 rifles but couldn't find any online. I looked at about 5 sites and finally found one that said they had it in stock. I ordered and within 10 minutes I got a call saying they were sold out like everyone else. So the owner told me what he had. I had to make a quick decision because he said it was going fast. I made a quick scan of my Hornady manual and told him Win 748.

I'm loading 62 grain Hornady FMJBT's at around 2800 fps for 2 bolt rifles and a Ruger Mini. I can't find a lot of difference in the load data between AR Comp and W748. People on the internet seem to like W748 for .223/5.56 so I'm hoping this is going to replace my AR Comp. If it doesn't I'm going to be one sorry SOG because I bought 8 lbs of it. The way things are going there won't be any powder to buy in a few weeks so I guess it will have to do.

Anyone have any experience with W748 and .223 Rem?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I loaded a 20,000 round batch of 223 using CCI S R Mag. primers and 55 gr FMJ/BT Winchester bullets in 1984. Charge weight was around 26 gr, bot I don't remember exactly. I still have a few thousand left. Accuracy is 1/4 MOA in my Cooper 21 bolt gun and 1/4 to 1/2 MOA in 1996 Bushmaster AR and 2 to 4 MOA in my early 80's Stainless Mini-14. The powder meters like water. I have never noticed any excessive erosion like people complain about when using Ball Powder in magnum handgun rounds.

If you pay attention to the details you will find that you have discovered your new AR powder!

I bought it in the 8 & 15ish pound containers @ about $7.00 a pound, primers were about $7.00/1000, bullets were $8.99/1000 and used brass were $4.00/100 to $15/500 back then.

$.025 Powder
$.0089 Primer
$.04 Case
$.0089 Bullet

$.0828 cost per round reloaded. (sure wish I could load for that today!)

Ivan

 

[fredj338]

W748 works fine in the AR with heavier bullets. I have used it with 68-69gr match. Also a good choice for 308 if looking for one powder to do both. It will be fine, just not optimal for lighter bullets imo.

 

[LostintheOzone]

W748 works fine in the AR with heavier bullets. I have used it with 68-69gr match. Also a good choice for 308 if looking for one powder to do both. It will be fine, just not optimal for lighter bullets imo.

Sounds OK. I'm not shooting matches, just having a little fun at 100-200 yds. All of my rifles are 1/9 twist so won't be going to a heavier bullet.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

For many years my go to load for my AR's is 26 gr. of WW748 behind any 55 gr bullet.

 

[4barrel]

748 or Varget you can't go wrong. My 1in9 Bushmaster DCM loved it with 55 Spitzers. My Browning A bolt likes it also.

 

[Fishinfool]

I always keep a pound of W748 on my bench. It is a lot like the 4895's in that it is a very versatile powder compatible with a variety of cartridges. Meters great in a drum type powder thrower.

Larry

 

[Squarebutt]

Good choice. One of my favorite accuracy loads is a 69 gr. Sierra Match King over 25 grains of 748, WW SR primer and WW brass.

 

[Nevada Ed]

W748 will get me factory loads with all the bullet sizes that I shoot out of my 22-250 rifle.

Good shooting.

 

[Steve K]

I've been using 23.7 grains of 748 with Nosler 69 grain Custom Comp, CCI 41 primer in my Bushmaster DCM for years. I shoot High Power at 200 yards and it performs very well. It's a light load so recoil is also light; accuracy is sub-MOA.

 

[Moe Mentum]

Been using W748 in .223/5.56 for years, it's also good for .308/7.62x51 Nato rounds.

 

[andyo5]

W748 was the first powder I used for my M4 rifle in 223/5.56.
I got good accuracy and velocity from it, but it had the unhappy habit of causing jams (next round would not fully chamber) that forced me to separate the upper from the lower to resolve. I believe this was caused by a fouled chamber and recalls the early failures of the M16 in Vietnam with ball powder. No other powder has caused this to happen for me. I have found H4895 to give the best results for me, with no malfunctions. That's what I use now. Average muzzle velocity is 3130 fps from my 16" barrel.

 

[Spokes]

I use nothing but Winchester #748 in my old Colt HBAR.
But, I only use 69 grn bullets.
Easily shoots 1 to 1 1/4 inch groups at 100 yards.
I think a younger person with better eyes could easily best my groups...

 

[Jerry M]

Winchester powder data is available here:

Take Aim at Rifle Reloading Data | Hodgdon Reloading

Good Luck

Jerry

 

[rsrocket1]

I loved H335 for my 20" AR with 55g fmjbt. A couple of years ago I needed to restock but only saw an 8# jug of W748 so I bought it and worked up a very good load with 55g fmjbt's for my 16" Ruger American Ranch Rifle and 16" AR. 26.3g and 2.26" gets me this all day long at 100 yards. This is with 223bulkbullets and PMC brass. 1" squares. You can't get much cheaper than this at $0.16/shot.
Typical velocities at 10' is 2830-2860.
Work up your loads starting low and stay safe.

 

[SuperMan]

My favorite rifle powder... Use it in everything from .223 to .405 Winchester....

And as was said above, extremely accurate.

Everything I load in .223 is in the 60-75 grain weight range....seems right around 26.0 grains is the sweet spot...

Bob

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

I've been using 748 since 1975 or so and it's my go to powder for the 223 with bullets from 52 grains to 75 grains. It is also useful in the 308 and other mid bore cartridges. It meters very well and seems to be consistent from lot to lot.

Hodgdon used to market a powder called H335 and it was very close to 748 in performance. I burned a lot of it as in the 70s it was significantly cheaper than 748 was.

 

[Tex1001]

Win748 is a very good utility powder for .223/5.56.