OT Loading the 223

[TedH]

I've been shooting/reloading the 223 for many years, but it has been for varmint bolt type rifles and weighing each powder charge was required for best accuracy. Now that I have my EBR I want to load more for volume and speed up the loading process, hence use my powder measure instead of weighing each charge. The extruded powders I've been using don't meter well so I want to use a ball powder instead.

So, what is the best choice in ball powders for the 223. Win 748 looks ok, but my Speer manual recommends a mag primer with it. I have several thousand regular small rifle primers and would rather use those up first. BLC-2 looks like another option. Any favorites?

[WCF3030]

I use varget or IMR 30-31 and a lee scoop. Still manageged 1-1 1/2 in groups at a 100yds from my mini-14.

[Don McDowell]

I use regular small rifle primers with 748. My handirifle tho will not let the charge weight get any where close to the oft listed maximum.
I shoot mostly rl 15 , or 4198.
4895 and the mini 14 get along pretty well.

I drop the charges for all the powders from measure to case once I get the measure set where I want it.

[Chris83716]

Varget or IMI 3031 both work well in AR15's. Infact Varget and Dillion 550 progressive machines are used by most of the NRA Highpower rifle shooters at the club I belong to and produce match grade ammo with little fuss. A good micrometer seating die with a floating bullet guide is the secret to good reloads with this setup. With prepreped cases 300 or more rounds can be reloaded in an hour.

Chris

[O.S.O.K.]

W748 is my favorite powder. AA2520 is also a good ball powder choice. Regular primers are fine- that's what I use.

My Speer manual indicates top velocity with 55 grain bullets and W748.

[Buffboy]

I've used a lot of BL-C2 in 223. In fact I just picked up 4# for just that purpose 2 weeks ago. It meters very well. Both my RCBS and Redding measures have little to no deviation with it. Any small rifle primer works well (you may need to reduce the powder charge slightly for mag primers) just see which your particular rifle likes. It's about the most non-fussy powder I've ever used in the caliber. IME ball loads made with it seems to always shoot well in a variety of rifles and when tailored to the gun, can be spectacular. The friend that I mentioned in another thread that reloads 10s of thousands of 223 yearly uses it exclusively in that caliber.

[TedH]

That sound great, I'll pick up some BLC2 to try out. I have other calibers I've been wanting to try it in anyway.

[Camp Cook]

I use H322 and have only ever used my powder measure for loading even for my target rifles but then again I only used them for hunting not competition.

I figured 10 shot 1 1/2" x 2" 300 yard groups was all I needed and this is what I always got with my dumped loads of 23.5grs H322, CCI SR primers and 60gr Sierra Varminter HP's.

I hear that BLC 2 gives slightly better velocities but H322 is kind of the secret accuracy powder for the 223 cartridge.

[Lefty Dude]

If you have not loaded 223 for a S/A rifle before it is a good idea to use a taper-crimp die on the 223. When I had my Mini-14 I used one on my reloads.For my bolt 223 load I did not crimp. Also for the S/A's I used a full length 223 sizing die.

[Hobie]

My standard load for my AR-15 was 27.5 gr. W748 under the 55 gr. FMJBT lit by a CCI SR magnum primer. Worked a treat. I tried IMR 3031, and other powders but H335 and W748 seemed to be best. I REALLY like the Sierra 63 gr. SMP bullet but I've forgotten the charge and can't look it up here at work.

[O.S.O.K.]

I've used a lot of BL-C2 in 223. In fact I just picked up 4# for just that purpose 2 weeks ago. It meters very well. Both my RCBS and Redding measures have little to no deviation with it. Any small rifle primer works well (you may need to reduce the powder charge slightly for mag primers) just see which your particular rifle likes. It's about the most non-fussy powder I've ever used in the caliber. IME ball loads made with it seems to always shoot well in a variety of rifles and when tailored to the gun, can be spectacular. The friend that I mentioned in another thread that reloads 10s of thousands of 223 yearly uses it exclusively in that caliber.

BL-C2 is the surplus bulk W748 - same powder. And I believe that it was made for 7.62x51 Nato and then applied to 5.56x45 production as well.

H110 is also a comercial itteration of a military bulk powder that was developed specifically for loading the 30 Carbine.

[JohndeFresno]

My favorite load -
Hornady 55 gr. .223 V-Max, #22271;
26.6 gr. BL-C(2), WIN WSR Sm Rifle Primers;
R-P brass; COAL 2.250 inches
Est. 3100 fps, not yet chrono'd
Accurate, hard hitting - took out a coyote in a quartering shot with one hit. This works well with my son-in-law's Ruger Mini-14 Ranch rifle that has a 1 in 9 twist. As you probably know, the various .223 rifles have different twists, which are critical for proper bullet choice. We tried some fast (?3300 fps) factory rounds in the same rifle and they were all over the target; but this load is much more accurate.

From the 2002 Hodgdon product line manual:
BL-C(2) is a "spherical powder that began as a military powder used in the 7.62 NATO, commonly known as the 308 Winchester. When it was first introduced to the handloader, benchrest shooters and other target shooters made it an instant success. BL-C(2) works extremely well in the 223 Remington, 17 Remington, 22 PPC and of course, the 308 Winchester, plus many more."

I have no trouble throwing consistent loads with a standard RCBS Uniflow powder dispenser.

[Slick13]

BL-C2 is the surplus bulk W748 - same powder. And I believe that it was made for 7.62x51 Nato and then applied to 5.56x45 production as well.

H110 is also a comercial itteration of a military bulk powder that was developed specifically for loading the 30 Carbine.

H110 is Winchester 296.

As for BL-C(2) and W748, they're right together on Hodgdon's burn rate chart, but their load data for them is quite different.

55 gr .223 max loads: 26.3 gr. W748 (39,000 CUP), 27.5 gr. BL-C(2) (48,500 CUP)

150 gr. .30-30 max loads: 34.5 gr. W748 (36,000 CUP), 37 gr. BL-C(2) (33,900 CUP)

150 gr. .30-06 max loads: 48 gr. W748 (46,000 CUP), 54 gr. BL-C(2) (48,600 CUP)

~Michael

[rost495]

A few notes since I'm new here. I've shot competition since 89, over 10K rounds of 308 and then 223 in later years per year. AR15 only.

If you do your load work in a ladder or audette test, even a junky measure drops it plenty good enough for 300 yard and under work.

AA powders have varied so bad from lot to lot I quit using the. 2520, gave over 200 fps slower from one lot to another and could not regain accuracy. Made in 2 different countries at that time and I've never trusted them since. Almost killed my trip to Camp Perry one year.

While 748 is accurate, in our TX heat I've seen really bad things with top loads and heat sensitivity. Its off my list too.

I shoot only heavier bullets so some of what I say is worthless, but Varget is hands down a great go to. Benchmark is good these days too. RL15 is fine. I run N540/N550 for some reasons, but most don't need that powder. Beyond that I have a 200 pound keg of WC852 which is similar to H380 and was surplus and cheap that worked find. Ramshot powders came on strong and I highly suggest TAC as a good one for ball powder and speed.

I have not had good luck at all with 4895. I haev used 3031, 4064 though and both fine, but not what I wanted.

Best of luck. Get a Dillon and crank it out. I load all my practice and non 600 yard match stuff on one...

BTW often mag primers help, but standards work fine. From well over 100K rounds of 223 loaded(I've gone up to appx 20K when we had juniors I had to load for per year) I've used every last primer out there at one time or place and they've all done fine at times. My fall back standard go to is CCI M41 or 450. Then I go to Rem 7.5. WWSR were fine, but too soft now and those and fed srs are the last on the list due to AR primer sensitivity.

Jeff

[Jay Bird]

MY LOAD IS:
24.1 grs. of AA2460
450cci(mag.)
55gr Hor. v-max
oal 2.26
3100fps
Rock River Arms Coyote w/ 1 in 9 twist
What twist rate do you gots.

[AndyM]

In my varmint load - I settled on Vaget and usually 50 gr. Horn. V-Max or Nosler BT - although this used in a single shot and not an AR.

I also had good luck with H-322

[TedH]

MY LOAD IS:
24.1 grs. of AA2460
450cci(mag.)
55gr Hor. v-max
oal 2.26
3100fps
Rock River Arms Coyote w/ 1 in 9 twist
What twist rate do you gots.

My DPMS is a 1-9".

I've got several different bullets to try that I had on hand already. I picked up some BLC2 the other day. Probably won't have time to do much with it till after deer season.

[txpete]

another vote for AA2520.goos stuff