Favorite powders and primers for .223 and .243

encoreguy · Aug 11, 2007

Just getting started reloading and I have purchased all of my tools, brass, and some bullets, now I need to go powder and primer shopping.

What powders and primers do you like for a .223? I will be shooting 55 to 75 grain bullets in a Savage 10 FP with a 1 in 9 twist.

The other gun is a TC Encore with 1 in 10 twist. I want to shoot 85 - 95 grain bullets. What are your favorite powders and primers for this?

YoteSmoker · Aug 11, 2007

Well my Encore 223 is 12 twist but it likes 26.4 W748 Fed 205M 55 V-Max
My 243 10 twist A-Bolt likes 42.5 IMR 4350 Fed 210M 85Gameking or 87 V-Max

2ndtimer · Aug 11, 2007

If you wanted to try one powder for both, I would suggest trying Varget or IMR-4064. As for primers, favorites would be Remington 7½ for the .223 and
Remington 9½ for the .243. Other good options for the .223 powderwise are Ramshot TAC, Accurate 2015 and 2460. Many suggest H-335 or Win 748, but I have had better luck with the Ramshot and Accurate powders.
For the .243, IMR-4350 is never a bad choice, regardless of bullet weight. Other options for light bullets are the previously mentioned Varget and IMR-4064. Top velocity with the heavier bullets (95 and 100 gr) usually require slower burning powders like the various 4350's, 4831's, Accurate 3100 or Reloder 19 or 22.
If you can afford them, and they are available where you are, you might also want to check out the Vihta Vuori powders, N-133 or N-135 for the .223 and N-160, or N-165 for the .243. If you can't get the Remington primers, don't sweat it. I have had equally good results with CCI-400 and CCI-200, as well as Winchester Small and Large Rifle primers as well.