good powder for 223?

[matts318]

Next week I will be reloading a lot of 223's for my hunting buddy, I have no experience with reloading for this caliber and was wondering what a good powder to use would be? I will be loading 55gr v-max and 52gr custom competition bullets for it. His gun really likes the black hills loaded with the v-max but I cant find out what powder they load theirs with.

Another question I have is can I use my seating die that I use for my 22-250? I believe I can but im not 100 percent sure. He will be giving me his gun when I go home so I will be able to work up the load as far as powder charge and seating depth goes, just wont be able to try different powders.

Thanks
Matt

 

[R Flowers]

The 223 Remington is easy to load for and there a number of powders you might try.

The 223 works will with things like H335, 748, H4895, Benchmark,etc. Some powders that we have been having very good luck with as of late are the N130, N133, and N135 from Vihtavuori. So, there are plenty of choices in regard to powder. Just consult a good loading manual.

In regards to seating bullets, I doubt that you will have much luck using a 22-250 seating die to load 223 Remington ammo. You need a set of dies anyway, you will have to resize the cases.

 

[Black-tailed bandit]

I use 28.0g Win748 with a 50gr V-max. Shoots 5/8" in my buddies AR.

 

[Hegland]

Have never loaded 52s or 55s, but mine does well with 25.5 gr Benchmark under 50 gr ballistic tips. Varget also worked well, but Benchmark is better.

 

[Powerstroke]

I had " a lot " of 748 left over so I've been using it in my AR. Can't say I'm "extremely" concerned about accuracy with this round, but .5 to .75 in groups with various spitzers from 50gr to 53gr and 28.0grn of 748.
I have found that 748 is a very dirty burning powder however.

 

[JCalhoun]

I've had good luck with Ramshot TAC.

 

[2ndtimer]

I've had good luck with Ramshot TAC.

I also like TAC, especially since I picked up a couple of 8 lb kegs of it from Powder Valley for $77.95 each a few months back. I also have had good luck with Accurate 2015. Truth to be told, you would probably have a more difficult time finding a powder that won't work in the .223 than finding one that works well. I have heard of people swearing by powders from the 4198's up thru Varget in burning rate. I personally have tried H-4198, Accurate 2015, 2200, 2230, 2460, IMR-4895, H-4895, Varget, Win 748, H-335, H-414 and Reloder 15 and the only ones I really didn't like were H-4198 and H-414 as I felt they were too fast burning and too slow burning respectively. Neither one gave good velocity or accuracy, at least in my rifle.
But if I was to try out a new powder with a new rifle in .223, I would start with either Ramshot TAC, Accurate 2015 or H-335, whichever I got cheapest. If the one I tried didn't work, then I might try the next one. If that one didn't work, I would start looking at the bullets, the rifle or the scope/mount. Because, I think almost any decent .223 with a decent bullet would shoot acceptably well with one of those 3 powders.

 

[FOTIS]

Varget or H4895. Works great!

 

[matts318]

Thanks guys, sorry I havent gotten back till now, I had to guide this weekend and just got back. We are going to go buy powder for it tomorrow and I think we are going to get some ramshot TAC or the 748, or just whatever one they have when we go there.

As for the seating die I just brought that up because when I bought my new 308 dies it said that the seating die could be used with any 30 cal. cartriage so I took it that it was the same for other calibers. And I would be using a neck sizing die, not a full length sizer, if he has to my friend can buy the dies, just trying to hold off on it for now.

Well tomorrow I am picking up his rifle and brass and heading home, any last minute words of advice?