Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Powder for 40 gr v-max in 223 with 16.5" barrel

W748 & 40 g vmax.

I've used X-Terminator and TAC with the 40's in my 16" AR. Both gave excellent results.


Travis

I would stay with the Benchmark or else H335. Varget is a little slow with 40 gr bullets in my experience although it could be the most accurate?
whelennut

H4198 or RL7

Just tried 27.5 gr. of Tac behind a 40gr. V-Max in my AR. Put 4 into just under 1/2 inch, with one called flier at 1". Still need to get a chrono reading.

rl-10x

+1

R#7 also works well!

Thanks to all for the responses.

Still playing with the Benchmark, if for nothing else to keep it simple and use one powder in my 223's.

Haven't tried H4198 yet, and the store was out of TAC last week so I picked up a can of H335. Even with the starting load of 335, the muzzle blast was horrible compared to max loads of Benchmark. So bad in fact that I didn't fire any of the heavier charges I had loaded. For those that recommend 335, have you shot it out of a short barrel?

Thanks.

Yes, H335 tends to give more muzzle blast. Try it at night for quite the fun fire ball!

I'd give 4198 a try if it were me (if Benchmark doesn't work). You get top-notch velocities but get to shoot 5 grains less powder or so when working with 40 grainers.

I've got the Ruger compact rifle with the 16.5 barrel. Some of the first reloads I ran through it were loaded with H335 and yes, I had beach ball sized muzzle flashes. Now I'm running the 40 gr Vmax with 11.8 gr of Blue Dot (1cc Lee dipper scoop).
The load is surprisingly accurate and you can shoot it without your muffs on if you have to without ringing your ears. It's running right around 3000 fps.

I'm using a little more than your load at 3200 fps.