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A good Powder for .223? #6070313 01/20/12 Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 11,562 Likes: 2 Edge of the map Kenneth OP Campfire Outfitter OP Kenneth Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 11,562 Likes: 2 Edge of the map I've searched the archives till my eyes crossed, Seems like a lot of guys like a lot of different powders for the .223. Looks like H4198 and H335 is common, also Benchmark,Varget,TAC,RL17 and others. I'm shooting mostly 50 grain v-max and a few 60 grain v-max. 24 inch barrel. What should we buy?

Re: A good Powder for .223? Kenneth #6070373 01/20/12 Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 11,921 Plains,Texas P plainsman456 Campfire Outfitter plainsman456 Campfire Outfitter P Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 11,921 Plains,Texas I like TAC because it measures well and the price is a little better than most.I also have used RL-15,H335 and H322 with good results.

Re: A good Powder for .223? plainsman456 #6070380 01/20/12 Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10,258 Colorado Springs, CO Prwlr Campfire Outfitter Prwlr Campfire Outfitter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10,258 Colorado Springs, CO TAC Last edited by Prwlr; 01/20/12. Ed A person who asks a question is a fool for 5 minutes the person who never asks is a fool forever. The worst slaves are those that put the chains on themselves.

Re: A good Powder for .223? Prwlr #6070451 01/20/12 Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2 Southwestern Montucky ingwe Campfire Oracle ingwe Campfire Oracle Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2 Southwestern Montucky TAC is a pretty sure bet, as is Win 748 I use a schittload of IMR 4895.... "...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe

Re: A good Powder for .223? ingwe #6070498 01/20/12 Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 2,762 1 hr north of Hell Ol` Joe Campfire Regular Ol` Joe Campfire Regular Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 2,762 1 hr north of Hell Originally Posted by ingwe TAC is a pretty sure bet, as is Win 748 I use a schittload of IMR 4895.... 4895 or Benchmark are the #1 choices in my rifles. I have tried a 1/2 dozen different powders and haven`t found a bad one yet in this cartridge if it is listed in a manual. I must confess, I was born at a very early age. --Groucho Marx Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when they deserve it. --Mark Twain

Re: A good Powder for .223? Ol` Joe #6070538 01/20/12 Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 6,519 Western Kentucky lastround Campfire Tracker lastround Campfire Tracker Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 6,519 Western Kentucky Benchmark gives me good velocity, excellent accuracy, and is clean burning. Oh, it is also an Extreme powder so it is insensitive to temperature change. If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice. Doug

Re: A good Powder for .223? lastround #6070710 01/20/12 Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,471 O Oldquailhunter Campfire Tracker Oldquailhunter Campfire Tracker O Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,471 I have always had good luck with 748. Dink

Re: A good Powder for .223? Oldquailhunter #6070718 01/20/12 Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 10,049 Likes: 5 Idaho B Burleyboy Campfire Outfitter Burleyboy Campfire Outfitter B Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 10,049 Likes: 5 Idaho Benchmark, it meters well for an extruded too. Bb

Re: A good Powder for .223? Burleyboy #6070827 01/20/12 Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,216 Boise, ID tominboise Campfire Tracker tominboise Campfire Tracker Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,216 Boise, ID RL10x works pretty well....5 shots....Rifle is a Cooper Regards, Tom

Re: A good Powder for .223? Oldquailhunter #6070956 01/20/12 Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,016 Jasper, AL wes7x57 Campfire Regular wes7x57 Campfire Regular Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,016 Jasper, AL Originally Posted by DINK I have always had good luck with 748. Dink Same here. Take your kids hunting, instead of hunting your kids.

Re: A good Powder for .223? wes7x57 #6071060 01/20/12 Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 885 hunter8mm Campfire Regular hunter8mm Campfire Regular Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 885 I use h4895.

Re: A good Powder for .223? hunter8mm #6071082 01/20/12 Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 792 Missouri B Bowman44 Campfire Regular Bowman44 Campfire Regular B Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 792 Missouri H335, Varget, 10x, and H322 in that order for me. I obviously need to try TAC myself.

Re: A good Powder for .223? Kenneth #6071094 01/20/12 Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,522 Illinois E EWY Campfire Tracker EWY Campfire Tracker E Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,522 Illinois I like Benchmark and I have used it for years. I just started using TAC and can't believe how nicely it meters. I have to get to the range and see how it shoots in 223. It works nicely in my 308 and I expect good results in the 223. Ernie George Washington - �Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire,�conscience.� God save the Republic

Re: A good Powder for .223? EWY #6071180 01/20/12 Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 60,195 Likes: 24 Banana Belt, Montana M Mule Deer Campfire Kahuna Mule Deer Campfire Kahuna M Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 60,195 Likes: 24 Banana Belt, Montana I suspect you'll be pleased. One of the major bullet companies uses TAC in it's load for testing the accuracy of their 50-grain bullets. I mostly use TAC and Benchmark for 40-55 grain loads in the .223, and Varget for heavier bullets. “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck

Re: A good Powder for .223? Mule Deer #6072336 01/21/12 Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,499 Sierra Vista, AZ Hawk_Driver Campfire Tracker Hawk_Driver Campfire Tracker Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,499 Sierra Vista, AZ IMR 4198 and 50 V-Max's works good for me. Been shooting TAC in my Mini 14 and AR, have been trying it in my bolt gun, but so far it doesnt like it. There is no way to coexist no matter how many bumper stickers there are on Subaru bumpers!

Re: A good Powder for .223? Hawk_Driver #6072380 01/21/12 Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,904 Likes: 2 AL/GA line himmelrr Campfire Tracker himmelrr Campfire Tracker Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,904 Likes: 2 AL/GA line I use IMR4895 and 50gr Vmaxs. I really want to try XBR 8208, it is supposed to be very good. RH

Re: A good Powder for .223? Hawk_Driver #6072566 01/21/12 Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 20,379 The Bozone, Montana Rancho_Loco Campfire Ranger Rancho_Loco Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 20,379 The Bozone, Montana Originally Posted by Hawk_Driver been trying it in my bolt gun, but so far it doesnt like it. mash the pedal. Originally Posted by captain seafire I replace valve cover gaskets every 50K, if they don't need them sooner...

Re: A good Powder for .223? Rancho_Loco #6072779 01/21/12 Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,499 Sierra Vista, AZ Hawk_Driver Campfire Tracker Hawk_Driver Campfire Tracker Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,499 Sierra Vista, AZ Just got back from trying TAC again in the Ruger. Still not as accurate as IMR 4198. Running right around an inch, give or take a little. 22" barrel with TAC and the 50 Vmax is 3261, IMR 4198 running 3235. Thats the max load with TAC, but the IMR runs consistently around 1/2 inch. Splitting hairs, I know. There is no way to coexist no matter how many bumper stickers there are on Subaru bumpers!

Re: A good Powder for .223? wes7x57 #6072828 01/21/12 Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 144 The Mountains... T TeamRealtreeHD Campfire Member TeamRealtreeHD Campfire Member T Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 144 The Mountains... 4895 is my go to powder in the 222 and 223... Can't cheat the mountain, Pilgrim...

Re: A good Powder for .223? Hawk_Driver #6072951 01/21/12 Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 20,379 The Bozone, Montana Rancho_Loco Campfire Ranger Rancho_Loco Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 20,379 The Bozone, Montana I'm not the only one around here who thinks Ramshot runs some pretty "lawyered up" loads in their guide. FWIW, I'm running 27 grs. of TAC with my 50 gr. Vmax's and BT's. Not bagging on anything you load, I've just noticed that TAC gets really tight and clean when you hit the max. Originally Posted by captain seafire I replace valve cover gaskets every 50K, if they don't need them sooner...

Re: A good Powder for .223? Rancho_Loco #6072967 01/21/12 Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 20,379 The Bozone, Montana Rancho_Loco Campfire Ranger Rancho_Loco Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 20,379 The Bozone, Montana BTW HD.. How's your working retardiment going? Originally Posted by captain seafire I replace valve cover gaskets every 50K, if they don't need them sooner...

Re: A good Powder for .223? Rancho_Loco #6073394 01/21/12 Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 11,562 Likes: 2 Edge of the map Kenneth OP Campfire Outfitter OP Kenneth Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 11,562 Likes: 2 Edge of the map We have Tac in the lead with 6 votes, Benchmark at 5 and IMR4895 with 3. Reloading info for TAC seems hard to grab from the manuals, and the Ramshot website is lacking info also. Could be a factor there. Benchmark is also not in any manuals I have access too. Thats half the fun of reloading, lining up the bullets with the powder to the data available.

Re: A good Powder for .223? Kenneth #6075172 01/21/12 Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,575 Washington state (dry side) R Remington725 Campfire Regular Remington725 Campfire Regular R Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,575 Washington state (dry side) I don't have any experience with TAC but interested in trying some. My experience is with H335 -- it meters like water and my Rem 788 shoots sub-1/2" groups with a good load of it behind a Sierra Blitz bullet.

Re: A good Powder for .223? Remington725 #6075410 01/21/12 Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,981 L lotech Campfire Regular lotech Campfire Regular L Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,981 I've tried many powders (and bullets) in the .223 over the years, but have been using Reloder 7 exclusively for a while now - with the Sierra 50 grain Blitz. Not the highest velocity, but very good accuracy.

Re: A good Powder for .223? lotech #6075536 01/21/12 Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 21,978 Likes: 1 H HawkI Campfire Ranger HawkI Campfire Ranger H Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 21,978 Likes: 1 Benchmark. If going over 65 grains, RL-15.

Re: A good Powder for .223? Rancho_Loco #6075563 01/21/12 Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,499 Sierra Vista, AZ Hawk_Driver Campfire Tracker Hawk_Driver Campfire Tracker Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,499 Sierra Vista, AZ Originally Posted by Rancho_Loco BTW HD.. How's your working retardiment going? Going great, part time work for full time pay! There is no way to coexist no matter how many bumper stickers there are on Subaru bumpers!

Re: A good Powder for .223? Hawk_Driver #6075925 01/21/12 Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 613 Missouri bgold Campfire Regular bgold Campfire Regular Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 613 Missouri I load 335 under 50 Vmax. Pard swears by TAC, under his 55's. I haven't tried it out yet, but might see what I think come spring.

Re: A good Powder for .223? bgold #6076813 01/22/12 Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 3,873 Albuquerque, NM, USA H hunting1 Campfire Tracker hunting1 Campfire Tracker H Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 3,873 Albuquerque, NM, USA 50-grs and under I like Varget! For 55-62 in my AR's I like H335. I would like to try Ramshot, but why change if you have a winner? Good Shooting!

Re: A good Powder for .223? bgold #6086484 01/24/12 Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 10,049 Likes: 5 Idaho B Burleyboy Campfire Outfitter Burleyboy Campfire Outfitter B Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 10,049 Likes: 5 Idaho It's hard to beat 26g of 335 under a 50g Vmax with a cci. That was an old standby load for me before I switched to Benchmark. Bb

Re: A good Powder for .223? HawkI #6086505 01/24/12 Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 8,906 Likes: 1 Montana P prairie_goat Campfire Outfitter prairie_goat Campfire Outfitter P Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 8,906 Likes: 1 Montana Originally Posted by HawkI Benchmark. If going over 65 grains, RL-15. Agreed.

Re: A good Powder for .223? prairie_goat #6086770 01/24/12 Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,550 Likes: 7 Calgary, AB, Canada Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,550 Likes: 7 Calgary, AB, Canada TAC does exceptionally well with the 75gr A-Max in my .223. 28" barrel 3055fps ave printed a 1.6" 3-shot group at 553 yards yesterday

Re: A good Powder for .223? Jordan Smith #6086962 01/24/12 Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,130 A Ackleyfan Campfire Outfitter Ackleyfan Campfire Outfitter A Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,130 What brand of barrel you running....that's some good shootin!

Re: A good Powder for .223? Ackleyfan #6087923 01/24/12 Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,550 Likes: 7 Calgary, AB, Canada Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,550 Likes: 7 Calgary, AB, Canada Thanks! I bought the rifle second-hand, but it's a MacLennan barrel, AFAIK.

Re: A good Powder for .223? Jordan Smith #6088051 01/24/12 Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 10,810 Likes: 2 Good Life Esox357 Campfire Outfitter Esox357 Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 10,810 Likes: 2 Good Life I had good luck with Varget and 69 grain Sierra Match Kings but the barrel was a 1x8 twist. Varget worked better than Benchmark for me.

Re: A good Powder for .223? Jordan Smith #6088248 01/24/12 Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,130 A Ackleyfan Campfire Outfitter Ackleyfan Campfire Outfitter A Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,130 Originally Posted by Jordan Smith Thanks! I bought the rifle second-hand, but it's a MacLennan barrel, AFAIK. I'd say it's a keeper!

Re: A good Powder for .223? Ackleyfan #6088393 01/24/12 Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,550 Likes: 7 Calgary, AB, Canada Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,550 Likes: 7 Calgary, AB, Canada Only time will tell I'm hoping to use the rifle for F-TR this year, so I still have some work to do.

Re: A good Powder for .223? Jordan Smith #6088733 01/24/12 Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 6,366 eastern MT B boatammo Campfire Tracker boatammo Campfire Tracker B Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 6,366 eastern MT I guess I'm simple: 26.0 H335 50 gr. blitx king, less then 1/4" groups all the time. Primary P-dog rifle. Cooper montana varmiter. This combo is stupid accurate when I do my part. MOLON LABE

Re: A good Powder for .223? boatammo #6097869 01/27/12 Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 42,901 Likes: 9 Southern Oregon USA S Seafire Campfire 'Bwana Seafire Campfire 'Bwana S Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 42,901 Likes: 9 Southern Oregon USA H1000 or H 870.... you'll never ever ever overload or overpressurize a case.. as for myself, I have always maintained.. it is harder to find a rifle powder that will NOT work well in a 223, than it is to find one that is 'better' than all the rest.... we all develop our favorites... but just like a goat.. it will digest just about anything... "Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC “Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez

Re: A good Powder for .223? Seafire #6099294 01/27/12 Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,187 Arizona, USA M MZ5 Campfire Regular MZ5 Campfire Regular M Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,187 Arizona, USA I prefer Win 748. Outstanding performance for me from 50-grainers up through 75/77 grainers, and significantly less barrel heating than with stick powders. For 50-grainers, IMR4198 worked very well, too. That was the Canadian-manufactured stuff, though; haven't ever tried the Aussie/Hodgdon version.

Re: A good Powder for .223? MZ5 #6100662 01/27/12 Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,576 Northwest Missouri 7 7mmMato Campfire Tracker 7mmMato Campfire Tracker 7 Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,576 Northwest Missouri 50 vmax and h335 works great in my 700 adl I've always been different with one foot over the line.....

Re: A good Powder for .223? Kenneth #17784275 11/09/22 Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 631 upstate NY Quartermaster Campfire Regular Quartermaster Campfire Regular Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 631 upstate NY I had some 8208 XBR on hand and read somewhere that it worked well in a 223. I had shot all that I had loaded, so I thought I would try it. I had an accurate load worked up b-4, but with some load work up I found a load that shot even better. After that, I have been using it in my .222 and 222 mag. Great accuracy in all 3 cartridges. QM NRA Life Member "You might as well be wrong, as be right and not know it"

Re: A good Powder for .223? Quartermaster #17784292 11/09/22 Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 11,598 Likes: 8 lawrence county MO L ldholton Campfire Outfitter ldholton Campfire Outfitter L Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 11,598 Likes: 8 lawrence county MO Originally Posted by Quartermaster I had some 8208 XBR on hand and read somewhere that it worked well in a 223. I had shot all that I had loaded, so I thought I would try it. I had an accurate load worked up b-4, but with some load work up I found a load that shot even better. After that, I have been using it in my .222 and 222 mag. Great accuracy in all 3 cartridges. QM I burn lot of 8208 and several cartridges.. temperature in sensitive similar to varget and much better flow and metering than varget ..

Re: A good Powder for .223? Kenneth #17784986 11/09/22 Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 42,901 Likes: 9 Southern Oregon USA S Seafire Campfire 'Bwana Seafire Campfire 'Bwana S Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 42,901 Likes: 9 Southern Oregon USA Its harder to find a powder that won't do well in a 223, than to find one that is better than most of the others... a 223 is sort of like a old VW Bug.... they got good gas mileage regardless of what type of fuel you put in them. "Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC “Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez

Re: A good Powder for .223? Kenneth #17785986 11/10/22 Joined: Aug 2016 Posts: 273 South BigDogBoogie Campfire Member BigDogBoogie Campfire Member Joined: Aug 2016 Posts: 273 South I've had good luck with Win. 748 and TAC. Of the two, It seems to me that the TAC meters better and burns a bit cleaner but one of my .223's and a .300 Savage prefer the 748. Good thing too since I believe I have about 12 pounds of 748 stashed away.

Re: A good Powder for .223? Kenneth #17786378 11/10/22 Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 9,189 15 min from elk, MT H HuntnShoot Campfire Outfitter HuntnShoot Campfire Outfitter H Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 9,189 15 min from elk, MT Lots of powders work in 223. Surprised that CFE 223 hasn't come up. It's a personal favorite with bullets 50-75 grains. The powder I use most for 40 grain jacketed bullets is Titegroup. 6.5 grains is accurate, consistent, and works great for killing rabbits, coyotes (within 200 yds), and ground squirrels that anger me enough to put away the rimfire. I worked up the load to speed along the kids' ability to shoot from field positions, since it has negligible recoil. They shoot a lot of them. I chrono'ed the load a couple years ago, but I don't recall the speed. Mid-2000's. I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.

Re: A good Powder for .223? Kenneth #17786662 11/10/22 Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 152,105 Likes: 33 Texas hanco Campfire Savant hanco Campfire Savant Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 152,105 Likes: 33 Texas CFE 223

Re: A good Powder for .223? Kenneth #17786836 11/10/22 Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 6,519 Western Kentucky lastround Campfire Tracker lastround Campfire Tracker Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 6,519 Western Kentucky Since this old thread has been brought back to life, I’ll say this….I have switched from Benchmark to TAC. All I load in 223 anymore is 50 or 55 gr. Bullets, so TAC works great. If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice. Doug

Re: A good Powder for .223? Kenneth #17788134 11/10/22 Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 8,839 Likes: 6 Central, Texas L LBP Campfire Outfitter LBP Campfire Outfitter L Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 8,839 Likes: 6 Central, Texas Whatever you use do not use H4895 it sucks in 223, all cartridges for that matter. In fact if you have any H4895 you can just sending it to me and I’ll dispose of it properly. 😉 Will Munny: It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have. The Schofield Kid: Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming. Will Munny: We all got it coming, kid.

Re: A good Powder for .223? Kenneth #17797716 11/13/22 Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 4,363 northern new york DANNYL Campfire Tracker DANNYL Campfire Tracker Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 4,363 northern new york 50-55gr get either 8208 or benchmark POI is very close to each other with near max loads.

Re: A good Powder for .223? HuntnShoot #17797766 11/13/22 Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 42,901 Likes: 9 Southern Oregon USA S Seafire Campfire 'Bwana Seafire Campfire 'Bwana S Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 42,901 Likes: 9 Southern Oregon USA Originally Posted by HuntnShoot Lots of powders work in 223. Surprised that CFE 223 hasn't come up. It's a personal favorite with bullets 50-75 grains. The powder I use most for 40 grain jacketed bullets is Titegroup. 6.5 grains is accurate, consistent, and works great for killing rabbits, coyotes (within 200 yds), and ground squirrels that anger me enough to put away the rimfire. I worked up the load to speed along the kids' ability to shoot from field positions, since it has negligible recoil. They shoot a lot of them. I chrono'ed the load a couple years ago, but I don't recall the speed. Mid-2000's. thanks HuntnShoot, I don't recall trying that one... I've got a pound or two of Titegroup... I'll have to give it a whirl... Man can't have too many tools in the tool box, nor too many loads in the old noggin... especially for the old 223. "Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC “Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez