Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Best Ball Powder for 50-55gr .223 Loads??

I've burned many pounds of H335 but am considering a switch to CFE223. Much cleaner powder and I get higher velocities.

748 was the first rifle powder I ever bought when I started reloading for a .223 and .30-06 and I still always keep some on hand.

I always had good results with Win 748,But it is not as clean burning as TAC.

Yes, with 50gr V-max and max charges in a Browning Micro Medallion A-bolt.

I going to try some with 50gr v-max in a Rem. 700 26in. bull barrel

Brazos Jack,

I might also point out that while Benchmark is also a great .223 powder, and does meter very easily, it's more expensive than TAC (or most other spherical powders, for that matter). Prices for BM on three websites where I often order components averaged 12% higher than TAC.

John since you went down that route, the reason I have never tried N133 is because it averages 8 to 10 bucks per pound more than benchmark or about 25 - 30% more.

Yep, all the VV powders are pricey!

I do use some powders that cost a little more than others, but only in cartridges I don't shoot a lot, mostly big game rounds where the gain in performance is worth the small additional price per round. But when shooting thousands of rounds cost is obviously a factor, at least for most of us.

When I got my stash of N133 I got a deal. My old component supplier sold me several pounds on clearance. He wasn't going to carry VV any longer because of spotty availability at the time.

I've had good luck with CFE 223

That would be a good way to get some!

My supply of VV powders is mostly free, sent to me a few years ago by the then-distrubutor. In general, however, I haven't found them to be significantly better than other brands, though they're always worth a try. In my 6mm PPC benchrest rifle I'm using LT-32 instead of 133.

I have a two pounder of N140 squirreled away, and my handloading student has a single and a half. It's nearly magical for accuracy for our 700 Classics in 300 Savage.

Mathman, I'm curious what that N140 load might be. I have one of the 300 Savage 700 Classics as well, but have yet to find a great load for it. 150 SST's with the RL-15 load you suggested has so far been the best.

TAC is pretty much H335 without the warts, what H335 should have been or should be now.

I've tried just about all the ball powders that will work in the 223. I use the 223 strictly for varmints and rarely use bullets over 55 grains, with the 50 grain VMax being what I use most. My most accurate load in a bolt rifle has been with surplus WC846. Extremely consistent on the chronograph, and very accurate as well. With my AR's, I like H335, BL-C2, W748....all old school, I know.....also TAC, X-Terminator, H322, WC844, plus a few of the AA powders.

I've burned about a ton of H-335 and haven't had any problems with it. Accurate and fast; what's not to like.

Or maybe I'm too damned old to change

kd

win 748 works best in my guns

Win 748 OR H335

Hopefully I'll be able to find the data for you. It's not ingrained in my brain like my 308 stuff and I recently lost tons of reference/research material during major flooding of my house.

N140 2,44 37.6 719 2360 2,72 42.0 793 2602

http://www.vihtavuori.com/en/reloading-data/rifle-reloading/-300-savage.html

I was thinking more of the particular 300Sav+P, OK in a Rem 700 load we worked up a couple of years ago.