Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Best Powder For 223 With 40 Grain Bullets

H335 works really well for me. I've burned up just less than 4 8 lb. jugs.

H335, Xterminator(AA2230) gives very long barrel life and accuracy

AA2015 gives some excellent velocity with incredible accuracy.

The H322 varieties also shine along with IMR and H4198.

I found the Sierra 45g Spt to be a particularly accurate bullet killing coyotes with authority, these bullets are getting hard to find. The 45g Sierra is a high velocity bullet, and also performs well out of the 220 Swift and 22/250 AI.

JamesJr: Three of my many heavy barrel Rifles in caliber 223 Remington shoot best when using AA 2015 powder and 40 grain bullets.
Excellent plus accuracy and performance.
Be sure and try some if you can find it.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Another vote for Ramshot X-Terminator with the 40s. I've had good luck with pretty much max Western Powder book loads with the 40gr Hornady V Max. Seems to also burn clean too.

Yeah, Ramshot Exterminator powder.

Win 748 has been the best powder in about all the 223s I have tryed it in

Having tried some in several of my rifles, and setting on two 8 pounder jugs.

I'll have to agree 100% with this recommendation...

My favorite is RL 7, but this is a damn good alternative..

I am down to two 223's. The model seven likes 40 grain bullets best. The 78 likes 55 grain best. Here's load for both with 40 grain bullets:

223 Remington Seven, 40 grain Nosler BT, 7 ½ BR, 22.3 Grains TAC, 0.44 MOA (average of three 5 shot groups)

223 Remington Sport 78, 40 grain V-max, 28.5 grains TAC, 0.77 MOA (average of three 5 shot groups)

TAC wins for the 40 grain bullets

For rifles I've sold:

223 Remington 700, 40 grain Hornady V-max, 28.4 grain TAC, 0.69 MOA (average of three 5 shot groups)

The Interarms mini-user liked heavier bullets, in particular 55 grain

I used H335 for years. Then switched to Benchmark about seven years ago. It works great with 40 and 50 grain bullets. I don’t shoot heavier.
I’ve tried to consolidate powders some. I use Benchmark in 223, 204, 22ppc, 17 Rem and 222.

I loaded up some of the 40 VMax with 26.7 of XTerminator and shot it again this morning out to 300 yards. 3 shots at 200 yards were under an inch. I think it'll work. I did not chronograph it because it's been raining and I didn't want to get the chrony wet, so I may be able to push it a little bit more. 27.0 was listed as max.

.223-I use X Terminator up to 55’s, then TAC or H4895.

.222-Use AA2015 and 40grain NBT. Have not tried Xterm in it because it doesn’t get shot much any more. It is an old Savage 340.