Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Have you tried H380 in the .223 with heavies?

With the powder scarcity and off course prices, the loads i used to use years ago are just a myth today. I'm sitting on 12 lbs. of H380 and did a little research. My old Hodgdon manual has it listed with 70 grain bullets. They show 27 grains at 42,000 cup. I just check a fired case and get 28 grains in to the base of the neck, and 31.5 grains to the top of the neck.
I would like try this powder with 69 grain Sierras.

I still have some IMR 4895 which of course would be the logical choice.

Have any of you even tried H380 powder in the .223?

Yes I have. Mostly 55 gr. The older reloading manuals had it listed pretty often.

sure have... just don't go out and use it on a hot summer day, as it will raise pressures...

but for Fall, Spring and Winter, no problem...

I've always ran 29 grains of H 380, and only use a small rifle primer.. that is more user friendly than a mag primer, when the temp starts heating up into the 90s...otherwise never an issue... and in the non summer heat months...pressure is WAAAY below SAAMI specs for the 223 case...

and I've always found it very accurate.. yet it will penetrate thru a deer quite well...

If you want to use it for hunting, I'd pick the tipped Sierra 69 grainer, vs the 69 grain MK...

Thanks Seafire, now to find some primers!

Powder Valley has Unis Ginex and Servicios Aventuras SR Primers in stock. I have never used either.

I think it was them that I just saw had GFI in stock now also... $120 in an old ball 1500 primer brick...

they are Italian...but made her I think.

Mostly use it in 22-250

I was thinking the OP needs to invest in a 22-250.

I know this sounds dumb as its contrary what is out there in the shooting world...

however I have found it to be more user friendly in the 223 for accuracy than in the 22.250..

if nothing else, you can end up loading it hot in the 22.250 pressure wise.. but not in the 223.

in fact in the 223. if you look at load data for it with H 380... you'll notice it gives pretty darn good velocity, but at 29 grains with a heavy bullet is pressure is only in the low 40K range and great accuracy.. in the 22.250, its a little picky on accuracy, depending upon your charge and bullet weight.

its hard to blow yourself up when used in a 223... it can be done in a 22.250 if you get a little overzealous on the powder scale or on a real hot day.

Hear of these guys yet ?

Be interesting to try some of their primers.......soon ?

https://www.expansion-ammunition.com/

When I was competing in NRA Highpower I used it to push my 80 grain Sierra's to 600 yards and found it to be more accurate than 4895. Would have to look in my dope book for the exact charge.

I have had very good results with lake city cases, Federal GMM primers, 28 grains of H380 and the Speer 70 grain bullet. I shoot these in a Cz527 in 223 rem.

not that rifle, but I have used that exact load in my Ruger 223 and others...

It never failed to send the deer to bang/flop heaven....and the meat into my freezer.

Quite interesting that H380 is very accurate and maybe more so that others. It makes sense cause a slower burning powder might not be as fussy and maybe velocity is more consistant??

Yes. Long time ago. I had a Ruger 77 Mk II RL in .223. I shot H380 with Speer 70s .. it was my best powder for that bullet. I might have used it with 60s, can't remember.

Pressure is also pretty low also, not pushing 223 SAMMI limits at all...

with a 55 grain bullet and 29 grains, pressure is like 41 or 42,000 PSI... so its easy on the brass, if you desire long brass life also.

I got my CCI primers finally and tested some loads using H380 with 55 grain blitzkings and 69 hpbt Sierra's. Great accuracy with Blitzkings but not too good with the 69 grainers. I also tried some IMR 4895 for comparison and the H380 crushed it in the accuracy department.

Speer 70 grain SMPs are available out this way, and have seen them available on line also...

Haven't seen a 223, 222 and/or a 22.250 that won't shoot them accurately, and certainly wouldn't take down a deer.

Shot a big blacktail one season, that came thru an opening in front of me at 200 yds, saw me and headed in a direction straight away from me, down a slight incline. Put the cross hairs right over its bouncing tail and pulled the trigger aiming at the back of its neck. It connected and sent it dumping head over teakettle. Killed instantly.

Bullet hit the spinal column, exit hole out the front of his neck, was pretty much laid open like an open book, and that big in size.

The 70 SMP is pretty darn deadly, and was made with a 1 in 14 twist in mind.. the bullet is that old on the market.

The Sierra 63 grain SMP, is another alternative that those in the know Swear By. Likewise with the 55 SMP from Sierra, but I think that bullet has been discontinued. Doesn't have enough Glitz to it, in today's world, but it'll darn sure work.. Sage rats, ground hogs or deer, and I guess hogs also.