Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 5.56 powder, Varget or Benchmark

Stash of CFE 223 is used up,

Have several lbs each of Varget and Benchmark,

Rifle is a 5.56 AR style with 16 inch barrel,

Bullets are 69 grain HPBT,

Benchmark meters much better but other rifles like Benchmark very well,

That leaves Varget, Hornady 11th edition lists 25.1 has “Caution”…..

Hodgdons lists 26 grains (compressed) for the .223

Your thoughts on Varget and the 5.56 please.

I don’t know about Varget but Benchmark sure has been a winner in my AR’s.

Varget works just fine, but it is temperature compensated for the 308. In the 223, it is not temperature stable.

Varget is bulky and does not run through most powder measures very well. However, it does produce accurate ammo. Especially with bullets you are asking about (69gr). If you don't mind messing with Varget and loading slow, it will work. I like to use powders that drop from the powder measure with ease, so I can charge the case, put a bullet on top and seat. Generally with powders I use, I can load 300+ rounds on my single stage in an hour. With the little 223 case, I prefer the easy way, vs weighing each charge out, like you will probably have to do with V powder.

Varget is usually very accurate in 5.56 / 223 Wylde, but never gives top end velocity & as BSA says, doesn't really meter well through a powder measure.

Benchmark is also usually very accurate, but also leaves some velocity on the table as well.

MM

Bsa, agreed on all counts,

I know you like AR-comp, and its’s finally around again,

But with the Alliant price increases, that ain’t happening…..

CFE223 is 36 bucks, AR -comp is 66.

Could grab more CFE, but that Varget has to get used somewhere.

Go with the Varget, it works very well with the 69 gr. bullets.
If you don’t need to brag about how many rounds you can load in an hour it works fine.

I love AR Comp, but did not mention it because it was not on your list. I hear you on the price of the stuff too. I'm glad I bought 10 pounds last year!!! I was just shooting my 22-250 with CFE 223 today. That powder is great in that cartridge, and also my 308 win. I like the price too. I know some guys just don't get the speed thing, as they have no clue I guess. I'll give you an idea though, yesterday I wanted to get my cars oil changed, load some ammo real quick before the sun went down to test some loads. Only have so many hours in the day. Anyway, I got the oil changed in the car loaded 20 rounds of ammo in like 3 minutes, and went to the range and fired off some groups at 400 yards. All before the sun went down. It's just easier to drop from the powder measure and go. No fuss at all and it's quick. With certain powders it can be very precise as well. Those that want to interpret what I say as bragging need to get a life. Loading 300+ rounds per hour is very easily accomplished. It also helps when some days you may go through 300 rounds with an ar. Like I said though, you can use Varget. I know a lot of guys that run about 25gr and a 69gr SGK and that load shoots very well out to 600 yards. I also really like RL15, that powder also drops better than Varget, but not as well as AR Comp. I've used a little benchmark, but found other powders that work just as well or better. 8208 XBR, TAC, X terminator and CFE 223 being some.

You should be seeing CFE 223 in your area. I'm pretty stocked up on it, and keep finding uses for it. Lately I've been running it in the 22-250 and it's working pretty well.

W748

TAC is also a good choice its a ball powder

Varget......usually produces accurate loads, especially in the heavier bullets, and as others have said, a pain to meter.
Benchmark......I've not used it as much as I have other powders, but have had good results.

There is a good powder selection for the 5.56/223, with lots of them working. I have used TAC, W748, H335, WC846, BLC-2, Xterminator, along with several others.

Basically you are listing AR2208 and BM2 in a 223...I would be using the BM2 as the 08 is fairly slow in the 223. I use 08 for light projectiles in 7x57, 270, and 7x64...AR2209 for heavier.
I also used 08 in 6br with 60gr Taipans when I was shooting roos for a quid...bit slow but worked fine. AR2206, BM1 and BM2 were what I used in 223 with 55gr projectiles, and 223ai with 50gr projectiles. AR2207 for 222 with 50gr, AR2205 in hornet and 22 spitfire.

Oh, and 08 in 22-250 with 55gr, and 08 in 243.


Feel free to ignore this and do something different.


THIS may help.

OP..............I know you only asked about Varget & Benchmark, but there are just a lot of good powders available today for an AR.

VV-540 is outstanding, meters well & is generally available; best with heavier bullets.
VV-133 is unsurpassed with bullets of 60 gr & less & is readily available.
VV-140 is very good, spotty availability
TAC is a good all around powder, readily available & relatively cheap
CFE-223 which you've been using is good, not generally as accurate as some others, very available
Accurate 2520 is good for a lot of people, so-so for me, usually available
Staball Match is very good, usually available, temp stable
8208-XBR is outstanding if you can find it, & more expensive than most of the powders above
H-4895 works, but not one of my favorites in an AR as I think the recoil impulse is a bit quick
Hodgdon Leverevolution works well, good velocity, generally available

I like quite a few Alliant powders, but their prices have gone crazier than anyone else, for whatever reason

AR-Comp is a favorite of mine but not at current prices
2000-MR is excellent
Pro Varmint is good
RL-15 works well, similar to Varget, & doesn't meter great for a small case

Good shooting.

MM

Of the two you mentioned I'd start with Varget for heavies and Benchmark for lighter bullets.

Both are great powder in their respective lanes.

Varget

This. ^

8208 and Pro Varmint are my choice of powders behind 50gr VMax's. Both meter extremely well.

Made the ride today, 8208XBR came home.

That's a great powder. I'm sure you will like it.

At these prices.It may just stay on my shelf! LOL.
Damn pimps.