What is the top powder for 75-80's in the .223?

I've been loading 75 and 80 grain AMAX with H 4895 and getting decent accuracy (23.5 grains w the 75, 23 grains w the 80), but is there a better powder to try for accuracy/speed?

i would look at varget.

Ed

I've had the best luck so far with CFE223 with 75's loaded std and long. Have been meaning to try LVR, which is apparently just a hair slower, and is a very high-energy powder. Have heard good things about it in the 223 with the heavies. Not enough room to get enough Varget or H4895 in cases with the long bullets, and the accuracy and velocity were not as good as CFE. TAC might be another to consider, but I couldn't get the accuracy out of it.

Old school powder and not temp insensitive...

but seems my 1 in 9 twist Howas take a real liking to 28 grains of H380.. with 75 and 80 grain
bullets.. compressed load with a light crimp of course...

29 grains with 68 or 69 grain bullets...

28.5 with the old Speer 70 grain SMP...

I didn't know 28 grains would fit in the case.

I have some H380, so I may give that a try.

I have not been able to get to the published max with the 80 grain AMAX and H4895, I blew a primer at 23.5 grains, which is about where I wanted to load it.

380 is a ball powder so it probably fits denser. 27 of Varget is more than full, compressed, crunchy. Not ideal, but it works.

If you popped a primer, you are pretty darn hot. Published max is a guide, not necessarily your goal. Your actual velocity is, yep, a guide, not your goal. I think I topped out at 24 with Varget under some 75 Amaxes. Varget (which I prefer to H4895 from 55 grains on up) has tended to run about a grain more than H4895 under the same bullet in the same rifle.

If you look in the old Hodgdon # 26 manual, they have listings for it up to 70 grain bullets...

but as you look at the data, observe the pressures.. they are actually pretty low
especially considering SAAMI specs for a 223, much less military pressure specs...

all my shooting of them have been in bolt action rifles tho....

so can't speak regarding the powder and bullet combo in an AR...

I'm shooting these in a RAR.

And yes, piecing a primer was a first for me. I don't like pushing things that far.

I'd be happy with the 80's going over 2700fps. Right now the 75's are loaded with 23.5 grains of H4895 and good accuracy which is where I stopped with those.

8208 XBR and Benchmark are worth trying, at least for 75's. They don't give the velocity of TAC or LVR, but still faster than Varget and accuracy is excellent.

I had a RAR puncturing primers shooting 4895, and then CFE. I switched from std primers to mag primers with a thicker cup, namely from CCI 400 to 450. 205m also have a thicker cup, as do Rem 7.5. The goal was to run them closer to 5.56 pressure. Getting 2950+ with 75 Amax.

I've had good luck with CFE, H4895, TAC and Varget.




Clark

That sucks for me, I'm stocked up with CCI 400's, but I will keep that in mind though.

400s are darn good primers. Doesn't suck.

AR-Comp & 8208 XBR; TAC is never a bad choice when it's available. MR-2000 is also very good.

I've not seen really top level accuracy out of CFE.

MM

I've had pretty good luck with TAC

23 gr of RL15 & 80 gr Sierras shoot outstanding in my buddies 223. My wife's Tikka loves 23.8 of Varget with Nosler 77 gr Custom Competitions.

Will a 1 in 9 twist stabilize a 62 grain Barnes? The 62’s shoot really well out of my Rock River Varmint 1 in 8 Barrel. Thanks

They do in both my 1-9” barrels.

I run BLC-2 under the 75 gr. HPBT bullet. Where would you start with LVR? Would like to see what it will do.

I have a 223 Tikka Varmint 8 twist rifle.
I have a bunch of Nosler Custom Comp 77s.
I need load data for that combo please.
I have Varget, RL 15, Tac, 8208, and CFE.
I would like to get to 700yds.
Thanks

Coach,

24-25gr's of CFE should get you happy.



Happy Thanksgiving,
Travis

Tag