Powder Help

[seafox]

I'm  new  to reloading. I currently use Varget powder reloading for my Handi .223. The pellet type powder doesn't meter well through my RCBS Uniflow measure. I read on this forum that IMR 4895 is a good  powder for almost any caliber. Is this pellet type powder or is it something else that will meter through my measure smoother? If there is a better choice I would appreciate your recommendations.

[beemanbeme]

4895 is a stick type powder which will be less user friendly than the pellet type powder.  I'm not familar with the RCBS uniflow, what is it doing that is wrong? 

[Old Syko]

Seafox I'll suggest trying WW748 with CCI450 primers.  This is a combination that has yielded good accuracy and the most consistent velocities of any combination I've yet to try regardless of which bullet I've tried.  Besides, WW748 meters like water through a measure.

[BCB]

seafox,
I have only ever used H-335 and WC-844 (surplus version of H-335 sort of) in my .223 Remington cartridges.  Excellent accuracy and I weigh every 10th round just as a precaution.  These powders work well in my Lee and RCBS Uniflow powder measurers.  A ball powder is the way to go.  Good-luck...BCB

[KN]

I second either H335,(my favorite) or W748 for the 223. Both meter beautifully.   KN

[Catfish]

I recommend that you get yourself a powder burn rate chart. The .223 will shoot well with a wide verity of powders. I seem to get alittle better accuracy with Blc-2 with Rem 7 1/2 primers in most rifles, but any powder 4 or 5 higher or lower on the burn rate chart will work. As for metering you will have to go with a ball powder or spend acouple $ 100 on a new powder measure.

[HEAD0001]

H-335.  Tom.

[PlacitasSlim]

When using Varget in my Uniflow, I rap the lever against the stops twice on each up stroke and each down stroke. That has helped a lot. I also put a powder baffle in it. If you still want to change powder, then try X-Terminator. It was designed for this type of use and its ball design allows it to flow like water.

[Old Syko]

Now that someone has mentioned X-Terminator, why not try Ramshot Tac.  Quite a number of AR shooters are converting to it because of good performance and the price.  This stuff is much cheaper than most available powders especially when purchased in bulk, and even though it is a fine ball powder that meters great, it is coated with a chemical that allows it to be less temperature sensitive than some other  ball powders which is supposed to allow for better consistency.  I recently picked up some Tac to start building loads in .223 but haven't had the opportunity to start yet.  8# was $100 so I bought all 4 jugs the guy had in stock.  A while back it was $77 per 8# at Powder Valley but you had to pay hazmat and shipping.  Still cheaper than most.

[MnMike]

I use Varget for .243, .223, and .204 (not the fastest but accurate). I have never had a metering problem even with my cheap Lee. Come to think of it, I haven't had a metering problem since the spider crawled into the measure, and died in the drop tube.

good luck,

mike

[LaOtto222]

I also have a RCBS Uniflow. I bought it used 25 years ago. Back then it came with both small and large drums and I have them both. I gave up on stick powders because of the metering problems with it. I went exclusively to ball powders to start with (BLC2, WW 748 and WW296 for my magnum handguns and 22 Hornet). I found that flake types do not work too bad either. I eventually found that the short stick powders did not work too bad either, like H322. I have recently found that Vihta Vuori N 133 (a short cut stick powder) to give excellent results in my 233 and meters well. A while back I purchased a RCBS ChargeMaster 1500. It meters every thing out in it well. Now I am using IMR 4198 in my 221 and 222 that I never did before. They are starting to come out with short cut powders for the simple reason of metering better. Good luck, you have had several suggestions from the guys and I do not see anything wrong with any of them.

[Questor]

seafox:

I've had the same problem with varget+RCBS uniflow for .223 and I believe my temporary workaround was to use the larger of the two screw-in powder nozzles. I assume your symptom is inconsistent metering where several grains of powder are not dropped, leading to an undercharged case followed by an overcharged case.  I have not had this happen with any other powder, including the long stick powders like 4895.