Best Ball Powder for bulk 223 reloading?

[Minnesota1]

I have a dillon 550 that I want to use for my 223.  I will be loading it up in bulk thus I need a powder that can meter consistently.  I would imagine it would be a ball powder.  I will be loading for 55 gr spitzers, also, a sierra 53 gr. HP and hornady 75 gr BTHP.   They will be used for varmit hunting.  Please let me know what you think and would advise.  Thanks,

Bob

[BCB]

H-335...BCB

[LaOtto222]

There are several powders that will "fit the bill". You will need what works for you best. W 748, BL C2, H 335 come to mind quickly. Here is a link to another thread about the very same subject with quite and extensive discussion.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,153490.0.html

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[bilmac]

I have used 335,BL C2 and 748 and all will do the job for you, 748 seems to be a bit more accurate, but top loads fill the case pretty much up to the top. 335 leaves a little more room in the case which may work better on your progressive.

[Troyboy]

Glad you asked I'm getting ready for a grand run


                                           Troy

[Slufoot]

I have been using AA-2230 for the 223 for several years. It gives me both good accuracy and velocity, as it's name implies it was designed for the 223.

[gary0529]

All the powders mentioned will do the job but I go along with Slufoot in using 2230 or in my case I picked up a quantity of Data 68 (clone of 2230) and use it exclusively in my progressive for 223's with a 50 gr. pill.  It meters well, accurate and not dirty. Wot's not to like :-))

Gary

[Old Syko]

The term "best" leaves a lot to interpretation.  Everything mentioned works well with the main viable difference for bulk use being cost.  Ramshot TAC is cheaper than all other canister powders and if you're an experienced loader WC844 is cheaper yet at $95 for 8#.  If you're using a progressive press you're going to have to buy in volume anyway so consider a 48# purchase and save $$$.

[Mule]

 

I am a fan of AA2230 also.

If you are using a semi-auto, avoid Data 2200.  Frequently it would fail to cycle my Mini-14 with 50-55gr bullets.
I have no experience with Data 68.

[Lloyd Smale]

i use 2230 335 748 benchmark varget and a few others. If im loading ammo for a ar15 that will be used just for blasting and ball bullets i use whatever i have on hand that i dont mind using up. If its for accuracy  in my target ar i load what shoots the best and dont worry about cost. I dont load a 1000 of the accuacy loads at a time though. I also used a slug of wc842 and wc844 surplus when they were cheap but the cost of them has came within 20 bucks of commercial powders and i dont know if its worth the bother now. Id say for accuacy my best luck has come with varget and benchmark but varget doesnt meter to well. 2230 would come in a close second to those two.

[Larry Gibson]

I use H335 or AA2230 for 52/55 gr bullets in .223 when loading on my 550B.  Meters great and both powders equal factory velocity and pressures with correct loads.  For the 75 gr BTHP I'd switch to Varget as the previous 2 powders are a little too fast for best results with that bullet.

Larry Gibson

[BBF]

 I vote for BLC2