Swiftman,
I can't really comment on the combined tech. bullets you're talking about, even though I was thinking about them while looking through the Cabelas shooting catalog last night. Yes, Varget is a good powder for the .223. I use 27.3 gr. of it under a 50gr. v-max. I just necksize the brass, mostly because I've been using a lee loader, but also because it's quicker. It works for me, since my rifle will shoot under half inch groups for 5 shots at 100yds. I still have about 250 pieces of Lake City brass that I need to FL resize that was originally shot in another handi rifle I owned. Good luck.
~~~Amos