Author Topic: best powder for 223 and 30-30... (Read 1722 times)

myronman3 · « **on:** April 18, 2003, 05:10:19 AM »

i am going to start reloading for my 223 and 30-30 contender pistol. i like clean burning powders. i am leaning toward either varget or reloader 7. views, opinions, suggestions, on the subject appreciated. btw, i will be using 40gr. ballistic tips for 223 and 125 gr. for the 30-30.

ricciardelli · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2003, 05:47:09 AM »

.223 with 40:
N-130 From 20.7 grains to 24.4 grains
Remington 7-1/2 Primer

.30-30 with 125:
IMR-4198 From 23.0 grains to 30.0 grains
Winchester WLR Primer

BCB · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2003, 07:06:52 AM »

myronman3,

I load both of those calibers in my Contender and I use H-335 powder for both. 12 ounce beverage can accuracy at 100 yards with both--no problem. Good-luck...BCB

boneguru · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2003, 08:54:35 AM »

you certainly can find the best powder for your rifle and individual bullet through long and tedious testing, which is half of the fun of reloading.
I do like varget esp here in Az it is not as effected as others by change in temp. have used it in 223 and 3006 with great results. both contender and encore. but found that my older savage 30-30 really liked win 748.
try a few and see it really is fun, Raymond :-D

HBL · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2003, 11:45:49 AM »

For a less expensive powder than H335 or H322, Try AA2230. It may not be a clean as you would like, but I have gone to it in lieu of Hogden because of the savings you get with the 8lb. keg. Especially with surplus, which I have had no problems with.

myronman3 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2003, 11:58:43 AM »

see i dont really like messing around with the different powders because i just flat out dont have the time. job, wife, kid, and several other responsibilities i dont care to discuss.
i would like to use the same powder in both calibers. two of the reasons i am leaning toward varget is that 1. i had heard that it is less sensitive to temperature differences (which is huge here in wisconsin) and 2. that it is readily availible at gunshops in my area. i will check out h335 to see if that is a powder the local shops carry.

Crayfish · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2003, 07:32:19 AM »

I load W748 for my Contender barrels in .223 and 30-30. But, I load 50-55gr Ballistic Tips in the 223 and 150gr Ballistic Tips in the 30-30. I get great accuracy from both. I'm going to play with AA2520 in the 30-30 with 130gr bullets ... don't know how that would work in the .223, but I may have to play with that combination to see!

Good luck ... Crayfish

Dand · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2003, 10:23:59 PM »

I tried Rx 7 and it was ok for velocity and accuracy but it seemed like my case necks were real dirty in all the cartridges I tried it. I think I used it in 30-30, know I used it in 348, 223, and finally used it up in 7.62 x39- all rifles. I think there are better powders out there.

jrnevins · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2010, 09:43:13 AM »

I have used Alliant Reloder 10 and it is a quick burn powder that leaves the barrel clean on a 65gr Sierra soft point bt bullet at XXXXXXX per load...Reloder 7 will probably be just as good, it may even be a better burn. I have also use IMR4895 which is also a good powder at 24.5 grains on a 60gr Hornady Vmax flat base bullet.

You are living Dangerously -- The load your using is a full grain OVER MAX for the 55g bullet and is not even listed for the 65g !

stimpy

mauser98us · « **Reply #9 on:** January 28, 2010, 04:06:28 PM »

H4895

Dee · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2010, 04:34:47 PM »

I used to use 3031 but, years ago I switched to 748. It run good thru a powder drop, and I get maximum velocity and accuracy in both rounds.

MZ5 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2010, 05:27:52 PM »

For 'clean' and with those light-for-cartridge bullets, maybe try N-133 or N-130, or try X-Terminator.

I prefer 748 for those 2 cartridges, but I tend to shoot 'average' weight bullets. I have also used N-133 in both to good effect, but again with somewhat heavier bullets (thus the suggestion to maybe try N-130).

Dee · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2010, 05:35:05 PM »

Me to on the bullets MZ5. I shoot 150s in the 3030, and 55 grainers in the 223, when I shoot reloads. Right now, I am going thru some 52 grainers from Blackhills, but when their gone it will be back to the 55s.

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2010, 02:15:26 AM »

Quote from: Dee on January 28, 2010, 04:34:47 PM

I used to use 3031 but, years ago I switched to 748. It run good thru a powder drop, and I get maximum velocity and accuracy in both rounds.

I agree.

Steve P · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2010, 09:15:40 AM »

I have Reloader 7 in hunting loads for each of those Contender calibers. Meters well and gets me to hunting velocity without pushing the envelope of cartrige or firearm. I have better accuracy loads with target bullets, but I wouldn't use them to hunt, unless varmints or flies at 100+.

Steve

Swampman · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2010, 09:27:53 AM »

Varget

Dee · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2010, 09:35:39 AM »

Quote from: jrnevins on January 28, 2010, 09:43:13 AM

I have used Alliant Reloder 10 and it is a quick burn powder that leaves the barrel clean on a 65gr Sierra soft point bt bullet at XXXXXXX per load...Reloder 7 will probably be just as good, it may even be a better burn. I have also use IMR4895 which is also a good powder at 24.5 grains on a 60gr Hornady Vmax flat base bullet.

You are living Dangerously -- The load your using is a full grain OVER MAX for the 55g bullet and is not even listed for the 65g !

stimpy

I have a Lyman manual that lists 25 grains of IMR4895 as the maximum load, for a 63 grain bullet.
And 26 grains of IMR4895 as the maximum load for a 55 grain bullet.
So if the 24.5 grain load fo the 60 grain is what your talking about, he's in good shape.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2010, 09:43:27 AM »

Dee

Its his load of Reloader 10 that I XXXXX out that was the real problem here being over MAX , not the 4895 load .

The fact that he said in another post that he does NOT even have a manual yet , but is giving load data here worries me greatly !

stimpy

Dee · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2010, 09:59:40 AM »

I was wondering about the red Xs. I'm dense stimp. It's raining outside and the humidity is rusting my thought process. Sorry.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2010, 01:39:09 PM »

My go to powder for the 30-30 is W748 and for the 223 H322. I prefer the 170gr Hornady and new FTX 160gr for the 30-30 and Sierra 53Gr HP for the 223. There is no other powder/bullet choices I will load in them...

There are many powder choices, these are what shoots best in my rifles and pistols.

CW

burntmuch · « **Reply #20 on:** January 29, 2010, 01:45:35 PM »

I had real good luck with w748 for my 223 & 40 grain Vmaxes. .4 inch groups. Which is amazing for me

Sounds like its good for the 30-30 too.

carbineman · « **Reply #21 on:** January 29, 2010, 06:17:54 PM »

W748 in both calibers works for me also. I have used BL-C2 and WC846 milsurp in both calibers with good results.

demented · « **Reply #22 on:** January 29, 2010, 11:56:06 PM »

748 works reasonably well for me for .308's on down the line. NOT perfect for all my firearms but close enough to stay on my shelf for use as a general purpose powder.