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Author Topic: Powder for .223  (Read 1467 times)

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Offline Star1pup

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Powder for .223
« on: April 24, 2011, 05:37:33 AM »
I just got a .223 Tikka with a 1:8 rifling twist and will start working up a load.  I go by the data provided by maunfacturers, but has anyone found a powder they really like for a .223?  I'm hoping to use a 55 gr. bullet, but I've been told that the 1:8 twist requires a heavier bullet.

Any suggestions?
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Offline necchi

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2011, 07:21:08 AM »
With that twist and bullet, I'd step on the throttle an use H4895 or BenchMark.
( I live in MN with vast temp swings and like the temp insensitive Hodgdons Extreme Powders)

 Otherwise a search at Hodgons website will give you a list of several Hodgdons, IMR and Winchester powders used for the 223
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Offline Tom W.

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2011, 07:27:42 AM »
Varget
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Offline stimpylu32

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2011, 09:02:29 AM »
Quote from: Star1pup on April 24, 2011, 05:37:33 AM
I just got a .223 Tikka with a 1:8 rifling twist and will start working up a load.  I go by the data provided by maunfacturers, but has anyone found a powder they really like for a .223?  I'm hoping to use a 55 gr. bullet, but I've been told that the 1:8 twist requires a heavier bullet.

Any suggestions?

I've found Ramshot's TAC to do a very good job with bullets between 55 & 69 grain in my Stevens 200 with a 1 in 9 twist barrel , also IMR 4895 does well too .

stimpy

PS - Never had much luck with Varget , yet many love it .  ???
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Offline yooper77

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2011, 09:18:29 AM »
I reload the 223 Remington for my T/C Encore 24" 1-12" twist rifle barrel.

I have successfully used IMR-3031 with Remington soft point 55 grain and H-4895 with Hornady soft point and Nosler Partition 60 grain bullets producing excellent accuracy.

My 12 year old daughter used this barrel with the Nosler bullet to bag her first whitetail (7 points) buck this past Sept 2010 Michigan youth hunt.

yooper77
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Offline Wyo. Coyote Hunter

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2011, 09:31:00 AM »
 ;)H4895 has been my standard powder for the 223...Varget also works well with lighter bullets in my rifle, but it has a slower twist...
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Offline Star1pup

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2011, 09:47:08 AM »
Appreciate all of the excellent info.  Do you guys think the 55gr bullet is too light?
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Offline Old Syko

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2011, 10:13:21 AM »
55s through a 1-8 seems to be a waste of resources in my book.  68s or even heavier pushed by 4895 are more in line with the rifles capability.  At least they work well for me.  Especially when looking at longer distances.
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Offline 1sourdough

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2011, 10:38:22 AM »
 I think you could start out with 55 grain bullets. My powder choices for 55 grn would be TAC & H4895. Of course there are many good choices with 223 powder. I look for a powder I can use in other loadings & then buy in bulk, 8 lbs or so.
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Offline Wyo. Coyote Hunter

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2011, 10:51:19 AM »
 ;) To me it depends what you want to do with the rifle..for shooting varmits, 55 grain would seem fine..I shot them out of a 22-250 Imp. with a 1-8 twist and they shot super...with the heavier bullets I have questions about the safety of shooting a 69 grain match bullet at varmit, unless you live in pretty wild country...I shot some 100 grain match in my .25-06....they shot super but just penciled through jacks... :-[  I have pretty much gone to 50 or 55 grain bullets for my .22 calibers starting with .222 and going up...if I want a longer bullet with more wt..I step up to the next caliber... ;)
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Offline Star1pup

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #10 on: April 24, 2011, 10:56:30 AM »
I will be hunting coyotes here in Ohio where we do not get long shots.  I also have to be careful that I don't get a ricochet into a housing development.  This is not flat land, but I think a lighter bullet that will blow up before it ricochets would be best.  I also like to make a groundhog stew and am not looking to blow them up as some guys seem to do.
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Offline LaOtto222

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #11 on: April 24, 2011, 11:16:41 AM »
Star1pup - I was with you until you said - "This is not flat land, but I think a lighter bullet that will blow up before it ricochets would be best.  I also like to make a groundhog stew and am not looking to blow them up as some guys seem to do."

- sounds contradictory - if it will not ricochet, it will blow up a ground hog. If you want a pass through, you will get ricochets.

I am not trying to save any meat, so I go for bullets that blow up when they hit the ground. Along those lines, may I suggest a 55 grain Hornady V-Max for your 1 - 8" twist barrel? they are relatively cheap, have a flat base and shoot surprising well in a lot of different rifles.
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Offline Old Syko

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #12 on: April 24, 2011, 12:52:28 PM »
If you're not wanting to shoot long range and you're wanting to shoot lighter varmint style bullets in the 50 to 55 grain range, you bought the wrong gun.  Got any idea what RPM that little slug is turning when released at full power from a 1-8 barrel compared to a 1-12 twist barrel?  With varmint bullets you certainly won't have any ricochets.   
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Offline Star1pup

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #13 on: April 24, 2011, 02:45:39 PM »
I realize that I need to make head shots on groundhogs.  I just meant that some of my friends like to brag about exploding groundhogs.  ;D  I'll probably end up with a 55 to 60 gr. soft point.  I have always liked Hornady so probably stick with them.  One friend loads 50 gr. JHP for his .223.  We have enough hills around here that ricoshets are not really a problem.  My section of Ohio is just across the river from West Virginia.  We don't have mountains, but sure got some steep hills.

I'm thinking 55gr SN over either IMR 4198 or IMR 4895.  I'll go with the Hornady manual and start about midway and work up a bit.  Sound like a plan to you guys?

I can always take my .22 hornet for groundhog stew. ;)
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Offline Zeke R

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #14 on: April 24, 2011, 03:22:05 PM »
I've had best results with H335 in all of my .223's (Handi, No.1 and AR15). Didn't matter if it was surplus or newly manufactured. I also had good results with IMR 4198. Bullet weights were 55 and 60 grains.
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Offline cybin

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #15 on: April 24, 2011, 05:19:54 PM »
I use both IMR 4198 and IMR 4895 with my .223--I can't tell the difference--both work well. The IMR 4895 I use in other calibers as well.

cybin
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Offline 243dave

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #16 on: April 24, 2011, 06:22:53 PM »
Another for Varget.
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Offline Star1pup

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #17 on: April 25, 2011, 03:32:36 AM »
Quote from: cybin on April 24, 2011, 05:19:54 PM
I use both IMR 4198 and IMR 4895 with my .223--I can't tell the difference--both work well. The IMR 4895 I use in other calibers as well.

cybin

Since I have both 4198 & 4895 in stock I guess that's a good place to start.
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Offline Wyo. Coyote Hunter

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #18 on: April 25, 2011, 03:37:08 AM »
 ;) Those two should to about all you want done with the .223...the only thing with 4198 it doesn't meter well in my measure..but unless a guy is loading 1000 rounds at a time its no big deal...good shooting..
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Offline dks7895

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #19 on: April 25, 2011, 03:44:54 AM »
Quote from: Zeke R on April 24, 2011, 03:22:05 PM
I've had best results with H335 in all of my .223's (Handi, No.1 and AR15). Didn't matter if it was surplus or newly manufactured. I also had good results with IMR 4198. Bullet weights were 55 and 60 grains.

+1 on H335
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Offline HL

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #20 on: April 25, 2011, 03:50:01 AM »
In my AR, I've had good luck with H335 and BLC-2, The best I've found, so far, is with AA-2230.
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Offline Star1pup

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #21 on: April 25, 2011, 04:04:06 AM »
Quote from: HL on April 25, 2011, 03:50:01 AM
In my AR, I've had good luck with H335 and BLC-2, The best I've found, so far, is with AA-2230.

What is the rifling twist in your AR and how heavy a bullet must you use?
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Offline 223fan

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #22 on: April 25, 2011, 03:10:31 PM »
I would bet that a 60gr. vmax and some varget will do a good job for you.
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Offline McDerry

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #23 on: April 25, 2011, 07:29:04 PM »
Accurate 2015 is the powder to get for 223 Remington hands down.   
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Offline mechanic

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #24 on: April 26, 2011, 02:23:24 AM »
Varget
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Offline billy_56081

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #25 on: April 26, 2011, 02:38:11 AM »
Varget!
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #26 on: April 26, 2011, 03:12:01 AM »
My old stand by has long been H322 and a BR primer behind a 52/53g match bullet.

Reciently I have had excellent results with 2015BR powder as well.

CW
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Offline HL

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #27 on: April 26, 2011, 08:58:48 AM »
My AR has a 1 in 8 twist. Currently using 64gr Win. Bullets.

I have also tried 55gr, that have proven to be very accurate, normally boring one 3/4" hole. I was suprised to see the cheap dogtown bullets perform that well.
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Offline DANNY-L

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #28 on: April 26, 2011, 11:10:33 AM »
H335,AA2230 are real good in my mini and rem.model 7 and loading in bulk it helps with a powder that meters good.
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Offline purpledragon

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Re: Powder for .223
« Reply #29 on: May 01, 2011, 06:45:53 AM »
AA2230,for me also very good powder for the .223.........
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