SmallCaliberCentral

I just picked up a 223 and I was wondering what is a good powder and bullet choice
to start reloading up some rounds. I will be shooting at fox and coyotes. Thanks
for all replies in advance.

What barrel twist rate is the rifle mate?

Lots of choices for the .223. My rifle is a bolt gun, with a 12 twist, and my bullet of choice is the 40 grain VMax, for its explosive performance on "skippy". My powder of choice is H335. Originally the .223 was a military cartridge designed for the AR platform. The brass was was loaded with a mil-spec powder which I was informed is H335 with a mil-spec designation. Lots of .223 guys use this powder, but there are some others out there that work very well also. The first that comes to me is H4895. You did not mention if your rifle is an AR or bolt gun. Best of luck finding the components you will need for reloading that venerable .223.

Olin's original powder for the 5.56 was WC846. Original patent spec allowed up to 1% CaCo.
IF several thousands of rounds are fired without cleaning, AND the powder was at max spec; there was a gas tube clogging issue.
So to CTA, Olin created a new level allowed for CaCO. IF it came in under they call it WC844, over and they still call it 846, even though the recipe is the same.
WC846=Bl-c(2)
WC844=H335
WC846 with an updated additive package (copper reduction) =Win 748.

So, considering nominal lot variations and the fact that Hodgdon REFUSES to give what their canister grade spec is; as far as Non-Canister grade parent powder:
Bl-c(2)=H335=Win748

To the OP:
NO ONE wants to sell a turd Sammich, if the powder is listed in your reloading manual, it IS a "good" powder choice. Pick one you can find in the store, read your manual 2 more times (the info, not the load data) and start testing.

it is a 9 twist and a bolt gun.

Hi Chuckhunter,

I too have a 223 rifle with a 9 twist barrel.
I'm recently bought 500 55 gr balistic tip bullets.(ChuckHunter I believe a 55 Grain Bullet would work very Well).
What powders would you recommend for a 55 grain bullet used in bolt action with 9 twist- 24 in barrel.
I have some H4895 and will be getting some H335 unless I get some other Recommendations.
I will probably start 1-1.5 grains below Load Manual Max Listed and will be working up loads in .2 gr increments
hoping to get Sub .5 in groups .

Winchester brass, Federal Match Primers & Winchester Small Rifle Primers also.

What has worked well for you's?


Thanks,

chuckhunter wrote:it is a 9 twist and a bolt gun.

I like 748 and Speer TNTs in 223s.

Reloader 15, Varget, H4895, N135, WIN 748, IMR 8208XBR, CFE 223...bunch of good ones out there.

I do ALOT of rat shooting, and have five 223's. The powder I use for all five is H335....meters like water through a measure, and produces excellent accuracy with 40gr to 55gr bullets with good velocity.

My "standard" rat load using the 40gr BT with 27.0grs of H335 runs 3,680 fps and shoots in the .3's. Every one of my rifles seems to thrive on that load, so no need for further development in multiple rifles when this one launches rats at 500 on a repeatable basis.

Thank you for all of the replies. I think that I will be starting off with h335 and some 40gr bt's.

I don't believe there is a heck of a lot of difference between H335, Winchester 748 or BC-2 powder.

Rick,

I have read when using H335 that a Magnum Small Rifle Primer is Recommended.
When you load 223 Rem with the H335 do you use Small Rifle Magnum Primers?
Federal 205's?

Thanks
Foxguy

Rick in Oregon wrote:I do ALOT of rat shooting, and have five 223's. The powder I use for all five is H335....meters like water through a measure, and produces excellent accuracy with 40gr to 55gr bullets with good velocity.

My "standard" rat load using the 40gr BT with 27.0grs of H335 runs 3,680 fps and shoots in the .3's. Every one of my rifles seems to thrive on that load, so no need for further development in multiple rifles when this one launches rats at 500 on a repeatable basis.

Foxguy.....all I use in the 223 and the 204 are Rem 7-1/2's. Although I use H335 most of the time in my 223's, this shows it pays to experiment with other powders, even when you think you've found your "pet load". My Cooper 223 ("Rosa") will shoot equally well with both powders.



I use the Fed 205M in my 223AI, the primer I used during load development in that rifle, just never changed or tried anything later, as it shot so well "it wasn't broke". Never had an issue with using it, and that rifle really got shot alot for a few hot summers in the PD patch in MT, SD, and WY, in addtion to rat season here every year. So even though it may be recommended to use a magnum primer with H335, my chrono readings indicate that the SD and velocity spread using the 205M's were nice 'n low, and the accuracy was always quite good. Besides, it meters so well through my BR-30, I can charge 100 cases in five minutes or less, and have less than .01gr variation......great when you're loading 1,000 rounds for the season.

The 7.5 and the CCI 450 are true small rifle magnum primers with the thicker cup, but the 205M although a match primer, is considered a "standard" primer. Here's a link to primer cup thickness and intensity you may find useful:

http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=56422.0

James Calhoon also has a good piece on this:

http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php

Good luck, be safe.

FWIW, the only primer I use in my 223, with H335 powder is the WSR primers. In fact they are the only primer I use in my 204R. Never had an issue with either rifle. I do however take precautions when my shooting is done in the rat fields, and the temps are very hot! My loads are well below max charge.

RIO,

Thank you very much. I read over the Info in the links you provided,
The Info was very informative, Great for reloaders!

Thanks again!