good 223 powder for AR's

[cshooter]

Howdy guys, I got a S&W mp15 PC with a 20" heavy target barrel in 223 last summer and have had good luck with killing coyotes with it. But I use 25 gr of Varget in it and the muzzle velocity is around 2800 or so and it drops off pretty fast past 150 yrds. So I bought a pound of Ramshot Exterminator to maybe pick up the speed a few fps and make it shoot a little flatter. Does anybody have any good loads with this powder that will push a 55gr Nosler BT up to at least 3100fps safely in an AR with this lenght of barrel ? I can't find any data for an AR with Experminator and this bullet. Thanks

[OldTurtle]

I'm not ignoring your request for info, but I really don't shoot 55gr bullets with my X-Terminator...All of my loads are set up with 40gr V-Max & 50gr SBKs out of my 1/14 twist barrel...so I'm hesitant to put out specific loads...I use TAC for my 60gr V-Max loads

The only thing I can suggest is to use the same load information for any 55gr bullet in the Ramshot load data, starting at least a full grain below their published Max load and work up in .2gr increments...I usually seat mine at the 2.25" when the bullet is long enough to allow it..

[Rick in Oregon]

You may want to consider W748, as it is the closest powder that matches military ball used in the 5.56 that is formulated for the gas system of the M16/AR15 platform.

Some powders will leave excessive residue in the gas system, causing less than desired performance from the weapon.

[Sagebrush Burns]

H335 pretty much always works for 223s.

[spacewelder]

The best powders I have found over the last 10 years are Reloader 15, Varget, Blc-2. I shoot 25 G of 15 over 68MHP bullets. It by far is the most accurate load I have used and I have not changed it in 10 years. I shoot the other 2 when shooting 55-62 g as well and will not change. You can shoot the loads a little hotter . I have 4 AR 223 uppers and they each are different, but they will shoot these powders pretty much the same. I have not had any problems with them falling off as you say. Good Luck! I do believe the new M&P will allow you to load a little hotter!

[Jim White]

I've had good luck with;

H4895, Varget, RE-15, N135 & N540. I shoot heavier bullets 75-80gr bullets. I've shot my buddies 223 Varmint rifle in 223 and he uses H335, its a hammer.

HTH,

Jim

[bumtownbutch]

In five different 223 AR's, a load of 25.5grs. of XBR8208 behind a 50gr. Sierra BK, seated at 2.558", sparked by a Fed 205 primer, helped all shoot one-hole groups. Velocity out of my DPMS 20" varmint was 3128fps. YMMV.

[Darkker]

+1 to RIO.
26.6gr of 748 behind a 55gr bullet is the long-time accuracy standard.