223 Powder for Short OAL loads

IvoB said:
I load my 40-55 grain projectiles between 2.240 and 2.255 and I get very good accuracy - I never liked the idea of exceeding published COAL lengths no matter what others say - since accuracy isn't 100 percent dependent on COAL length but rifle, shooter skills, weather and shooting conditions
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COAL is determined by chamber throat and mag size. With a AR type mag, max OAL is around 2.260. I load 2.25 to make sure no round gets stuck in the mag. Ignore the book OAL. What matters is what fits YOUR rifle.
 
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My pet load for 69 grain SMKs was always 748 ball, but that was with a semi auto. I noticed stick powders I tried at the time tended to jam the rifle, but 748 was 100 percent reliable.
 
I picked up 2 cans of H322 today. I figured it wouldn't hurt to have extra. I loaded up a few already. I like this powder so far because it meters better than varget. At max charge I have plenty of room for my 69 grain bullets.
 
Thus far, H322 is a much better and more consistent performer than Varget. My best groups with H322 measure .8" and .5" for 3 rounds. Both were shot with 22.4 grains of H322 at 2860 fps. 22.3 and 22.5 grains gave .73" and .99" groups.
I scavenged some BLC2 to try from some other ammo I had. It was no good. At all.
 
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I went out today to test my new H322 loads again. I only fired 2, 3 round groups today. The first was .430" and the second was .540". If I combine all six it looks like it would be about .750". This is better than I hoped. Thanks for the powder recommendations.
 
thatmikeguy said:
A buddy of mine really likes H335. I couldn't find any locally.
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A couple of guys I spoke to at the range said they really liked H335 for light to mid weight bullets.

I've tried out one load using IMR 3031 with a 40 gr Nosler bullet, Nosler case, and Federal match primers. I loaded up ten rounds and shot a sub 1" (0.96" to be exact) group @ 100 yards. It was a book mid range load. IMR 3031 is not popular powder for the .223 Remington. I'm guessing other powders are just a little more appropriate.
 
3031 is quite suitable, gives some of the highest speeds with 55gr + bullets. It is a long cut powder, which doesn't help in the small 223 case
 
todbartell said:
3031 is quite suitable, gives some of the highest speeds with 55gr + bullets. It is a long cut powder, which doesn't help in the small 223 case
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I thought it would be since IMR 3031 sits between H322 and H335 on the relative burn rate chart. You made a good point regarding 3031 being a long cut powder.
 
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