So I've got a load in WC-735 that works great for my purposes with my AR (22.5gr in a federal case with a 62gr fmjbt). It's not crazy accurate, around 1.5-2 MOA but that's fine for what I use it for, more high volume shooting. I've got Varget and Benchmark for my .308s but I'm looking for a ball powder that would metre as well as the WC-735 as I'm not interested in weighing every charge for my AR (which I do for .308). I'd happily stick with the WC-735 but I'm almost out and I contacted Higginson's yesterday and was told that it wis no longer available from the supplier...
Good replacement for WC-735?
- Thread starter rugbydave
- Start date
I like to use the burn rate chart Vihtavuori has.
Can be found at nammo.com
H322, BL-C2, H335, Acurate 2230, Winchester 748 and VV N130 are all in the relative area of approximate burn rate.
If you are determined to go with a ball powder, my choice would be BL-C2.
Can be found at nammo.com
H322, BL-C2, H335, Acurate 2230, Winchester 748 and VV N130 are all in the relative area of approximate burn rate.
If you are determined to go with a ball powder, my choice would be BL-C2.
Thanks all. Anyone have any pros/cons of H-335 vs BLC-2? Hodgdon's site gives an approximate 100fps advantage (with my chosen 62gr projectile) to BLC-2 while keeping the chamber pressure slightly lower (min and max loads). It's also a lil cheaper (through Higginson's) Anybody have experience with both? They're both ball so should metre equally well? Is either one known to be less temperature sensitive than the other?
I've used both quite a bit.
Either one works well for what you want from your ammo. Availability and cost could be factors for you.
The new enduron powders may claim temperature insensitivity, but I know of no ball powders that offer it.
Either one works well for what you want from your ammo. Availability and cost could be factors for you.
The new enduron powders may claim temperature insensitivity, but I know of no ball powders that offer it.
Below is some good loading and reference material, for practice blasting ammo I use 25.0 grains of H335 with a Hornady 55 grain FMJ in my AR15 carbines. This gives me 2830 fps out of a 16 inch barrel and 3020 fps in a 20 inch barrel at approximately 46,000 psi and very easy on my brass. 
Duplicating NATO cartridges (cloning)
http://www.223reloads.com/home/223-5-56-info/223-5-56-reloading/duplicatingnato
223 / 5.56 reloading
http://www.223reloads.com/home/223-5-56-info/223-5-56-reloading
Duplicating NATO cartridges (cloning)
http://www.223reloads.com/home/223-5-56-info/223-5-56-reloading/duplicatingnato
223 / 5.56 reloading
http://www.223reloads.com/home/223-5-56-info/223-5-56-reloading
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The AR15 5.56 has a longer throat than a commercial .223 and why the pressures figure vary, the load you posted above in a AR15 with its longer throat would be 2742 fps at 34478 psi. The max load for a AR15 would be approximately 26.0 grains of H335.
The vast majority of .223 loads listed in reloading data is for the short throated .223 rifles with a 1 in 14 or 1 in 12 twist. My Savage .223 with a 1 in 9 twist has a "LONGER" throat than my AR15 rifles and can be reloaded "warmer" than most manuals.
Bottom line, both the 5.56 and .223 are loaded to the same max SAAMI chamber pressure of 52,000 cup or 55,000 psi. Meaning the load data you gave above is 7,000 psi below "actual" maximum and "VERY" conservative.
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I think the P-51 flew over Ed's head without him noticing...
A military duplication load for a M193 5.56 NATO round is a 55 grain FMJ bullet and 26 grs. of H335 at 3250±40 from a 20 inch barrel.
And if you do a Google search you will also find that 25 grains of H335 is one of the most popular loads for practice/blasting ammo.
And bigedp51 always has Big Beautiful P51s flying over his head.
OK my dyslexic fingers meant 25 grains of H335 and Quickload stopped me from putting 55 grains in the case.
I think the P-51 flew over Ed's head without him noticing...
Sorry my P-51 was in the hanger for its 100 hour inspection and I was flying a cheaper lightweight compact P-47D minus model and forgot to turn on the oxygen when I went over 10,000 feet.
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