How much can different gunpowders affect precision?

[adrenaline681]

Let's say my 223 rifle shoots 1 moa with a 55gr bullet and H335 powder. and all my shots have a muzzle velocity of 3000 fps with a standard deviation of 30 fps

If I decide to switch to another powder with similar burn rate like IMR 4985 and I load it to achieve the same muzzle velocity 3000 fps with a similar standard deviation between shots of 30 fps.

Should I be expecting for most cases 1 moa accuracy still? If not, how much can it vary?

What do you guys think?

 

[legi0n]

I have a 223 that won't shoot 55gr Nosler Varmegeddon bullets accurately with any powder but H4198
Never tried 55gr bullets in 308. How long are they? What twist rate do you need for them?

 

[adrenaline681]

I have a 223 that won't shoot 55gr Nosler Varmegeddon bullets accurately with any powder but H4198
Never tried 55gr bullets in 308. How long are they? What twist rate do you need for them?

Whoops i was first thinking 308 but after I wrote example with 223 bullets. Ill fix it now.

 

[polaris]

Actually there was a commercial load from Remington in 30-30, 308 and 30/06 with 55 grs bullets in a sabot.

They were called accelerator, not very successful, and they were inaccurate to say the least.
I fired one box 25 years ago and kept one round to remind me to never buy this crap again.

 

[Ganderite]

With each powder you work up a load. Your rifle will do better with some powders than others, but the 55 FMJ is not a match bullet and 1 MOA is about as good as it gets.

 

[rral22]

If you change a component of a load, you cannot "expect" anything. You can only test and observe. Every rifle is a world unto itself, and the consequences of any specific component change for any specific rifle will be unpredictable.

 

[Boomer686]

Actually there was a commercial load from Remington in 30-30, 308 and 30/06 with 55 grs bullets in a sabot.

They were called accelerator, not very successful, and they were inaccurate to say the least.
I fired one box 25 years ago and kept one round to remind me to never buy this crap again.

I concur: Got some.. still an unopened box on my shelf. Pure garbage : highly inaccurate in every gun I tried them.

 

[rosconow]

If you change a component of a load, you cannot "expect" anything. You can only test and observe. Every rifle is a world unto itself, and the consequences of any specific component change for any specific rifle will be unpredictable.

Bingo!

 

[Chas59]

If you change a component of a load, you cannot "expect" anything. You can only test and observe. Every rifle is a world unto itself, and the consequences of any specific component change for any specific rifle will be unpredictable.

Agree, in my experience all appropriate powders seem to give slightly different results. Even reloading books will often give the most accurate powders listed among the many posted. They will also give accuracy loads vs hunting loads. Another thing to consider is distance, a given powder may give better performance at 100, 200, 300 yards, etc.

 

[sam menard]

When I started reloading, I tried Win760 powder and couldn’t ever get a consistent group and made sighting in very frustrating. I switched to RL22 and now my gun is a rack- driver.