Looking for a new .223 powder

[Dazbog]

Anyone have a recommendation for a powder that meters well in a Lee auto drum on a classic turret press. I’ll be loading 55g and 62g .223 bullets for an AR and Remington 700. I’ll try to dial in a charge for each rifle but I’m really just plinking. I’ve been using Varget, it’s the only powder I’ve tried and I’m running out. H4895 seems popular but I expect any extruded powder to meter the same as the Varget...or is that a false assumption? My delta metering Varget has been +0.1 grains to -0.3 grains of my desired charge.

Any reco on what I should try next?

 

[todbartell]

H335 if you're throwing charge weights

 

[JohnnyPython]

CFE 223. I haven’t reloaded 223 in a couple years but I remember that CFE 223 meters really well.

IMR 3031 and Varget were similar in the way they metered.

 

[Sarge_DL]

I’m getting good results with my Lee auto drum using RE-15 and the newer version, but almost identical, AR-Comp.

 

[B]

TAC and 335 are the standards IMO.

 

[laker415]

I use h335 in my Dillon as it meters really well. No complaints on performance either. This is blasting ammo mind you

 

[Curtis264]

CFE-223, I have had no problems reloading with it

 

[OneBarfly]

W748 works well, but is said to be temperature sensitive

 

[todbartell]

W748 works well, but is said to be temperature sensitive

I've tested Win748 in 223 with 55gr (16" brl)

-15c ~ 2815 fps
+13c ~ 2884 fps
+29c ~ 2951 fps

 

[Dazbog]

Thanks folks, I’ll order some H335 and give it a try.

 

[Henry Nierychlo]

I use this load in my Stevens bolt action. It won't cycle your AR.

13.5 grains of Blue Dot behind a Hornady 55gr SPSX. Deadly on gophers at 135 yards.

Regards, Henry

 

[Spawn-Inc]

25.5gr's of CFE-223 with a 55gr bulk bullet is my go to plinking load in my ar.

 

[bearhunter]

If you're going to throw loads, ball powder is the way to go.

The nice thing about 5.56Nato and 223rem is that they are pretty forgiving. They like medium burn rate powders such as those mentioned so far.

You don't mention how much ammo you load. If you're loading large batches, my advice is to stick to ball type powders such as H335 and W748, simply because they meter well and are also forgiving and consistently reliable accuracy wise.

 

[LouF]

 

[FLHTCUI]

BLC.......
Rob

 

[JayCarver]

H335, TAC, CFE all work meter well.

 

[Plumsask]

H335 worked well for less than 55 gr. I found benchmark to be
Great for 53 gr plus

 

[Ganderite]

You want a ball powder if you are throwing charges. H335, BLC2, 748 for example.

 

[J10archer]

Benchmark, h322 or 4895, temporarily insensitivity is big for me. All very accurate and reliable.

 

[BigRobb]

tac and 335 are the standards imo.

x2.