Need .223 Powder Recommendations

36gr Barnes Varmint Grenade over IMR4198. Generally shoots five rounds touching at 100 yards from my Remington with 1:12. I haven't tried it at further distance to see what they will do.
 
woofer2609 said:
25 gr of h335

100m from a $250 bone stock Ruger American
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Get some Varget and you can tighten that sloppy group up lol.
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https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...sults!-R700-223-Rem-Development-*5x5-Groups!*

If you're shooting half MOA consistently with a 12 twist SPS-V and CFE-223, I would suggest finding someplace to buy more of it. Then post all your data so I can try it out and hopefully complete one of the precision forum challenges.

Don't bother with Varget for light bullets and see the post above re: Benchmark. I shot my best OCW test ever last week and my first 5rd test group with one of two nodes was a one-holer a bit larger than the one shown above.
 
thenerdboy said:
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...sults!-R700-223-Rem-Development-*5x5-Groups!*

If you're shooting half MOA consistently with a 12 twist SPS-V and CFE-223, I would suggest finding someplace to buy more of it. Then post all your data so I can try it out and hopefully complete one of the precision forum challenges.

Don't bother with Varget for light bullets and see the post above re: Benchmark. I shot my best OCW test ever last week and my first 5rd test group with one of two nodes was a one-holer a bit larger than the one shown above.
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Thank you for pointing me to your thread, very informative. I took the following quote from it:

thenerdboy said:
Ron - I'm definitely pleased with the overall results. Here is the current recipe:

53gn Hornady V-Max
25.4gns Varget
CCI 400 SRP
2.323" OAL (0.005" Jump)

My seating test shows that a 0.030" to 0.040" jump could also be worth experimenting with but the 0.005" was the best overall grouping so I went that way first. Maybe if I get a nice calm mild day I'll try it out.
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What speeds were you getting from this load?

As for using CFE223, V-Max 55 grains, Federal brass, CCI400 primers, 2.260 COAL, I'm getting 2975 fps with a 25.5 grains charge at roughly 1/2 MOA. This is using a Harris bipod and a rear sandbag. I'd like to think some of the vertical is from my developing rear bag technique, but that could be wishful thinking. The groups below are with CFE 223 at 25.0, 25.5 and 26.0, the best groups being with 25.5.

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I already went ahead and got some Varget. .308 is my main caliber to load for, .223 is just a nice and entertaining afterthought. This is why I'm after a powder that will do well with both, doing better in .308 being my priority. If Varget is just horrible in .223, I'll consider alternatives. CFE223 was just fine, except for being slower that I had hoped. Folks have been getting great results with Benchmark in .223 but I wouldn't use it in .308, so Varget it is for now.

As for challenges, I'll be starting with the 10 rounds at 300 meters and take it from there.
 

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Varget is a great choice. It's my favorite for 223. It worked great for 55,60,69,75 grainers. Even the 70 grain Barnes tsx. I was running a T3 with a 1:8 twist so I could shoot those heavy bullets too.
 
I don't have a chrony but worked my come-ups backwards to an estimated velocity that I can find for you. Varget wasn't terrible and shot better than 4320 for me but I found it dirty and generally underwhelming based on all the rave reviews I'd read. Most of the guys that love Varget for .223 are shooting fast twist barrels with 69-90gn projectiles, particlarly the 75gn.

From the sounds of it (even from my thread), Varget is a great choice for versatility. Sub-MOA was no problem but I couldn't get it to shoot the 0.75" challenge. I've loaded/fired 50rds of Benchmark for testing and am very impressed with the results but you probably wouldn't load .308 with it as you've said.

I've done the 300m challenge twice, both with Varget and hit ~0.75MOA. You can check out the targets/data if you like. It's a fun one!
 
Until I can do it five times in a row with five round groups (not an average), I make no claims beyond "consistently sub-MOA."
I've shot some very impressive groups on occasion.
 
H335 and drive them hard. I have the exact same rifle and I load Sierra's accuracy load with their 52 SMK, which is 26.9 gr. This is well over max from other manuals but under Sierra's max and my gun loves it. I'm WELL over 3200 with no pressure signs. Win brass, CCI BR4, 2.260" COL. Hope this helps.
 
mad max78 said:
XBR 8208 and N530 are my go to powders for the 223
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Mad Max, starting to use the 24.5 grs N530 and 55grHornady bulk bullets combo,getting a .9" group at 100 meters, 3,200 max fps on an 18"bbl 1:8 twist. do you mind sharing your N530 loads and specs. thanks
 
So the results are in. Loaded some Varget behind some 55gr V-Max and 50gr Z-Max, best accuracy at 26gr and 26.5gr respectively.

All speeds measured with a Magnetospeed V3.

But first two confirmation groups, 55gr V-Max, 25.5 gr CFE223:
1.051 MOA, 2880 SD 18.6
.761 MOA, 2876 SD 27.1

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Average at best, it was windy today at 18 kmh crosswind, I could argue for a flyer in the 1.051 group, nothing to see here except low speeds and high SD, let's move on. This was my most accurate load with CFE223. I can make it go faster, but the groups get much worse.

Next, 4 groups with Varget, from left to right:
55gr V-Max, 26gr varget:
.693 MOA, 3222 SD 11.4
.787 MOA, 3231 SD 11.0
50 gr Z-Max, 26.5gr Varget:
.696 MOA, 3365 SD 18.6
.597 MOA, 3363 SD 28.5

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Overall, I'm very pleased with the results. In the first group, the first 3 rounds clustered at .261 MOA, I got excited for a second and was brought back to Earth with shots 4 and 5. This is why I don't shoot 3 shot groups anymore. A .261 MOA 3 shot group looks great on a message board but it doesn't mean squat. Good speeds, low SD with 26gr, I might scale back the 50gr Z-Max to 26gr too to see if the SD improves.

This is a burner SPS bull barrel, I really think .6 MOA is where it's at. Next steps include Forster dies, .2gr ladders, seating depth tuning, and 300 yards validation. If I maintain this accuracy at 300 I'll be happy. The second the barrel looks at me cockeyed I'll have the action accurized and get a good replacement barrel.
 

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ZREXER said:
My go to load for years in my .223 was 20.0 grains of IMR 4198 with a 53 gr Sierra Match King bullet. Off hand, can't remember the fps of this load, but it is mild and if I do my part, will do dime sized 5 shot groups out of Remington 700 with 1/12" barrel. Last year, literally had the first 4 of a 5 shot string through one hole, got excited and pulled the 5th shot, but was still easily a quarter inch MOA.

:agree: This also works well in my 700.
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In my particular rifle (527 American 1:12 twist) I've found H4198 to be the most accurate with 40gr bullets, and H322 for the 50-55gr bullets. I've tried CFE223, H335, BL-C(2), and Varget in different combinations of bullet weights and makes and can't get the accuracy I can with H4198 and H322. As to the speeds, I don't know, never ran them over a chronograph, but the few critters I've shot with them didn't seem to suggest a lack of speed!
 
I just reloaded some 62 gr. 223 from Budget using 24 gr of 3031. They seem to work , got me through the Lone Butte 3 gun match. Couldn't check speed some idiot shot my chrony.
 
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