Recommend me a powder for my AR15

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Great Crouton

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After a number of attempts to find the correct charge for my AR15, I have concluded that I should maybe try another powder.

On a whim, I ordered 5 pounds of H335 as it was available and heard it metered well. Well that it sure does. However, my rifle doesn't hate it per say but it doesn't clap it's magazines together in excitement for it either.

I've also tried IMR 8208 XBR, also not bad. I've found 24 grains seems to get the best grouping for both powders but what drives me nuts is when I grab a box of cheap AE black box, rifle turns into a laser. Hollowed out the bullseye a number of times. Pulled one apart and it sure looks like H335 but can't assume that.

So what else is there? I know a lot of you seem to like Varget but I've never seen the stuff available and I hear it's a longer stick powder so imagine I'll have consistency issues with it going through my meter.

Suggestions?
 
It depends on bullet weight and barrel length.
Trying to push 77s with H335 is less than optimal, as is 55s with Varget.

I load to match 5.56mm velocity and for me H335 works well with 55 and 62gr projectiles.

Loading without a crono leaves you guessing what is really going on.
 
I get great results using both H335 and W748...Have you tried loading it up a little stiffer...I use 25.5 grains with a 52gr HPBT and get half inch groups...Same rifle only gets 1.5 inch groups with AE 55 grainers.

Also have a heavy barreled AR that likes both W748 and H335 shooting into .5 inch but also likes AE and shoots it into .5 inch with the odd flyer just outside the group...Both rifles have .223 chambers.

I find 5.56 chambers can shoot well but not with the consistancy you can get with the .223 chamber.

I would never use a stick powder to make .223 ammo as I could never bring myself to dribble powder for that many rounds.
 
I guess bullet weight and barrel would have helped too.

14.5" Barrel with 1:7 twist

I've been using some bulk 55gr bullets from Canada Ammo. Is it possible to have better results with H335 using a heavier bullet?

As I'm still new to reloading, is it normal for a rifle to "not like" a particular powder?

I've tried H335 from 23 gr to 25.5 and nothing was really blowing my hair back.

Only stick powder I think I'll stick to for now is the IMR 8208 XBR, it grouped a bit better than the H335 and it's cut pretty short so it seems to meter pretty well from what I've seen so far.

Guess I'll just stick to picking up whatever ball powders I can find as I really do like how it meters.
 
Can't say as I have found a rifle being powder fussy as far as accuracy but for sure some powders will get you better performance as far as velocity and pressure and still be accurate.
With that 1/7 twist you most likely have a 5.56 chamber as well...I would think your combo is going to like longer heavier bullets...With your rifle shooting AE ammo so well you are going to find it's pretty hard to reload ammo as cheap as you can buy Federal American Eagle for. Unless you want some different favorite bullet, hard to go wrong with that AE ammo that shoots so well in your rig...IMHO
 
Also, if you are going to go to the trouble of reloading for your .223 you might just as well use a quality bullet..Good reloading technique and good powder still won't make a cheap bad bulk bullet shoot well...I use Nosler ballistic tips and Sierra match kings...They are expensive but the resulting accuracy will make it all worth while.

Going back to your original lack of accuracy with H335. I'll bet dollars to donuts you use a quality bullet with that same load of H335 and that rig of yours will shoot very well.
 
Lastgun said:
Also, if you are going to go to the trouble of reloading for your .223 you might just as well use a quality bullet..Good reloading technique and good powder still won't make a cheap bad bulk bullet shoot well...I use Nosler ballistic tips and Sierra match kings...They are expensive but the resulting accuracy will make it all worth while.

Going back to your original lack of accuracy with H335. I'll bet dollars to donuts you use a quality bullet with that same load of H335 and that rig of yours will shoot very well.
Click to expand...

I hear what you are saying and totally agree. The only thing that give me pause is when I took apart that AE cartridge, nothing about the bullets they used struck me as premium. That being said, I do have a box of 55gr vmax Nosler bullets, I should try those with the H335. Maybe I'll also try a heavier bullet too. I have quite a bit of the H335 so I'm going to have to find something it likes to push for sure.
 
You can get better-than-bulk-FMJ results with the 55g SP's sold as bulk without going really upmarket in price like the Sierra or Noslers.

Good bullet bases is where accuracy starts, and a HP or SP will have a much better base than any of the lower-end FMJ projectiles.

H335 and W748 are fine choices for 55g projectiles in .223 Rem. Just watch out using ball/spherical powder with a load developed in the cold and shot on warm days if you're loading close to max.
 
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