.223/ 5.56 Reloading thread

[JJB11B]

I am looking for Powder suggestions to run behind 55Gr bullets out of my 1:8 barreled AR-15. I have a couple pounds of Varget but does anyone have any suggestions for another powder. I am trying to make this rifle as accurate as possible for varmint shooting. I just got the rifle dialed in as good as I can until I can come up with a load the rifle likes. Of the 3 different factory loads I shot through it it definitely liked the Federal Premium 55Gr Nosler Ballistic tips the best.
3 loads I shot were:
Hornady Superformance 53Gr Vmax
Federal Premium 55Gr Nosler Ballistic tips
62 Gr Fusion PSP's (don't know much about these) they didn't perform too well

[headshot5]

TAC powder is a go to powder.  Others would be H322, and WIN 748.  Varget is pretty solid performer as well.

 

[JDHasty]

TAC  BL-C(2)

I have found the Sierra 1365 & 1390 to frequently give me the finest accuracy of the 55 gr bullets.  The 1390 is like shooting a boat-tailed parachute, what with the big HP out front.  I shot it in my 22-250 788 for quite a few years though because it was super accurate for  a game bullet.  When I changed barrels the 1365 was more accurate and I haven't used the 1390 so much lately. 

[JJB11B]

TAC powder is a go to powder.  Others would be H322, and WIN 748.  Varget is pretty solid performer as well.

 

I think I saw somewhere that H335 was good as well.

[Karl Blanchard]

I've ran buckets and buckets of imr3031 through my AR's with good results.  That 8 twist is gonna like the heavies a bit more than the little pills.  Try some 68-75gr pills.  In my zombie gun I just mass load 50gr remington HP because I'm not too concerned with very fine accuracy and I want to shoot a lot for cheap. They shoot around 1.5" at 100 yards, but most all my shooting with that gun is closer.

My coyote rig I run 70gr Berger VLD's. Very accurate in that rifle with its 7 twist.

[JJB11B]

I've ran buckets and buckets of imr3031 through my AR's with good results.  That 8 twist is gonna like the heavies a bit more than the little pills.  Try some 68-75gr pills.  In my zombie gun I just mass load 50gr remington HP because I'm not too concerned with very fine accuracy and I want to shoot a lot for cheap. They shoot around 1.5" at 100 yards, but most all my shooting with that gun is closer.

My coyote rig I run 70gr Berger VLD's. Very accurate in that rifle with its 7 twist.

Duly noted, thank you!

[Karl Blanchard]

I've ran buckets and buckets of imr3031 through my AR's with good results.  That 8 twist is gonna like the heavies a bit more than the little pills.  Try some 68-75gr pills.  In my zombie gun I just mass load 50gr remington HP because I'm not too concerned with very fine accuracy and I want to shoot a lot for cheap. They shoot around 1.5" at 100 yards, but most all my shooting with that gun is closer.

My coyote rig I run 70gr Berger VLD's. Very accurate in that rifle with its 7 twist.

Duly noted, thank you!

I don't think 3031 is the best powder for the .223 but it is always on the shelf.  One of the reasons I switched to it during the Obama drought.  Sometimes making what you have work is easier than finding what you want to work.

[DJ_Mack]

22grs of X-terminator with 55gr bullet at you will be amazed. I get 1/2 moa with hornady vmax.


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[Chappy84]

I have a 1:7" barrel and haven't found anything more accurate than 60 grain nosler BT loaded out to 2.258", in front of 24.5 grains benchmark powder, CCI BR primers. This is my load so may not work for you. If you want to test some I can give you a couple? Pretty bad medicine for yotes and no good if your keeping pelts. 95 yards


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[JJB11B]

22grs of X-terminator with 55gr bullet at you will be amazed. I get 1/2 moa with hornady vmax.


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the factory Federal Premium Nosler Ballistic tip 55Gr bullets shot excellently. I have Benchmark and Varget powders. I think I am going to find a powder charge with Varget that the gun likes because then I can run the same bullets and powder through my .22-250 and .223. I know I may lose just a little accuracy but I know my .22-250 shoots the 55Gr Noslers well.

[actionshooter]

For a 1/8 try the Hornady 68s and 69smk's w/ Tac and varget at 24-25gr.....in my expeience those are awesome loads for the 18-20" 1/8 barrels.
Getting .5-.75moa in mine.

[carpsniperg2]

H335 has always been my go to for 223 and variants off that case.

[300rum]

H335 for me too.   

[JLR]

Benchmark, TAC, xbr 8208.  I use TAC for everything from 53gr Vmax to 77gr SMK, but I'm going to play with 8208 a little as it shows some promise with the heavies for sure.

[b23]

I pretty much shoot 53Vmax and lighter bullets in my 223's and 223 Ack Imp.  Benchmark works very well for me.  There are sooooo many different powders that work well in the 223 that finding a good one isn't something that's very difficult.

A powder that's been around forever and works very well with just about all bullet weights is Win 748.