What Powder for .223

[Short Draw]

Am starting to load .223 brass and need some information.

Will be using Hornady 55 grain FMJ bullets with CCI small rifle 400 Standard.
Used Remington brass. These items I already have.

What would you suggest I use for powder?

Erich

[stevelong]

ERICH, one of the old stand-by powders for .223 is IMR-4198, but a LOT of people these days use RELODER-15 for the AR-type guns. ANother couple of powders a lot of folk use for AR type guns is the Hodgdon's H-335, Winchester 748 and Reloder-7....ONLY experience I have with .223 is with single-shot T/C Encore's and XP-100 hunting pistols........and I used H-322 and Benchmark, Win 748 and IMR-4895.....I have large qty of these powders due to my affinity for the .222 cartridge...........so I used 'em........
IF YOU get an ar-type .223 with the twist 1-in-9 or 1-in-8 then you can shoot the longer-heavier-for-caliber 77 grain bullets and even some in the 80-85-90 grain range. If you start loading for the longer-heavier bullets and longer-range shooting I think you will want to use the RELODER-15 (although it is dirty) or VVN140 or even the VV N540........I use some of the VV N540(heavy charge) with my long-range 6mmBR single-shot with 1-8" twist and 105's-107's. GOOD ADVICE I CAN GIVE YOU is cross-check anyone's load they give you against a couple (not just one) load manual - numbers can get extrapolated & extirpulated and we don't want you blowing your Elvis face off.
CLose friend of mine uses REL-15 almost exclusively in his ar's with the heaviers range of bullets 69-grainers & heavier, with his 1-9 twist.

[Short Draw]

Thanks Steve.

I have a Colt AR-15 HBAR SPORTER,1 in 7 heavy 20 inch SS barrel.
I shot for fun right now but will start getting into bench rest shooting. This rifle has open sites and is fun to shoot. Been collecting brass so have over 3000 brass to reload. My range is the one the police use and I collect the brass every day they train. Trying to get the cost down as the price per shot is around $1.00 with factory ammo. Also .223 is getting hard to find up here.

Erich

[DanaC]

Look at a couple different reloading manuals, check loads with your preferred bullet weights. There should be two or three powders that consistently appear to produce top velocities. Those will likely be most efficient for that bullet weight.

You're not looking for ultimate speed, just consistently good performance.

[Heathen]

Vv n135 & aa 2230

[CJ5]

I use Reloder 15 in my match rifle (RRA NM A2). I shoot 69 gr. SMK's for the short lines (200 & 300) and 80 gr. SMK's at 600...
I know you just asked about powder, but there are a couple of items that are essential IMO when loading for AR's....
Invest in a good cartridge micrometer like the Mo's gauge. This will allow you to measure cases fired in your rifle against sized cases so you can properly set your sizing die. This way, you don't needlessly work your brass, yet still know how much to bump the shoulder for easy chambering (critical in an autoloader).
Another good tool is the Sinclair primer pocket uniformer. It cuts all your primer pockets to a uniform depth and helps prevent high primers, which can cause slam fires in rifles with floating firing pins.

[stevelong]

CJ5 - do you use "small base dies"? I've never had ar, but a couple of shooting buddies have had them, and used small base dies, theory being to size the bottom portion of cases a skosh more than the standard dies we bolt-action guys use.

[CJ5]

Steve,
I wondered about that very thing when I first started loading for it. I had always been taught to use small based dies for autoloaders as well. But, the consensus among most HP shooters and materials I've read on the subject is that the more generous chambers in service rifles tend to be the exception to the rule. I do know a couple who use SB dies, but most actually use standard or bushing dies. I myself use a standard sizing die along with a competition seater, both Redding. My rifle has a Wylde chamber, which is known to eat about anything. I'm a paranoid reloader when it comes to autos, so when sizing, I make sure that I set the shoulder back at least .004 based on measurements of cases fired in this rifle. Shoots great, and runs like a champ :).

[stevelong]

CJ5, thanks for the heads-up on that, I have a young guy building an ar, been picking my brains since I've built a few long-range bolt guns.........
I'll pass along your info.........
Redding dies are the best, eh, I have several comp. sets with the bushing sizers, great for neck tension control.
SORRY ERICH not to hijack.......

[CJ5]

Erich,
This is one of the best articles I've ever read on loading for the AR-15. There is alot of great info on the rest of the site as well. Steve, you may want to pass this along to that young shooter...

http://www.northfloridashooting.com/Misc/Reloading%20for%20the%20AR15.htm

[Bowcephalus]

Those prices on the .223 are coming down....Start here

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=faae223bk&lsrc=NZ&src=BE544

[Short Draw]

Thanks for the links.

One problem I have is that I live in Canada and can't import too much in way of firearms.
Problem with Homeland Security mostly. Most ammo here is about .70 to $1.00 per shot.

I can reload for around 30 cents as I have over 3000 brass and get it regularly from my range as the Law Enforcement train there.

Can't hijack a thread that is informative, Steve. Every bit of info in useful in some way.

Thanks again for the input. New learning curve in progress.

Erich

[Brad B]

I didn't read every post completely so someone may have already posted this suggestion, but the best I have found is Varget. I've tried several different types of powder in my .223 Savage Varmint rifle. Varget gives me the best velocity and accuracy combined. It's a very flexible powder also, you can load many different calibers with it and it performs well in them too.