What Powder Would You Choose?

[8emem]

I load mostly for military-style or surplus rifles and use Varget or H4895 for .223 with the 55gr FMJ bullets. Results are good in my Armalite, excellent in my Savage 11 Trophy Hunter. Both powders also work well in .308 and .30-06 with 150gr FMJ.

 

[Cherokee]

Been using H335 since 1975. Tried others and they work but keep H335 as main powder.

 

[horseshoe]

My friend called Hodgons Powder for some info and Mr. Hodgon answered the phone and my friend ask him what he was doing answering the phones and Mr. Hodgon replied that the younger bucks wouldn't let him mop and sweep so he was confined to answering the phones. My friend asked him what powder he recommended for the 223 and he said that they used H-335 for load testing just about exclusively and it worked great. I know that 748 is also a good powder which has been stated but I use H-335.

 

[wild_weasel]

For years my go to powder for 223/5.56 has been WW748. Looking at my powder magazine I have 2# or VARGET and a little over a 1# of WW748, both good powders for 223/5.56. But these are strange days we live in my friend. While the VARGET can be used in a variety of calibers, WW748 is more specific to 223/5.56. Shopping the NET I found 8# of CFE-223 which is more specific still to 223/5.56. I'm looking forward to developing some loads with the CFE-223 and for the time being sparingly us my WW748 until it arrives. While a great powder I'll hold onto my VARGET as a last resort powder for 223/5.56, since it can be used in 303 British, 45/70, and 7.62x54R to great affect.

 

[Cholo]

WW748 for me in the .223. I have lots of CCI 400 primers, but only 100 450's. Being that I have 3 1/2#'s of 748, I wonder what my experience would be using the standard primers as opposed to the mag. primers that CCI recommends with 748? :?

 

[Twoboxer]

When it becomes available again, try H335. You'd be hard pressed to find a powder that combines low cost, great metering, and excellent accuracy with the 55gr bullet.

 

[mattsbox99]

Cholo, WW748 has quite a bit of deterrent on the granules and is designed to be run with Mag primers. The only ball powders I'm aware of that don't need Mag primers are those marketed by Ramshot/Accurate Arms.

 

[Cholo]

I didn't think the 400's would work well with 748. My Hornady manual lists their 748 loads with Rem. 6 1/2's, which are their standard primers. I think it just might be relevant that the book dates to '78 :lol: I'm optiministic that I'll come across some 450's or WW WSR's sooner than later...dammit! :wink:

 

[The Preacher]

So for those of you who load with Ramshot Xterminator what primer would you recommend. I believe the Ramshot data sheet uses Winchester WSR primers. I'm planning on R-P 7 1/2's (a bit hard to find now as are all primers!) but I'm wondering about Winchester (WSR) small rifle primers or CCI 400's. Is a standard primer suitable? Thanks.

The Preacher

 

[Ruber]

Front page of my Ramshot manual has two statements I really like...
---For best results, use the mildest primer consistent with good ignition
--- Understand what you are doing and why...

I like Ramshot, but of all the powders I've used, none have demonstrated the first statement above as much as Ramshot. Temperature, chamber dimensions, barrel length, action, etc., all play a factor in getting complete combustion, so results may vary.

(There were long and short answers to your question, I figured you already knew the short one 8) )

 

[pbslinger]

I tried a few powders for 223 and came to the conclusion to use 26 grains of W748 under a 50-55 grain bullet.