19 April 2001, 15:21
<Old Dick>Hodgdon Benchmark Powder?
I'm new here and don't know the ways of this place, but I was wondering if anyone has used Benchmark in a .222, .223, or a 22-250. It looks good in the manual. Thanks
19 April 2001, 16:57
LE270I can't say that I did any thorough tests, but I tried it in a .223 and the results did not seem especially promising, compared with the excellent results I got with 748. I also tried Benchmark in a 6mm Remington that has been persnickety about what powder it likes. Benchmark did not do as well as IMR4064 -- the best powder I've found so far for that rifle.
19 April 2001, 16:58
ol blueI've been trying it in my .223 bolt gun. I mostly use VV n133, but so far the results of the load testing with Benchmark is encoraging.
15 January 2002, 11:04
<Frank>OL Blue do you think the benchmark is better than N-133
16 January 2002, 06:11
Shane in WII have tried it with my 22-250. Couldn't seem to get great groups with 50 gr Vmax so I'm trying 52 grain Match BTHP with some better results. With the 50 grain's I reached over 3800 fps with a 22" featherweight barrel and safe loads.
On paper it appears to be a great powder.
Have no idea why the first loads only grouped 1 1/2" to 2 1/2". Could be anything.
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Shane Marquardt
16 January 2002, 07:20
<Lefty223>I've been using Benchmark in my 223 single-shot Savage bolt rifle. Max load and Sierra 53gr flat-based Match bullets at 0.005" off the lands (using a Stoney Point gauge).
DO NOT try this load or bullet position without working up the load 1st or without knowledge of where your rifle's throat is.
The darn thing thinks its a benchrest rifle!! 3-shots on the left, 5-shots on the right. About 200 shots down the tube, all targets are saved, and no 5-shot group has been > 0.5" -- yeah baby
!!

16 January 2002, 12:43
Major CaliberLefty, what twist do you have? I have a .223 Savage Tactical, and it has a 1 in 9 twist. It doesn't shoot as good as yours. My Savage varmit in 22-250 shoot's close to yours, maybe a little more load development, and I will be there.