What powder gives best (most accuate) results with 52-55 gr. bullets in .223 REM?

Over here I can only get powders from Accurate Arms en Vihtavuouri.

At present I use AA 2230, the can is empty and I was wondering if there is a more suitable powder available.

Nobody will be able to tell you what will work in your particular rifle. On the other hand, with the bullet weights you mention in a .223 Rem, I'd try VV N130 or VV N133. You are going to need a powder in about that burn range. I have shot both powders with 52,53 and 55 grs bullets in .223s, and have had good results.

I can't really comment on the AA powders. I have never tried them, nor am I aware if they are available here in Switzerland.

We don't have many Dutch members, tell us a bit about gun ownership and reloading in Holland, if you can find the time. Do you have restrictions on your reloading, like thy do in some European countries?? In Germany, one has to pass a test (trust the Germans!) to be able to buy components.

- mike

H335 works best for me.

There is a lot of inexpensive 2230-C on the market and a number of us are having some really good results in many calibers .223 included. roger

I agree that Vihtavuori N130 or N133 would work well in the .223 Remington.

My own .223 Rem shoots best with N 130 while my buddies gun prefers N 133. Either will give good results, one just might be better than the other in a particular gun.

I have not used them with the 55 grain bullets but with 40 and 50 grain varmint bullets these powders give very high velocity and accuracy.

I used to use AA 2015 but found terrible lot to lot variations when tested on the chronograph.

H335 was actually made for the 223. try 26.3 gr and the 55 gr bullet

Reindeer,

In our part of Europe it appears that VV is getting the best & widest distribution lately, so for a long term load that is easy to reproduce and the powder most often available I'd go with the advice you already received from my shooting cohort mho, who has a pretty spiffy shooting .223 Remington he loads with VV powder - so he knows what he is talking about. Both the VV N-130 or VV N-133 make up great accurate loads and appear to be what you can locate most often on the dealers shelves.

Like mho I've never seen Accurate Arms powder availabe in my area - let alone had the opportunity to use it.

In .222 and .223 Remington I'm currently using VV N-130 to keep things simple and get great accuracy in a wide range of bullets from 45, 47, 50, 52 & 55 grain.

I have also gotten great results in the past in both the .222 & .223 with:

H-322 (especially with 50 & 52 gr. in .222)
H-4895 (especially .223 Remington with 55 grain, my experience is this powder and the 55 grain bullets works best)
H & IMR-4198 (but a pain to meter (measure) in the old long grain formula)
Norma 200

Gerry, my M700 in .223 is currently undergoing a complete metamorphosis. As an excuse for this otherwise inexcusable project, I blame StuC, who once complained my BDL stock was butt ugly (which it was). Besides, the barrel was shot out after about 15-20000 shots, so that had to go as well. In the end, no stone was left unturned, and in just a few short weeks, we will see what the result is going to be. One thing is for sure, it will be a true "AR rifle", with components and work supplied exclusively by AR members. Stay tuned...

- mike

N-133 is my all time favorite in the 223. I have tried a bunch of them (H322, Benchmark, 3031, Tac, Exterminator, RL15, among others), but always come back to the VV. Too bad the VV stuff is so darned expensive.

I wonder why you guys can't get the Belgian made PB ball (sp?) powders there? I burn a lot of it (sold here under the Ramshot name), and they make good stuff.

Groeten, Dutch

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
H335 works best for me.

Yup and BL(c)-2 is my favorite. I use H-335 when I'm out of BL(c)-2

BL{c}2 all you will ever need
bill

Benchmark gives me tiny holes behind 52gr Bergers.

Another vote for AA2230. Works great in my AR, and pretty good in my bolt gun.

MHO:

There are two ways for legal gunownership in the Netherlands

Hunting:
First you need to pass a rather difficult theoretical and practical (shooting and safe handling) test, like in most European countries When you have your diploma, you still can't apply for a huntinglicense. You have to prove that you are allowed to hunt in a certain area (40 Ha minimum) Either you rent from the landowners, or you get a permission from someone who rents a huntingestate.
When you apply for your first license, your credentials are checked by the police. If you have a criminal record, or commited offences against the firearms law or the animal protection law, a license will most probably be denied.
When you have a license and you commit an offence against the firearms, animal protection or animal health laws, the police must withdraw your license for at least two years.

Shooting:
shotgun/rifle/handgun
You have to be a member of a registred shootingclub for at least a year. You have to prove that you visited the range at least 12 times. After a year you can apply for a license. The chairman of the shootingclub has to issue a paper in which he states that there is no objection against you owning a firearm.
Again the police checkes your credentials and if there are no questionmarks, you will be issieud a license. With this license you can owm one ore more shotguns, rifles handguns and only shoot at registered ranges (in-and outdoor) and you are not allowed to hunt or use the firearms outside a range. In order to keep your license, you have to prove you visited the range at least 12 times the previous year.
Automatic (assault) rifles are forbidden. Semi-auto's are only allowed with a magazine capacity of maximum 2 cartridges.

Both hunters and shooters need to be abolutely sure that no one except themselves can have access to their guns. So they have to store their guns a gunsafe of an approved design and brand.
Guns and ammo have to be stored separately.
The police can come and check your gunsafe without notice beforehand. Last year a hunter lost his license because the keys were in the lock when the police visited him to check.
You are allowed to transport your guns to and from your huntinggrounds/ shootingrange. Guns have to be in the boot of your car in a pouch or guncase. No cartrides are allowed in the magazine or chamber outside the huntinggrounds/shootingrange. Since a gunowner must be sure that no one except himself can have access to his guns, you are not allowed to leave your guns with a huntingfriend of yours, or even in the boot of your car when you are not in or immediately around the car.

Hunters are allowed to own six longguns and no handguns. In some areas you have to prove that you are allowed to hunt roedeer, red deer or wild boar to be able to own a centrefire rifle.
Legal shotguncalibres are 12, 16 and 20.
Legal riflecalibres are .22 rimfire minimum. The minimum centrefire caliber is .22 aswell. There is no maximum, so if you would like to shoot roe with a .50BMG, you could do that.
For smalgameshooting you can only use steelshot, not bigger that 3.2 mm. Leadshot is completely prohibited, on shooting ranges aswell.
FMJ bullets are forbidden for hunting. You can buy and own them for shooting at ranges.

You are allowed to store 2000 cartrides or primers and/or 2 kg of gunpowder in your home.

As far as handloading is concerned, as far as I am aware only the purchase of gunpowder and primers is registered. The possession of any firearm, gunpart or cartride or part of a cartride is forbidden for those that do not have a license. There are no other demands to reloading other than that you are a legal gunowner. You are only allowed to reload for your own use and only cartrides that are of the same caliber as the guns you own.

Thanks for that Reindeer. I can see it is quite involved to be a hunter/gunowner in the Netherlands. On the other hand, many of the rules and regs mirror similar rules in other European countries. It seems every country have their mix of the various rules, though.

Thanks for taking the time to type all that up.
- mike

My Sako A1 in 223 likes Benchmark and W748. The Benchmark gives better velocity but accuracy is about the same.

Made some really small groups today useing 2400 and Blue Dot with my 12bvss-s in .223.It was only the second time out for that rifle and it handled those two powders like a champ. Talk about easy ware and cool barrel!!!! Later the beer was icey cold Roger

Since the most common ones have already been mentioned, I'll just say don't overlook Ramshot X-Terminator. A lot of shooters are having great results with the Ramshot powders and X-Terminator is their .223 powder. Very Clean burning. I have it along with True Blue pistol powder and I can tell you I will be buying more of their products. VV quality at Accurate powder prices! http://www.ramshot.com

I have had very good results with:

55 gr.------ Varget
40 gr.------ Benchmark
This in an AR w/ 24" 1:9 Bull barrel, Min. spec chamber.

I am surprised no has mentioned Varget yet.

IV