I am going to be loading for my m700 LV SF, 22" barrel. I've got 50 gr. Speer TnT's, 50 gr. Hornady V-Max's, and 55 gr. Winchester PSP's.

I've got RL15 and Varget on hand.

What are the best powders for the .223?? (never loaded it before) I am thinking h4895 should work well. Not really interested in ball powders, but what about Alliant 10X?

Any good loads you've developed would be much appreciated.

in my cz 527 i use 27.5 grns W748 and a 50 grn nosler solid base. good luck

If you dont want a ball powder try Hodgdon H322. I have had good luck with H335 as well.

I load 24.5 grains of Varget behind everything (53 to 80 grain bullets) in my 223's. Works great!

(I use LC cases, so if you're loading commercial brass, you might want to bump it up just slightly...)

Tod, Try 24.5grs. of Benchmark with the 50VMAXs, or around 24grs. H322, both are some if not the best powders for the 223, and they're much cleaner burners than 748 and H335, put that 50VMAX no more than .010-.020" off the lands, Jay

I've had some great results with H4198 so don't overlook it. I think Varget is a tad slow for 223, I know it shoots good but I believe a slightly faster powder is in order.
David

Hey Tod,

I had very good luck with Varget in the .223-27.0 grs. for the 50 gr. pills, and 26.5 grs.for the 55 gr. bullets.

Have you taken any more wolves?

Good Hunting,

Bob

I have had the best luck, accuracy-wise, with the ball powders, H-335 and W-748. I did not get good results with Varget, but one batch showed promise. IMR-3031 can be good, but hard to flow through my measure.

I use 25.5-26 grains of H322 with the 50 gr Hornady SX or 50 gr. B-tip. That produces around 3400 fps and good accuracy. H322 is now available as an "extreme" powder meaning it has little temperature sensitivity. This powder has won a lot of benchrest awards in the 222, and the 223 is not that much different of a case.

Looks like I will have to try some H335 as well, also would love to try some Hodgdon Benchmark and Alliant 10X...anyone try these last 2??? The load data looks good.

Tod, Yes, I've tried Benchmark after H335, and found it to be much cleaner than H335, and more accurate, it also goes through my Hornady powder measure very very well, basically no deviation, I wouldn't get H335 again, Benchmark all the way, though H322(very close to Benchmark) will be tested this year, and maybe my backup powder, guess I don't care for 'Ball' powders, I believe they're also a bit heat sensitive compared to the 'Extreme' Hodgdon powders, Jay

P.S. Oh, Did I mention I really like BENCHMARK powder?

So do you like Benchmark in the 223 or not?



I will pick some up, I just prefer the temp. insensitive powders as it is damn cold here in the winter and pretty warm in the summers, I don't want to have to adjust my loads all the time if I don't have to.

Thanks, TB

Tell me about it, 15-20below tonight, this means a hot summer, I think I need more 'EXTREME' powder, Jay

25.7grns of Benchmark with a 50 grn Barnes Varminator and CCI BR4 primers,24grns of Benchmark with a 55grn Sierra sp with the same primer, these loads are both sub MOA.I shoot a Ruger No1 and a Oly ar15. the 50 grn was chron. @3365fps and the 55grn is 3100fps

My .223 Remmington loads are:
60 grain bullet...25.0 gr of Win. 748
55 grain bullet...26.5 to 27.5gr. of Win. 748
55 grain bullet...21.5 gr of Win. 748 [Ultra-Lite load.]
I can cover all 100 yards groups with adime.

Thanks for the loads guys.

Tonight I loaded up some 55 gr. Winchester PSP's over Varget & h4895, with W-W cases and WSR primers...

I am going to go shoot tommorow!