My top 3 loads for paper. Winchester primer and brass. 53 grain Sierra match king. 1st powder choice - 22 gr of H4198, 2nd choice 27 grains Varget, and 3rd choice 27 grains Winchester 748. If you are shooting varmints, substitute Nosler 55 grain ballistic tips bullets or 50-55 grain bullet of choice. Jim

Try 25-27 grains of Reloader 7 with any match 52 grain bullet and Federal 205 primers.

This is the first load we try in any new 223 rifle we get.

H-BALC-2 powder is my powder of choice. Works extremely well with all weights/brands of bullets. My hunting load is 27.0 grains, W-W cases, 55gr Win SP. In my 20" barrel velocity is 3,075 +/- and 3-shot groups in the 0.75" range.

Ol' John

gal....I've been having great luck lately with a newly acquired .223. It likes 27.5 of 748 in a W-W case lit by a Federal 205m. I top it off with a Sierra 50 gr. blitzking. It is absolutely brutal what that bullet does to a p-dog. Jim