What kind of powders do you like for your AR15/Semi autos and why?

**yellowfin** · 10-22-17, 20:13

For my 55's and 62gr Varmageddon (I'm surrounded by farm country so there's groundhogs here--of course I've gotta start making friends to be able to zap them, but details details.) it's H335 all day long. 75's and 77's do well for me with 8208 XBR which I also like for .308. Definitely want to try AR Comp at some point as well.

**AndyLate** · 10-22-17, 22:59

Today I was shooting the 62 gr Hornady bthp with a moderate Tac load, and a warmer H335 load. I shot at 50 yards today, the 100 was a little crowded. Both loads shot nicely in my scoped 20" AR, the suprise was when I shot my 16" BCM lightweight middie with an AP PRO and printed .5 to .75" 5 shot groups with a simple front rest. I definitely found two powders I like!

I also tried 24.5 grains of TAC and a 55 gr Hornady FMJ. I was expecting a milder load, it's no weak sister and I understand why that load gets recommended a lot here.

Andy

**5.56 Bonded SP** · 10-23-17, 00:07

Originally Posted by AndyLate

Today I was shooting the 62 gr Hornady bthp with a moderate Tac load, and a warmer H335 load. I shot at 50 yards today, the 100 was a little crowded. Both loads shot nicely in my scoped 20" AR, the suprise was when I shot my 16" BCM lightweight middie with an AP PRO and printed .5 to .75" 5 shot groups with a simple front rest. I definitely found two powders I like!

I also tried 24.5 grains of TAC and a 55 gr Hornady FMJ. I was expecting a milder load, it's no weak sister and I understand why that load gets recommended a lot here.

Andy

I've been loading 26gr of tac behind 62gr soft points fwiw.

Eta: might not be safe in a 223 chamber, but it shows no pressure signs in a few of my 5.56 chambers.

**markm** · 10-23-17, 12:27

Originally Posted by AndyLate

I also tried 24.5 grains of TAC and a 55 gr Hornady FMJ. I was expecting a milder load, it's no weak sister and I understand why that load gets recommended a lot here.

It's a mild load. But it runs really good due to the slow powder/light bullet combo. You don't get a great percentage of powder burn, but it's still a nice plinking/practice load.

**mgrs** · 10-27-17, 22:59

Originally Posted by markm

It's a mild load. But it runs really good due to the slow powder/light bullet combo. You don't get a great percentage of powder burn, but it's still a nice plinking/practice load.

Switched from 24.5gr H335 and Hornady 55gr FMJ to 24.3 gr tac and the Hornaday 55gr SP for my hosing load. Very mild as mentioned but seems to run fine in most everything.

**markm** · 10-28-17, 10:09

Originally Posted by mgrs

Switched from 24.5gr H335 and Hornady 55gr FMJ to 24.3 gr tac and the Hornaday 55gr SP for my hosing load. Very mild as mentioned but seems to run fine in most everything.

The only problem I had with it was POI shift when I shot 5.56 pressure ammo. The TAC load shot 1-2" low. So either my practice ammo, or defense ammo wasn't zeroed.

**5.56 Bonded SP** · 10-29-17, 23:32

Originally Posted by markm

The only problem I had with it was POI shift when I shot 5.56 pressure ammo. The TAC load shot 1-2" low. So either my practice ammo, or defense ammo wasn't zeroed.

You can load that 55gr tac load way hotter..
27.3gr is the max load for a 5.56 chamber for 55gr fmj per ramshot manual.
223 chamber is about 25.7gr

That might fix your poi problem.. But from my experience some bullet styles just shoot different poi regardless of charge weight.

223
Screenshot_20171029-222852.jpg

5.56
Screenshot_20171029-222925.jpg Screenshot_20171029-222925.jpg

**markm** · 10-30-17, 10:18

Originally Posted by 5.56 Bonded SP

You can load that 55gr tac load way hotter..

I know. But the point of that load was to get a mild practice round that stretched 8 lbs of powder a long way. I don't shoot TAC or 55 gr FMJs any longer.