What powder for my .223 AR?

[97th Signalman]

I am preparing to reload for my .223 AR's. I have a 16 inch Bushmaster carbine and a Bushmaster Stainless Varminter with a 24 inch barrel. I load 55gr FMJ/BT bullets. What is you powder recommendation for target shooting with these rifles?

I am considering the following powders:

1. Hogdon H4198
2. Accurate Arms 2230
3. Vihtavouri N133
4. Winchester 748
5. Hogdon BL-C(2)

[Redhat]

Don't forget:

Hodgdon H335

I've also heard good things about Ramshot TAC but I haven't yet tried it.

[Alaska]

Reloader 15 or Varget

[losbronces]

Vihtavuori N140 for 75-77 grain bullets.

Whoops, missed that you are doing 55 grain bullets. Ramshot Tac for those, with bulk Hornady 55 grain bullets. Why wouldn't you shoot the heavier bullets for targets, especially with the 24" barrel?

[bushmasterar15]

Hodgdon H333 I believe will work for .223 and 6.8

[Kurt Reifert]

Hodgdon doesn't make a H333. They do offer an H322 and H335.

I prefer Ramshot TAC for most of my .223 loads. Cheap, clean and very accurate.
It's a ball powder, so it meters well.

[markm]

Hodgdon doesn't make a H333. They do offer an H322 and H335.

I prefer Ramshot TAC for most of my .223 loads. Cheap, clean and very accurate.
It's a ball powder, so it meters well.

Same here. We keep agreeing on this, and it's getting boring. :D

[skyugo]

TAC is sweet. :cool:

[Submariner]

Ramshot TAC bought at $9.99/lb from Midway a year or so ago.

Boring but good.

Got some W748 in trade. It's good too, but pricey (dealer had it marked for $175/8 lbs.) I didn't need all those Hornady .303 bullets a friend gave me.;)

[KACSR15]

Varget gets my vote.

I have used it in my .223's and .308's with good luck. I might have done better if I really messed about more with other powders for the two but I liked knowing that could grab one can of powder that worked for both. :D

[RobertJ]

Sorry for the hijack but where is everyone getting there Ramshot TAC from? This is going to be my first loading of .223, and from what I have been reading here and abroad ramshot is going to be what I use. It will be paired with 55gr FMJ hornady bullets and range brass of different MFgs that i have shot as new. I havent decided on primers. Dont want to cast my vote untill I fire a few rounds but it has my interest. Thanks

Robetr

[markm]

I get mine from powdervalleyinc.com.

I also use the hornady bullets with mixed brass. 24.5 grains has proven to be a great load for me on everything from 20" rifles to 11.5" SBRs.

[losbronces]

I get mine from powdervalleyinc.com.

I also use the hornady bullets with mixed brass. 24.5 grains has proven to be a great load for me on everything from 20" rifles to 11.5" SBRs.

Powder and brass (I like to start with a known quality and keep records from there) from powdervalley, bulk bullets from Wideners Reloading. Primers from whichever has what I want for less.

[Paulinski]

I use H335 for 55gr and Varget for 69gr and 77gr.

[bushmasterar15]

Hodgdon doesn't make a H333. They do offer an H322 and H335.

I prefer Ramshot TAC for most of my .223 loads. Cheap, clean and very accurate.
It's a ball powder, so it meters well.

Thanks for fixing that. It is the H322. I will have to check out some of the TAC powder.

[Mark/MO]

After years of shooting H4895, I am now using Varget in my 223 loads. My son and I use it our 75 gr BTHP highpower loads and I've started messing with it in my 55-60 gr. loads. I seem to buy way too many different powders so I've been working at consolidating where practical and the results are similar.