H335 questions

[vaglocker]

I've been reloading pistol for a while, and am now getting ready to start doing rifle. I'm going to start with .223 and am leaning towards using H335. I'm going to be using Hornady 55 gr FMJBT bulk bullets, but I seem to see data that is all over the place for this powder.

For the 55 gr bullet the Hornady manual (7th edition) lists a starting load at 20.8 grains with a max load of 23.2. Hodgdon data lists a min load of 23 and a max of 25.3 grains. The Speer manual is more in line with the Hodgdon data (24 to 26 grains). So what gives with the Hornady data?

I guess I should also mention the Hornady manual lists their recipe with a magnum primer. Is this the reason for the low charge weights?

[Damascus]

H335 is a stout powder. Yes, Magnum primers are recommended with H335 (although I prefer to use CCI Small Rifle Magnum primers for all of my .223 loads, harder cups, more consistent ignition, seems to cause rounds to burn cleaner).
Also, H335 is a good .223 powder, but IMHO, the best all-around .223/5.56 powder is Ramshot TAC. If you're going to be loading heavier bullets than 55gr. later on, (like I only buy 68/69/70gr. bullets), you'd like TAC, Varget, and will love Reloder 15.
Most of my manuals show all loads with a Remington 7 1/2 primer, which is a magnum primer.

[eightmillimeter]

Some of my best loads ever were 62gr bullets with magnum primers under aa2520. I also used CCI magnum primers with extruded powder for match loads with good results, namely H4895. If you are really set with a ball powder for the 55gr try aa2230. I am still kicking myself for not buying 100 pounds of it when you could get it as surplus only a couple years ago. From my experience, few people use H335, those that do use it for a very specific reason. Starting out you may find more benefit from aa2230, BLC2, RL15, or TAC.

[Kurt Reifert]

Ramshot TAC is clean burning, meters perfectly, provides excellent accuracy and consistent velocity and does it for less money than any other powder I've tried.
Magnum primers are not necessary.
24.5 grains with a 55 grain fmj projectile is a proven load.

[vaglocker]

Sounds like Tac may be the way to go. Only problem is that I can't find it locally. I hate to have to pay all the hazmat fees to have it shipped, but I may just have to deal with it.

[SMJayman]

Several people over on glocktalk recommended a load of 25.0gr H335 behind 55gr FMJs. So don't throw out the H335 just yet, try out a pound and see how it behaves. I've been using BLC2 with decent results behind 55gr FMJs, but I wouldn't balk at trying out H335.

[UVvis]

H335 is a great powder for .223 loads.

I've had great luck around 24 to 24.5 grains of H335 with Hornady 55gr softpoints and FMJBTs. Those bullets seem to shoot better a little slower.

Tac's real advantage is that it is cheaper, and gives capability with loading heavier bullets. If you are only planning on loading 55gr bullets, H335 is about an ideal powder for those loads. At least to me, and I'm a bit slow.

[xm15]

for practice I use 55gr FMJBT and 25g H335, 26g works but is more than needed. have not tried magnum primers.I even use it up to 75 gr bullets.but that is with a poly barrel.

[Bigun]

I've had great luck with both Ramshot Tac and Exterminator. Exterminator from 55 grain bullets down to the little 40 grain pills and Tac for my 62 grain plus bullets. 2520 is my alternate powder if I cant find Tac.

[thmpr]

Initially used H335 but after switching to TAC and Varget, remained using both TAC/Varget. Nothing wrong with H335, just had better results in my ARs from the other two.

[MarshallDodge]

I have had very good accuracy with H335.

I load 24.5 under 45-55 gr. Vmax and 55 gr. FMJ for my Rem 700 VS.

For 60 gr. Sierra HPBT I use 24.0, this is the max load listed for the 60gr. V-Max. Great accuracy out of my varminter AR.

I use a standard Winchester small rifle primer.

[uscbigdawg]

With 55's, H335 or W748 are my favorite powders. Frankly, I think they are the same. With Winchester 55's, I get .5's out of my 18" JP/Voigt AR and out of my 16" beater it's still under an inch.

The powder meters great, but can, at times, be temp. sensative. I use Winchester Small Rifle primers, 'cause it's what I have. I use them in my pistol loads (38 Super & 40 S&W) so one primer does the trick.

Rich

[chadbag]

Sounds like Tac may be the way to go. Only problem is that I can't find it locally. I hate to have to pay all the hazmat fees to have it shipped, but I may just have to deal with it.

Buy 4 or 6 kegs and the hazmat fee and shipping will be a wash to the sales tax and higher price you pay locally if you could find it

[uscbigdawg]

Absolutely what e-guns said. A lot of distributors will waive the hazmat for orders greater that 32#. Get your buddies together and put it on one cargo ticket. Our last order of VV was 200# and we had our own flat.

Rich

[jasonb]

These guys will waive the haz mat fee with 16lbs of powder. I did a little business with them and they ship fast and the order was correct.

http://http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HOD3358

[SingleStacker45]

What kind of accuracy are you guy's getting when you say good? For instance I'm shooting 24.8g of H335 under a Montanna Gold 55g FMJBT and getting 2 1/4" 10 shot groups at 100yards prone. Is that OK for a stock S&W?

Mule