Page 1 of 6 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 53

Thread: Best 556 Powder?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    AZ
    Posts
    1,332
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)

    Best 556 Powder?

    I recently worked down my stash of H335 to the last 4 pounds. Now I am looking around to refill my powder supply and have found H335, Tac, and CFE223 locally. Should I buy any of these powders over the others? Is there any other powder I should consider? My favorite aspect of H335 is how it measures on my progressive and that I can use it from 55gr all the way up to 77's.

    What powder do you guys use for bulk loading 556 in the 62 - 77 range?
    Tactical Nylon Micro Brewery

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Goldsboro, NC
    Posts
    304
    Feedback Score
    2 (100%)
    TAC It's a bit slower than H335. Better for bullets 62 grains and up than H335. But can be used for 55 grainers as well. Accurate has load data for both 223 and 5.56 pressures with TAC. Meters as well as H335 since both are ball powders.
    Last edited by BobinNC; 08-23-22 at 00:58.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    N.E. OH
    Posts
    7,595
    Feedback Score
    0
    I use H322 and like it so far

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Bora Bora
    Posts
    6,047
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by turnburglar View Post
    I recently worked down my stash of H335 to the last 4 pounds. Now I am looking around to refill my powder supply and have found H335, Tac, and CFE223 locally. Should I buy any of these powders over the others? Is there any other powder I should consider? My favorite aspect of H335 is how it measures on my progressive and that I can use it from 55gr all the way up to 77's.

    What powder do you guys use for bulk loading 556 in the 62 - 77 range?
    There is no best, buy the powder you can find that will produce the loads you need. I use CFE223 for 77gr loads and it shoots just fine. I'd snap that up in a hot second.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    AZ
    Posts
    32,833
    Feedback Score
    14 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by MegademiC View Post
    I use H322 and like it so far
    That's obviously my pic. XBR a second maybe. H335 is my least favorite. It's ball powder and very flashy. I only use it for night shooting comedy/thrills. TAC is my only other ball powder and only used for really heavy stuff over 77 gr that requires a slower powder.

    With H322 or XBR I could theoretically load anything from 50-77 grains with good results, and both meter good in my Dillon.
    "What would a $2,000 Geissele Super Duty do that a $500 PSA door buster on Black Friday couldn't do?" - Stopsign32v

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Inland Northwest
    Posts
    1,356
    Feedback Score
    30 (100%)
    Out of those three, TAC. I use it with everything from 55-77 grain loads and it performs well across the board. Practically speaking, it meters very well in progressives and is available at the moment while being relatively cheap.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    N.E. OH
    Posts
    7,595
    Feedback Score
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by markm View Post
    That's obviously my pic. XBR a second maybe. H335 is my least favorite. It's ball powder and very flashy. I only use it for night shooting comedy/thrills. TAC is my only other ball powder and only used for really heavy stuff over 77 gr that requires a slower powder.

    With H322 or XBR I could theoretically load anything from 50-77 grains with good results, and both meter good in my Dillon.
    Yeah, I just reviewed your posting history and rebuilt your entire setup, process, and loads (minor tweaks for lot difference)... im not even joking.

    Thanks for all the info!

    TAC has also worked well for me with 77gr, but its the only 2 powders Ive used and see no reason to change. Im getting 2625 with 77 and 2725 with 69s out of a 14.5".

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    AZ
    Posts
    32,833
    Feedback Score
    14 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by gunnerblue View Post
    Out of those three, TAC. I use it with everything from 55-77 grain loads and it performs well across the board. Practically speaking, it meters very well in progressives and is available at the moment while being relatively cheap.
    TAC was my go to for a 55 gr FMJ load for a long time. But years back a guy doing a study for barrel finishes posted a finding about mixing Slow powder with light bullets and the resulting advanced port erosion. I've just gone away from ball powder almost completely for now... regardless of burn rate.

    Quote Originally Posted by MegademiC View Post
    Yeah, I just reviewed your posting history and rebuilt your entire setup, process, and loads (minor tweaks for lot difference)... im not even joking.
    My Forster competition seating die took a crap on me. I'm back to the stock Dillon seating die for a minute. I guess probably near a hundred thousand rounds on a die with moving parts is a little much.
    "What would a $2,000 Geissele Super Duty do that a $500 PSA door buster on Black Friday couldn't do?" - Stopsign32v

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    AZ
    Posts
    1,332
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)
    Thanks for weighing in gentlemen.

    @Markm: I didn't know H335 was so flashy. All my guns have proper flash hiders so the limited desert shooting I do at night I didn't notice much. If I switch to a different powder and get a lower flash signature that is a benefit.

    @BobinNC thanks for pointing out that a slower powder would be better, because I dont reload 55gr ever. Seems I will get a couple of bonuses from changing powders.


    Im gonna add H322 and XBR to my shopping list of Tac and CFE223. I did a little research and it said that H322 measures very well. I own a lyman charge master I just dont want to load 556 that way. Right now I only have another 500 62's to load up and then 1.5k of 77gr SMK's and then I will have loaded all my 224 pills. Since I recently discovered RMR in the future I might not buy 62's and 77's, and instead just buy RMR 69's or 75's because they are cheap enough. I like to buy 5k worth of bullets and powder at a time.
    Tactical Nylon Micro Brewery

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Inland Northwest
    Posts
    1,356
    Feedback Score
    30 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by turnburglar View Post
    Thanks for weighing in gentlemen.

    @Markm: I didn't know H335 was so flashy. All my guns have proper flash hiders so the limited desert shooting I do at night I didn't notice much. If I switch to a different powder and get a lower flash signature that is a benefit.

    @BobinNC thanks for pointing out that a slower powder would be better, because I dont reload 55gr ever. Seems I will get a couple of bonuses from changing powders.


    Im gonna add H322 and XBR to my shopping list of Tac and CFE223. I did a little research and it said that H322 measures very well. I own a lyman charge master I just dont want to load 556 that way. Right now I only have another 500 62's to load up and then 1.5k of 77gr SMK's and then I will have loaded all my 224 pills. Since I recently discovered RMR in the future I might not buy 62's and 77's, and instead just buy RMR 69's or 75's because they are cheap enough. I like to buy 5k worth of bullets and powder at a time.
    8208 XBR is an exceptional powder for heavier bullet weights and my go-to for 77 and 80 grain bullets. If you can find any, stock up.

Page 1 of 6 123 ... LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •