New to reloading....... - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

zarcher · 04-07-2008, 07:44 AM

I have started to play with reloading my .223.
I have IMR 4320 powder and some IMR 3031. What is another powder that is comparable or better?

I hve been using 55 gr FMJBT, what other bullets would you recommend?
I have a M4 style rifle, 16" barrel Stag Arms 1x9 twist. Its no tack driver, but would like to really see what it is able to do. Max. range is 200 yards, I shoot mostly at 100 yards.

CCI primers, and a RBCS rock chucker II press. with Lee dies.

I also have a .303 and M1 Carbine with dies and need some advise as well.

Thank you in advance.

The Knight Of Light · 04-07-2008, 08:00 AM

I am a big fan of Reloader 15, H4895, and H Varget.

I have used these under 40gr to 80gr bullets with great results. You may find that RE15 works very well in a powder measure.

Edit to add:

Try some 69 and 68gr bullets just to see how they perform. They may or may not work in the rifle you will just have to try them and see but I wouldn't go higher than the 69gr MK.

zarcher · 04-07-2008, 08:20 AM

[quote=The Knight Of Light;1031740]I am a big fan of Reloader 15, H4895, and H Varget.quote]
What is reloader 15?
H4895 is the powder, what is the H varget?

The Knight Of Light · 04-07-2008, 08:31 AM

What is reloader 15?
H4895 is the powder, what is the H varget?[/quote]

Reloader 15
Alliant Powder: Reloder 15

H4895 and Varget
Extreme Rifle Powders

jeepinbanditrider · 04-07-2008, 08:32 AM

Hodgdon Varget. I like this powder a lot it fills the case full it's hard to overcharge it.

Another powder option is H335 made by Hodgdon I ordered two pounds of it a while back and so far so good.

fredj338 · 04-07-2008, 09:36 AM

For 223 loading, doesn't get much better than H335 or W748 or BLC2. Being ball powders they meter very well, accuracy is also very good.

The Knight Of Light · 04-07-2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredj338

For 223 loading, doesn't get much better than H335 or W748 or BLC2. Being ball powders they meter very well, accuracy is also very good.

Fred is right on with ball powders metering well. You get more consistancy with those types of powders than you do with a stick type powder from a volumetric measure.

zac07 · 04-07-2008, 01:43 PM

I like Hodgdon 335 and 332

zarcher · 04-07-2008, 03:31 PM

I will try H335, what about the bullet?

highscore · 04-07-2008, 04:01 PM

Varget is the Gold Standard of powders for the .223 target crowd. We use it for shooting out to 1000 yards and temperature does not seem to affect it. I have had good results using Accurate 2460 with 77 and 80 grain Sierras. The Accurate does not have to be weighed but the Varget is terrible through a powder measure. Supossedly, ball powders like 2460 are sensitive to change of temperature but I haven't had any trouble with it. The 77's are shot at 200 and 300 yards and the 80's are for 600 yards. All my bullets travel down a 7.7, 7.0, ot 6.5 twist barrel. If you ever plan to shoot at 600 yards, many ranges will not let you shoot anything lighter than 62 grain bullets as they start to fly erratically downrange.
HS

04-07-2008, 07:44 AM	#1
zarcher XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 221	New to reloading....... I have started to play with reloading my .223. I have IMR 4320 powder and some IMR 3031. What is another powder that is comparable or better? I hve been using 55 gr FMJBT, what other bullets would you recommend? I have a M4 style rifle, 16" barrel Stag Arms 1x9 twist. Its no tack driver, but would like to really see what it is able to do. Max. range is 200 yards, I shoot mostly at 100 yards. CCI primers, and a RBCS rock chucker II press. with Lee dies. I also have a .303 and M1 Carbine with dies and need some advise as well. Thank you in advance. __________________ "Don't criticize them; they are what we would be under the same circumstances"-- President Lincoln "Respect is earned not given"

04-07-2008, 08:00 AM	#2
The Knight Of Light XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Omaha, Nebraska(sublocated at a Sandy location far, far away) Posts: 8,873 Blog Entries: 13	I am a big fan of Reloader 15, H4895, and H Varget. I have used these under 40gr to 80gr bullets with great results. You may find that RE15 works very well in a powder measure. Edit to add: Try some 69 and 68gr bullets just to see how they perform. They may or may not work in the rifle you will just have to try them and see but I wouldn't go higher than the 69gr MK. __________________ No Matter Where You Go, There You Are. USPSA #L3077 What a great number!!! http://theknightoflight.blogspot.com/ Creator of TOP 'O' THE PAGE!!! Moose Fight

04-07-2008, 08:20 AM	#3
zarcher XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 221	[quote=The Knight Of Light;1031740]I am a big fan of Reloader 15, H4895, and H Varget.quote] What is reloader 15? H4895 is the powder, what is the H varget? __________________ "Don't criticize them; they are what we would be under the same circumstances"-- President Lincoln "Respect is earned not given"

04-07-2008, 08:31 AM	#4
The Knight Of Light XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Omaha, Nebraska(sublocated at a Sandy location far, far away) Posts: 8,873 Blog Entries: 13	What is reloader 15? H4895 is the powder, what is the H varget?[/quote] Reloader 15 Alliant Powder: Reloder 15 H4895 and Varget Extreme Rifle Powders __________________ No Matter Where You Go, There You Are. USPSA #L3077 What a great number!!! http://theknightoflight.blogspot.com/ Creator of TOP 'O' THE PAGE!!! Moose Fight

04-07-2008, 08:32 AM	#5
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,979	Hodgdon Varget. I like this powder a lot it fills the case full it's hard to overcharge it. Another powder option is H335 made by Hodgdon I ordered two pounds of it a while back and so far so good. __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201

04-07-2008, 09:36 AM	#6
fredj338 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,452	For 223 loading, doesn't get much better than H335 or W748 or BLC2. Being ball powders they meter very well, accuracy is also very good. __________________ EVERY GOOD SHOOTER SHOULD BE A HANDLOADER!

04-07-2008, 01:43 PM	#8
zac07 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: West Texas Posts: 1,121	I like Hodgdon 335 and 332

04-07-2008, 03:31 PM	#9
zarcher XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 221	Ok, what about the bullets? I will try H335, what about the bullet? __________________ "Don't criticize them; they are what we would be under the same circumstances"-- President Lincoln "Respect is earned not given"

04-07-2008, 04:01 PM	#10
highscore XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: CT Posts: 261	Varget is the Gold Standard of powders for the .223 target crowd. We use it for shooting out to 1000 yards and temperature does not seem to affect it. I have had good results using Accurate 2460 with 77 and 80 grain Sierras. The Accurate does not have to be weighed but the Varget is terrible through a powder measure. Supossedly, ball powders like 2460 are sensitive to change of temperature but I haven't had any trouble with it. The 77's are shot at 200 and 300 yards and the 80's are for 600 yards. All my bullets travel down a 7.7, 7.0, ot 6.5 twist barrel. If you ever plan to shoot at 600 yards, many ranges will not let you shoot anything lighter than 62 grain bullets as they start to fly erratically downrange. HS __________________ If you want me to try YOUR ammo, let me use Your gun! HS

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