.223 powder

David Page

Active member

Equipment
1974 L260, 6" bush hog, subsoiler, spring tooth harrow, boom pole, 2 bottom plow
Jun 25, 2013
384
68
28
Dexter, ME
I've been looking at powders for .223, CFE 223 and Varget seem like ones to try. Any one have any favorites?
 

skeets

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,565
3,325
113
SW Pa
I like the IMR powders, they seem to have lower chamber pressures and still run about 3000fps on the starting loads. Hodgens lists 24gr IMR 4064 with a 53gr pill around 2964 CP around 41600 psi this is of course out of a 24 inch bbl. A 16 incher will be less.
C.O.L should be 2.200 and trim length 1.750, using small rifle primers I use CCI
 

bucktail

Well-known member

Equipment
L1500DT, 6' king kutter back blade, boom, dirt scoop ford disk JD212
Jun 13, 2016
1,251
189
63
MN
I've been getting good groups with Ramshot Tac. Ramshot powders meter really nice. I've done well with AA2230 as well. I've put 6 into 1 ragged hole with 2015 and a 60 grain Hornady spire point, but it doesn't meter well and I had to trickle every charge. I have some hornet bullets I'm going to run through mine. I'll probably use AA #9 or one of the 4198's on that.
 

RCW

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
9,159
5,267
113
Chenango County, NY
It’s been a long time since I reloaded, but like skeets, my 22-250 loves IMR 4064 (36 gr) and CCI primers behind 55 gr Sierra spitzers. Buddy’s 6mm loved 4064 with 75 gr Sierra HP.

At the time, several .223 guys were using/ loading 4064 also.

I was getting 1/2” groups at 100 yards and was friggin’ tickled. Had a couple 1-hole 25-yard target/sighting-in groups. I was close to 4,000 FPS at the muzzle.

My gun is a Remington Model 700 Varmint Special, circa 1970 or so. Not too long after 22-250 made it from being strictly Wildcat. Buddy had Model 700 BDL.

One year I got 111 woodchucks...pulled trigger 125 times...[emoji41]

Wow... I get these details....sometimes I don’t know how long I’ve been married or how old I am...geez....[emoji15]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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NoJacketRequired

Active member

Equipment
B7510 & LA302 FEL & B2782 blower, B7510 & B2781 blower, B2410 & B2550 blower
May 25, 2016
432
68
28
Ottawa, Ontario
H380 is my all-around powder for .223, .22-250 and a few others.

Interestingly, I have the first Sako Varmint imported to Canada... I say "interestingly" because Sako was still learning how to make a varmint rifle when they shipped this one. By contrast, my Sako Vixen in .223 weighs nothing, carries like a dream and groups fantastically with cheap factory ammo. Go figure!