Acceptable 5.56/.223 Powders

General Firearms Reloading & Ammunition
1

We are at the point now that you just cannot count on buying your favorite powder. There is nothing quite like finding a couple pounds of rifle powder that you are not familiar with at the LGS. I have tucked a powder bottle under my arm while I checked the powder online, but it would be nice to have a list of acceptable .223/5.56 powders for use in an AR.

These are the ones I know and use:
W 748
H Varget
H 335
H 322
CFE 223
R TAC
R X-Terminator

P.S. It is understood that not every powder is ideal when common bullet weights for the 223 span 50 - 77 grains.

2

8208 XBR is becoming my favorite for heavier loads.

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3

Don’t forget BL-C(2). But also what bullet weights are you loading, that can make a difference.

4

Running Varget in main stream .223 loads is nuts. It would be smarter to trade it for double the amount of another powder. People are crazy enough to take that action too.

5

We don’t really have the luxury of choosing between 20 different powders right now.

Heck, I burned at least a pound of Varget in 45-70 loads before it became unobtainium.

Andy

6

Yeah. I mean specifically in .223. Varget is so desireable for other loads that you could trade it for more of a better option for .223.

Shoot… I saw a listing for 8 lbs of varget for like $500 on the auctions some place.

7

Damn. I would sell some for that kinda money.

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8

I lost hundreds of dollars to that stupid .45-70.

I get your point about trading.

9

Well that is a deal.

Saw one 8lb Varget, $950

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10

Im pretty green to loading for an AR but I’ve had good luck with IMR 3031. 22.4 grains grouped nicely under a 55gr FMJ at 50 yards in my Mk12. I was trying to develop a blaster/training load (not super focused on accuracy, but cheap and consistent) so I could throw it on the Dillon and crank a bunch out. I’ve put that on hold now, I can’t find any more 3031, and I was caught with my pants down rifle primer wise. I normally just load pistol in bulk. I’m going to focus on precision 77gr loads for the Mk12 now.

11

IMR 4198, 4895 and 3031 would work.

12

Like everything else,hard to find but 2230 was always my go to powder,2520 also worked great. I used this for blamo/3-gun/plinking ammo. I was never a precision AR guy !

13

I have been rocking on buying powder. Up to 30lbs of powder the last couple of weeks. Buy it while you can. Got 3lbs of Winchester 748 a couple hours ago at Midsouth.

14

Have heard a few guys say 4198 is ‘ok’ for the lighter bullets so I tried it one time and hated it.

Stuff has got to be the least ‘easy’ AR powder I have ever messed with and was just not worth my efforts.

Fortunately I will have to burn up a hundred lbs of ‘good’ AR powders and everything elsewhere will still have to be sold out before I ever get close to considering fooling with that crap again. If I had a bolt action in .223 I would be using it up and getting it gone but for AR use - Hell no. Not for me…

15

Hope you got more than 3lbs on that order… Haz mat fees really suck when the orders are that small.

16

I am at the don’t care stage. I want product in hand and and will take anything that works, 9mm, 5.56, 6.5 grendel and .308.

17

Varget was our go to powder for 68g and 77g .223 loads when I shot High Power. It is not temperature sensitive and accuracy was good.

18

My issue with it in .223 is that it’s a poor metering powder, and hard to get enough in the case.

19

AA2015, AA2230, IMR3031, AA2460, H335 and Benchmark for 55 and 60 grain bullets. If you are shooting heavier bullets then IMR4895 and IMR4064 up to CFE223 AND AA2520.

20

Beat me to it. Love it for 55 and 62 gr.