I have been loading 55gr fmj with w748 and it seemed to work well. I wanted to try some other powders to see if I could work up a more accurate load. So I tried Varget, and I cant seem to get a consistant weight of varget. I am useing a dillon 550 press. Am I doing something wrong or is varget just a powder that will not meter right? Also I started loading at 25.5 grs of powder and it seems to fill the case almost to the top. How in the world am I going to be able to work up to the max of 27.5grs? Is there other powders that you guys would recomend for 223 that may be a little more accurate? Thanks
Varget doesn’t meter well. Get some H335 or H322…both meter well and make for accurate ammo
wahoo,
If i will be loading heavier loads as well, would you recommend the h335 or the h322? Or will they both work equally well?
Varget in 223 Remington is something that requires a drop tube and is absolutely not for use in a progressive powder measure. For heavier bullets 69 gr and up or so, it’s pretty great (bit of rivalry between it and Reloader 15 from Alliant in that territory). However if you’re trying to load 55 gr bullets, try to stick with ball powders such as:
Ramshot TAC
Hodgdon H335
Hodgdon BL-C(2)
Winchester 748
I prefer H335 particularly 844 in the canister-grade pull down from military loadings. Also, if you wish to also load heavier loads in 5.56, stick with Ramshot TAC imo. PowderValley, Widener’s, etc all have it priced very competitively against H335.
Varget can meter well depending on what powder measure you use.
I use a Lee Perfect Powder Measure and single stage press whenever I load up ammo with Varget. Its a cheap measure but works well with Varget due to its design.
As has already been mentioned, TAC is a good powder for loading both light and heavy bullets.
Snake,
Thanks for the powder suggestions and the info on where to get it at good prices.
Now, on to primers. Is there a certain primer that you guys use, or are they all going to function about the same. So far I have been using Winchester primers, because I could buy them locally and save the haz-mat fee. But from looking at how cheap the powder is online I will be ordering online and will still come out ahead. With that being the case I may as well get my primers at the same time. So I am looking for suggestions on what primers you guys use and why
Get Wolf Small Rifle Magnum Primers from Wideners for around $17 or so per 1k. Excellent primers and the process can’t be beat. Order them in bulk and as part of a group order to being the HAZMAT cost per case down.
My plinking load consist of range pick ups brass, 55gr Hornady FMJ($465/6K), Wolf SRM Primers($17/K, and WC844 powder($90/8lbs). This gives me a solid and accurate load for $135/K
My Match load uses once fired and sorted brass, 75gr Hornady Bryon, Wolf SRM Primers, and Varget.
wahoo,
What is the difference with regular small rifle primers and the magnum ones. Do you still use the same amount of powder or do you have to use different load data if you are using the mag primers?
The Wolf SR Magnum Primers have thicker cups which are recommended for AR pattern rifles due to the floating firing pin. Load data is the same.
Here’s what you need to do.
FORGET H335. The only reason I run that garbage is to get bright flash from my brake for redneck, foolish amusement.
H322 is the kind for Heavies… 69-77gr. Absolutely amazing. Load it close to max.
Benchmark is your powder for the 55s. I’ve tried mild loads and it’s not exciting, but when I got closer to max, it was more accurate.
BOTH of those powders meter great in my 550.
I’ll second Snake P on the TAC and add in RL15. I’ve loaded thousands of rounds with both using the Sierra 77s and CCI primers.
I’ve always used the Dillon powder measure on the 550 with a little polishing and both of those powders meter like water.
Generally if I’m using stick powders I’m also loading for precision. In that case I set my powder measure below the target charge, and then trickle the last few tenths of a grain on an Ohaus beam scale before using a funnel to drop the charge.
There are various powder measures that do stick powders just fine but the Hornady LNL AP measure is not one of them.
If you want accuracy from your heavies… in addition to the right powders…
GET WOLF PRIMERS. We had another buddy cut his SD in half with a switch to WOLF primers.
Sometimes I think you’re a secret robot built by Widener’s.
On sale right now $14.50/1000 $14/1000 in qty 5000 or more
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=7283&dir=278|284|737
(except as a satisfied customer I have no interest in Wideners)
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Ha ha… no. I’m just a huge fan of the WOLF primers. I got another 10k last week.
You were using a great powder W748. ?
Slam fires happen with people that do not load rounds from magazines and drop rounds into the chamber and slam a bolt home. Always point your rifle down range before loading it. Period.
If you are ultra paranoid about a slam fire buy CCI #41 primers. If magnum primers were necessary for 223 to prevent slam fires then all manufactures would be using them. Folks that go over SAMMI pressure with magnum primers used to handle more pressure are taking unnecessary risks.
If you need more power get a bigger cartridge.
Slam fires don’t happen on ARs unless there’s something wrong with the ammo or gun.
You’ve obviously never fired a National Match Course standing or prone slow fire stage – like thousands of shooters do every weekend across the United States, and every summer at Camp Perry.
I have no problems with Varget metering in 223 using the Lee Auto Disk. As was mentioned, a 26gr load comes very close to filling the case.