For those that load their own .223/5.56, is there a powder for this cartridge that meters well enough for decent blasting ammo?
I want to start loading this cartridge but not if Im going to have to hand trickle like I do with my .308. I dont mind hand trickling the 308 bc that’s a precision round for me anyway. I just want to load 223 to get cheap blasting ammo.
Any suitable ball powder is fine. TAC is a popular load here. One of the better metering powders around. 24.5 grains with a 55gr FMJ bullet is a common load here. Cheap and runs in short and long gas systems.
Awesome man, thanks.
AA2230 is another option. Fine grain ball, meters well. With 25gr (max) I get about 3025 fps out of my 20", about 2800 fps in my 14.5".
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For those that load their own .223/5.56, is there a powder for this cartridge that meters well enough for decent blasting ammo?
I’m familiar with AA 2230 & 2520, they meter very nicely.
Keith
TAC, only TAC!
I kinda like AA2230.
H335 and Win 748 are also good ball powders well suited for the AR.
Varget! has anyone had any problems with AA2230 and hot weather. Its around 100+ here everyday, I only use 22.5 - 23.0 gr of AA2230 with 75 gr bullets it still blows primers an rips cases apart. I think its the heat.
Ramrod- I just started using Varget. Because my favorite powder, Benchmark was unavailable. So far I like it quite well. Shot 50 rounds yesterday in two different guns. Was pleased with the results. And it metered well for me. 335 probably meters the best of powders I’ve tried. Benchmark also meters well for me. Varget is a little different in metering. But I find it acceptable. Volume wise. Varget will fill the case IME anyway. I load 26 grs and it fills case almost to top. Performance like I said was very good.
Yes, I love Varget and Benchmark powder. I have had excellent results with the two.
I’ve heard some complain about the way Varget meters. I don’t have any trouble with either Dillon powder measure, or Lee autodisc. I have a 650 set up for 45acp only. I use a turret press for 223
Yeah Varget is my go to 308 powder. It meters like paper plates out of my RCBS but it shoots real nice!
I’ve used both Hodgdon BLC-2 and Winchester 748 for many years in ARs. Both meter well, but can be temperature sensitive.
I settled on BLC-2 because I can buy it in 8lb jugs locally for a good price.
AA 2230 and 2520 both meter very precisely.
Of the two, 2520 is the most flexible as it works very well in both 223rem and 308win.
Varget is an excellent powder, but it is more expensive ($131 vs $118) and doesn’t meter quite as well. It seems to be less sensitive to temp variations.
For blasting, you probably want a cheaper powder.