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 Best powder for 5.56 ?
#5739377
05/11/15 10:06 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,573
deewayne2003
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Can you guys tell me what would be the best powder for loading 5.56 at max velocity - 60gr. partition out of a 14.5" barrel
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5739420
05/11/15 10:30 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,633
DStroud
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There is probably no real"best" but I would look at one of these for velocity CFE223/TAC/Benchmark/N135/XBR8208
"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."
Jack O'Connor 1963
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5739469
05/11/15 11:12 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 33,946
Buzzsaw
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Good question, Especially in the shorter barrels.
My favorites are Varget, RE-15 , N-540, AR-Comp and Tac
Really like to know with a 14.5" barrel with 55-77gr bullets
Does all the powder burn up? Efficient??
I guess so, since there are AR pistols now wit 8" barrels.
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5739488
05/11/15 11:32 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,633
DStroud
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From my experience Varget and Reloder 15 are not too efficient until bullet weights are 69gr and heavier. They Can be very accurate but not stellar in the velocity dept.
AR Comp is slightly faster burning than Reloder 15 so it would also be a good choice for the 60gr bullet and a good all around powder.
"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."
Jack O'Connor 1963
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5739504
05/11/15 11:42 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 13,415
jdk1985
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I like H335, but others are good too of course
Instagram @justinkingwoodworking
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: DStroud]
#5739579
05/12/15 12:32 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,163
J.G.
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From my experience Varget and Reloder 15 are not too efficient until bullet weights are 69gr and heavier. They Can be very accurate but not stellar in the velocity dept.
AR Comp is slightly faster burning than Reloder 15 so it would also be a good choice for the 60gr bullet and a good all around powder. Pretty much what I figured the answer would be.
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5739586
05/12/15 12:38 AM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517
RiverRider
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I wouldn't sweat the barrel length unless you're concerned with muzzle flash. The powder that gives the best velocity in a 24-inch barrel will give the best velocity in a 16-inch barrel almost always. I've been using H4895 with 60-grain Partitions and it seems to work okay. For comparing powders in your application, here's what QuickLOAD has for you: Cartridge : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .224, 60, Nosler Partition 16316
Useable Case Capaci: 25.920 grain H2O = 1.683 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.260 inch = 57.40 mm
Barrel Length : 14.5 inch = 368.3 mm
Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 55000 psi, or 379 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 115 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !
41 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
IMR 3031 109.8 24.5 1.59 2880 97.5 55000 13096 0.747
Alliant AR-Comp 104.5 24.2 1.57 2875 99.9 55000 12437 0.746
Accurate 2495 106.4 24.9 1.61 2852 98.2 55000 13083 0.781
Accurate 4064 112.5 26.3 1.70 2840 95.9 55000 13163 0.779
Winchester 748 100.4 25.8 1.67 2839 93.3 55000 12911 0.748
Alliant Reloder-17 113.7 28.5 1.85 2836 88.5 55000 13645 0.745
IMR 4895 108.0 25.8 1.67 2830 90.2 55000 13096 0.756
Accurate 2520 103.7 26.1 1.69 2827 94.5 55000 12815 0.763
Hodgdon BL-C2 103.0 26.9 1.74 2826 91.9 55000 12987 0.755
Hodgdon CFE223 102.1 27.2 1.76 2826 90.3 55000 12996 0.748
Norma 203 old 111.6 27.0 1.75 2824 91.5 55000 13015 0.761
Hodgdon H322 101.0 23.4 1.52 2822 96.6 55000 12346 0.748
Norma 203B 109.3 26.1 1.69 2817 90.1 55000 12908 0.756
Ramshot Big Game 108.0 27.5 1.78 2814 89.1 55000 12854 0.748
Alliant Reloder-15 108.6 26.0 1.68 2812 89.2 55000 12856 0.757
Hodgdon H335 95.2 24.8 1.61 2811 95.4 55000 12441 0.754
Hodgdon H4895 104.6 25.0 1.62 2810 91.1 55000 12752 0.758
Norma 202 105.7 24.8 1.61 2810 95.5 55000 12475 0.758
Alliant Reloder-10x 98.4 22.2 1.44 2807 99.1 55000 11982 0.763
Vihtavuori N540 107.9 26.1 1.69 2801 95.2 55000 12454 0.757
Ramshot Wild Boar 102.7 26.2 1.70 2800 90.0 55000 12588 0.753
![[Linked Image]](https://i.imgur.com/Kqs020H.jpg) "Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5739670
05/12/15 01:51 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,573
deewayne2003
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RiverRider.....Thanks for the info, but I screwed up - The barrel is 16"
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5739708
05/12/15 02:15 AM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517
RiverRider
THF Trophy Hunter
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No sweat deewayne. All I gotta do is mash some buttons. Cartridge : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .224, 60, Nosler Partition 16316
Useable Case Capaci: 25.920 grain H2O = 1.683 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.260 inch = 57.40 mm
Barrel Length : 16.0 inch = 406.4 mm
Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 55000 psi, or 379 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 115 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !
41 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
IMR 3031 109.8 24.5 1.59 2957 98.3 55000 11680 0.790
Alliant AR-Comp 104.5 24.2 1.57 2948 100.0 55000 10996 0.789
Accurate 2495 106.4 24.9 1.61 2929 98.8 55000 11644 0.825
Accurate 4064 112.5 26.3 1.70 2918 96.9 55000 11764 0.822
Alliant Reloder-17 113.7 28.5 1.85 2917 90.1 55000 12329 0.788
Winchester 748 100.4 25.8 1.67 2916 94.4 55000 11584 0.792
IMR 4895 108.0 25.8 1.67 2908 91.5 55000 11788 0.799
Hodgdon BL-C2 103.0 26.9 1.74 2904 93.1 55000 11680 0.799
Hodgdon CFE223 102.1 27.2 1.76 2904 91.6 55000 11701 0.792
Accurate 2520 103.7 26.1 1.69 2903 95.5 55000 11475 0.806
Norma 203 old 111.6 27.0 1.75 2902 92.7 55000 11699 0.804
Hodgdon H322 101.0 23.4 1.52 2896 97.4 55000 11038 0.792
Norma 203B 109.3 26.1 1.69 2895 91.4 55000 11616 0.800
Ramshot Big Game 108.0 27.5 1.78 2892 90.5 55000 11575 0.792
Alliant Reloder-15 108.6 26.0 1.68 2889 90.5 55000 11574 0.801
Hodgdon H4895 104.6 25.0 1.62 2887 92.3 55000 11468 0.802
Hodgdon H335 95.2 24.8 1.61 2885 96.3 55000 11149 0.797
Norma 202 105.7 24.8 1.61 2885 96.4 55000 11175 0.802
Alliant Reloder-10x 98.4 22.2 1.44 2879 99.5 55000 10658 0.807
Vihtavuori N540 107.9 26.1 1.69 2876 96.2 55000 11178 0.801
Ramshot Wild Boar 102.7 26.2 1.70 2876 91.2 55000 11331 0.797
Vihtavuori N530 100.6 24.2 1.57 2869 93.4 55000 11111 0.799
Hodgdon H414 112.8 28.5 1.85 2867 83.6 55000 11545 0.793
Winchester 760 112.8 28.5 1.85 2867 83.6 55000 11545 0.793
Vihtavuori N135 115.0 24.9 1.61 2865 98.2 53251 10823 0.812
Vihtavuori N140 107.9 25.3 1.64 2863 96.8 55000 10781 0.799
Vihtavuori N550 115.0 28.1 1.82 2862 87.5 52770 11727 0.810
Norma 200 94.5 22.1 1.43 2862 99.8 55000 10469 0.822
IMR 4320 109.8 25.8 1.67 2862 90.6 55000 11082 0.790
Accurate 2015 101.3 23.1 1.50 2859 99.1 55000 10534 0.813
IMR 8208 XBR 102.7 24.5 1.59 2858 93.3 55000 10975 0.800
Hodgdon H380 109.7 26.8 1.74 2858 88.2 55000 11294 0.804
Alliant Reloder-12 100.3 24.4 1.58 2856 97.4 55000 10656 0.799
Norma 201 106.0 24.8 1.61 2856 93.4 55000 11108 0.814
Accurate 2460 98.5 25.3 1.64 2855 94.6 55000 10998 0.816
IMR 4198 97.2 20.8 1.35 2850 99.9 55000 9919 0.789
IMR 4064 111.3 25.1 1.63 2842 90.6 55000 10870 0.799
Hodgdon VARGET 110.3 25.5 1.65 2842 90.1 55000 10920 0.795
Accurate 2230 97.7 25.3 1.64 2833 92.4 55000 10748 0.809
Accurate 2200 92.3 22.4 1.45 2831 95.6 55000 10456 0.799
Accurate 5744 80.6 18.4 1.19 2831 99.8 55000 9918 0.791
Vihtavuori N133 106.9 23.4 1.52 2829 98.8 55000 10078 0.800
Alliant Reloder-7 91.8 21.2 1.37 2828 99.7 55000 9974 0.809
Accurate 1680 84.6 21.1 1.37 2825 98.3 55000 10107 0.798
Vihtavuori N130 100.7 22.5 1.46 2823 99.4 55000 9988 0.806
Ramshot X-Terminator 99.1 25.3 1.64 2821 91.2 55000 10706 0.805
Hodgdon Benchmark 101.0 23.8 1.54 2820 94.3 55000 10494 0.803
Ramshot TAC 101.5 26.1 1.69 2816 87.3 55000 10798 0.804
Vihtavuori N120 95.1 20.8 1.34 2809 100.0 55000 9153 0.806
Hodgdon H4227 87.9 19.2 1.25 2807 100.0 55000 9227 0.795
Hodgdon H4198 93.4 21.0 1.36 2807 97.2 55000 9904 0.794
Vihtavuori N125 89.7 19.9 1.29 2806 100.0 55000 9149 0.806
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5739719
05/12/15 02:21 AM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,694
603Country
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Posts: 15,694 |
With the 65 gr Sierra GK, I got great groups with AA2230.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5740419
05/12/15 03:51 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,174
Tactical Cowboy
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,174 |
The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5740817
05/12/15 07:56 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,694
603Country
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Like somebody else said, there probably isn't a best powder, just a lot of good powders. I use H335, AA2230, 3031, IMR4064, Varget, and BL(C)-2, and I might be forgetting one. I like the H335 for the 40 gr Nosler BT's and a couple of other loads. I don't use Varget much, since I haven't seen the wonderful accuracy that others have reported, not to mention that it fills the case a bit too soon.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5741026
05/12/15 10:33 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,418
tenyearsgone
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From what RR posted it looks like they're all about the same velocity.
Just find the one that works best in your gun. Win 748 and CFE 223 are ball powders that meter really well.
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5741046
05/12/15 10:46 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517
RiverRider
THF Trophy Hunter
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517 |
If it was me, and I didn't have any of these powders already, I think I'd hunt down some H322...but that's because I have a Chargemaster. I don't know what AR Comp is like through a measure but if it will meter well it looks like a great choice. Otherwise I think I'd try W748---I know how well it meters.
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: RiverRider]
#5741056
05/12/15 10:51 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,418
tenyearsgone
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If it was me, and I didn't have any of these powders already, I think I'd hunt down some H322...but that's because I have a Chargemaster. I don't know what AR Comp is like through a measure but if it will meter well it looks like a great choice. Otherwise I think I'd try W748---I know how well it meters. AR Comp is alright through a measure. It's a short stick powder which means while it's not as bad as Varget, you still have to watch for variations if it concerns you. I just trickle each round I load with it.
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5741126
05/12/15 11:34 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517
RiverRider
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517 |
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5742611
05/13/15 09:39 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,389
BassCat'99
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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I've been using W748 for some time now. Why? well it performs very well, extremly user friendly, resonably clean and it's affordable!
 22 Creedmoor
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: BassCat'99]
#5742925
05/14/15 12:15 AM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,935
bigjoe8565
THF Trophy Hunter
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I've been using W748 for some time now. Why? well it performs very well, extremly user friendly, resonably clean and it's affordable! I use 748 as well for the same reason and it meters like a champ.
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: bigjoe8565]
#5743202
05/14/15 02:40 AM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 14,199
tth_40
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I've been using W748 for some time now. Why? well it performs very well, extremly user friendly, resonably clean and it's affordable! I use 748 as well for the same reason and it meters like a champ. Yipper. 
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5743357
05/14/15 11:47 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 367
BIGDOG1956
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 367 |
Win 748 is a good powder meter well.
A us army guard national match shooter told me its only down fall:
The ammo will preasure spike on hot days if you leave out one a sunny bench.
He just kept his in a inulated box to keep the point of aim the same.
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Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: deewayne2003]
#5743390
05/14/15 12:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,016
pertnear
"Demolition Man"
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"Demolition Man"
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,016 |
I've had excellent results with AR-Comp with all bullet weights 55gr on up & it meters like pouring sand from a boot! DEFINITELY worth your attention.
"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.ā€¯ - George Orwell
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 Re: Best powder for 5.56 ?
[Re: jdk1985]
#5745934
05/16/15 01:30 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,278
cm250
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I like H335, but others are good too of course What I use in .223, pushing 50 or 55 gr Nosler Ballistic tips. Gives me good results in accuracy and one shot kill performance.
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