Texas Hunting Forum

Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556

Posted By: Michael Wilson

Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/07/15 02:13 PM

OK I'm moving to Hornady AP LNL press. I have been reading about a lot of problems with Varget metering well with this set up. I will mainly be loading 55 grain soft point - 62 grain ss 109. I have used BLC-2 with good results but hear there can be quite a bit of pressure change with temperature change. I don't like having a lot of different powders around. Doesn't mean I wouldn't use more than one but I would like to find one that works well and stock up on it. Thanks
Posted By: bigjoe8565

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/07/15 04:39 PM

Win 748. This powder meters like a champ.
Posted By: 5 Stand Dan

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/07/15 05:15 PM

Hodgdon CFE 223 and H335 are also ball powders that meter well.
Posted By: DStroud

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/07/15 06:46 PM

All powders can have pressure changes with temperature swings and most of your Ball powder that meter best are generally known to most sensitive. That being said its not a big deal just work up your load when it's Hot and forget about it.
I have found that the new Alliant powders like Varmint and the Ramshot such as XTerminator seem less temp sensitive than say H335 or BLC-2 and all flow well thru my LNL progressive.
Posted By: BassCat'99

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/08/15 12:02 AM

Can never go wrong with good ole W748.
Posted By: tenyearsgone

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/08/15 04:17 AM

27.4 grains of CFE 223 for 55 grain works great for me and meters extremely good.
Posted By: Reloader-7

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/08/15 06:25 PM

I have loaded BL-C2 and W748 in .223 for years. I have not loaded any "MAX" loads, but most are close to the top end and I have not seen any pressure signs or POI changes with any of my loads. I shoot at an outdoor range when working up loads and shoot year round. The temps have ranged from low 50's to 105 degrees without noticeable changes in load performance.

Go with the powder that shoots the best in your rifle and if you are worried about temp problems, just do your load work in hot weather as DStroud said.
Posted By: RiverRider

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/08/15 10:31 PM

Hodgdon Benchmark might be your best bet for temperature tolerance, and it meters nicely even though it is not spherical. I've heard great things about the performance of AR Comp, which is supposedly temp tolerant as well, and I've been told it meters very nicely too but I've never tried it.
Posted By: pertnear

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/08/15 11:15 PM

I've been using AR-Comp in my .223's & I've been getting great accuracy & it meters from a powder measure like a dream. The Mfg claims it to be very temperature tolerant, but that's not something us mere mortals can easily prove!...LOL
Posted By: bluetopper

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/09/15 12:51 AM

AA2230, 2460, TAC along with those mentioned above.
Posted By: Phlash

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/09/15 02:21 AM

IMR 8208 GOOD METERING AND STABLE ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF TEMPS
Posted By: ChadTRG42

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/09/15 03:19 AM

Originally Posted By: Phlash
IMR 8208 GOOD METERING AND STABLE ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF TEMPS

^^ This. All the powders mentioned above are temp sensitive, except 8208. But, I shoot several temp sensitive powders in my 223 and 308 ammo, it does fine. It's really not that big of a deal for shots under 300-400 yards. It will not vary that much. If you zero'd your rifle with a temp powder when it was 20 degrees out, and want to keep the same zero and trajectory, sure you may be off some when it's 100 degrees out. But rezero and keep shooting. I have run AA 2230, AA 2520, TAC, Exterminator, 748, R15, R22, all with good results.
Posted By: Tactical Cowboy

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/09/15 04:34 AM

H335, h322, blc2, imr4895, varget.. the last two don't do GREAT, but they're alright.
Posted By: Michael Wilson

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/09/15 05:12 AM

Thanks everyone. Last year when working up a hunting load I used BLC-2 and a 60 grain Nosler partion bullet and key-holed 2 out of three shots at 100 hundred with my final load tested so I may just stick with the BLC-2. Now I just need to find some more it.
Posted By: Mike Honcho

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/09/15 07:32 AM

H335 is has been great for me.
Posted By: bobsumner

Re: Looking for a good metering powder for a progressive press for 223-556 - 06/09/15 12:27 PM

Originally Posted By: 5 Stand Dan
Hodgdon CFE 223 and H335 are also ball powders that meter well.


Yep. This.
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