Best 223 semi powder?

Is Varget the best temp stable powder for use in AR15s?

Planning on shooting the berger 77gr

Varget is stable, but meters poorly.

IMR XBR-8208 would meet all your needs, INCLUDING measuring like a ball powder.

I'm using BL-C2 in my mini with 52 grain Bergers. Pretty consistent.

Alliant 2000MR is also a great powder for temp stability, and is a spherical powder and will meter very well. It's slower burning like Varget, and would yield good speeds.

It helps to know if you are planning on loading with a progressive press or single stage, as that weighs in heavily for which powder I select.

H335 is what I use in .223, but only pushing .55 gr nosler BTHP..

heavy bullets 69+ varget#1, ar comp, re-15, 8082.

H335,BL-C(2),IMR 4198,IMR 4895,IMR 4064,IMR 8208,Varget,Reloader 7-10X-15,Alliant Power Pro Varmint-1200R-2000MR are just a few that I use in 223 loads.

Am I the only one using Win 748? 26.0gr 55gr FMJ 16 and 18 inch barrels. Meters great very good groups and fun to shoot. Chad this is done on a Dillon 550, does that seem ok? Never had any pressure signs. Is this one you'd use in a progressive?

Shooting the 75 and 77gr bullets I like CFE223 but it is not the most temp stable of powders. 2000-MR is another good one. Varget works well but does not meter like the other two mentioned here. Pretty sure what Chad was referring to is ball powders meter much more accurately than extruded powders so they will usually be a lot more consistent with the powder drops.

Varget 69gr+ and H335 64gr or less

That is good to know. I get good velocity from 2000MR in my 338 Federal and 308 Win. I was wondering about it's temp stability.

Am i the only cheapo trying Ramshot Tac?

I got an 8lb jug really cheap and its just plinking ammo so I guess it doesnt matter.

Nope. I use TAC as my main powder for 223, 308, 338 Federal, 350 Rem Mag and 9.3x62. TAC is one of my favorite powders.

Tac is another good one.

Nope. I've been Win 748 since I started reloading 223. The stuff meters like water through my RCBS and my ammo groups exceptionally well.

Wish I could find some TAC to try. I started loading for the AR with 748, I still prefer it for the mid weight bullets. I like H335 for 55 grain and lower, but that's about as light as I go. For bullets 70 grain and above I like RL15. All that said, there are a lot of good powders for the .223.

I've shot the heavies out of a couple of my AR's and found 8208 XBR and AR Comp to perform the best. For some reason CFE 223 only works with the lighter bullets.

My loads were with 77 Sierra SMK's and Hornady 75 BTHP.

AR Comp was designed specifically for heavy .223 bullets.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/ar_comp.aspx

I have a few hundred rounds loaded with it. It does meter like water and is accurate, but CFE 223 has the same characteristics while producing more velocity.

If you haven't tried CFE I'd recommend it.

Good to know Tenyear, thanks

CFE 223 is also more accurate than 748 in several of my AR's. I mean, we're talking .5 moa to .3, but it does make a difference the longer range you shoot. My most accurate loads are right at the max (27.4 grains for 55 grain).

H-335