Best Powders for the .223 Rem.?

[Rocky Raab]

It would a whole lot simpler to post a list of powders that are NOT good in the 223!

Earlier, my two "go-to" loads were 24.0 H322 or 27.0 W748 under any good 50-gr bullet. Both are still great, but my powder choices have changed to Benchmark and Ramshot TAC. Data for both available online.

Any extruded powder near H322 is superb. Those include AA2015, RL-10X, Benchmark, and VVN130 or 133. If you can still find any, the old RL-12 was wonderful.

Spherical powders include BLC(2), W748, TAC, X-Terminator, AA2230, and H335.

IMR3031 is the right burn rate, but the kernels are just too large and bulky to work well in such a small case - as you've found. If they ever came out with a "short cut" version, there would be resounding cheers.

[dovehunter]

Since my original post I have gone back to my manuals and did some more reading. I noticed in the Hodgdon manual that H335 was originally developed expressly for use in the .223 (or rather its military counterpart the 5.56 mm). It's also a ball powder which will make it easier to measure than coarse, extruded powders like the IMR series. I liked the looks of Benchmark and Varget but they are also extruded powders like IMR-3031. And Rocky, you sure are right about the coarse, cylindrical powders not doing all that well in the tiny .223 case. Since I can't really justify buying 3 more different powders, I think I'll take a chance on buying a can of H335 next and giving it a try. Working up a new load is fun but can be a bit frustrating at times.

[Catfish]

What Rocky said, you would go broke tring all the powders that are good in the .223. The 55 gr Sierra BTHP is a very accurate bullet, but does not expand well at .223 velocities at longer ranges, 150 yrds. or so. Should work on coyote, but the Sierra Blitz bullets are better for groundhog ect.

[Ol` Joe]

True Benchmark is extruded but is so short and small it flows like ball through a powder measure. It works great in my 223s, a M70 and M1885 Hi Wall with 55gr down bullet wgts. Varget does very well with 55 gr and up for me along with W748.