.223 - 5.56

[diggler1833]

With your 26" barrel you should be able to comfortably get the velocity to around 2910. Then you can try 1000 yards...

Don't know if you have the case capacity though.

Not with N150 unfortunately. If I used a drop tube I could probably fit a couple more tenths...or if I went to Lapua or LC brass I could probably get over 25gr fairly easily. Starline brass is thick, and I'm handicapping myself with it.

I don't think N150 is going to be optimal for really squeezing all of the potential velocity out of a .223 anyway. I just wanted to test it out since I was sitting on a lot of it, and my old stand-by .223 powder (Reloader 15) wasn't really impressive with this bullet.

Fortunately for me, 99% of my shooting is at 650 yards and in.

 

[Rob01]

A friend who uses his in Tac so a 3000fps max uses N135 and another guy I know uses N140 so those might be a better place to get more velocity. I was hoping N150 so I could cross use with the .308 easier.

 

[XP1K]

A friend who uses his in Tac so a 3000fps max uses N135 and another guy I know uses N140 so those might be a better place to get more velocity. I was hoping N150 so I could cross use with the .308 easier.

I'm interested in a VV powder that would do well in 223 and 308 also. I see a lot of people sub N140 for varget, which works well in both of them, but there are quite a few that use N150 in 308. Does the 150 work better with the 175 class of bullets?

 

[diggler1833]

A friend who uses his in Tac so a 3000fps max uses N135 and another guy I know uses N140 so those might be a better place to get more velocity. I was hoping N150 so I could cross use with the .308 easier.

Man, I've got a bunch of N135 too for general heavier .233 and Grendel loads. I might have to give this a shot soon.

Like you, I found that N150 works with a lot of stuff. I've got excellent loads for the 6.5x47, 6GT, and (maybe) now .223. I'll have to monkey around with it in .308 too just for grins.

 

[Rob01]

I'm interested in a VV powder that would do well in 223 and 308 also. I see a lot of people sub N140 for varget, which works well in both of them, but there are quite a few that use N150 in 308. Does the 150 work better with the 175 class of bullets?

Not sure honestly but it looks like it would do well from their data. I have some N140 so may try it in the .308 and see what it will do first.

 

[JerkyFreak]

N140 is almost a drop-in replacement for Varget. N150 should be better with heavier bullets in the .308.

 

[WeR0206]

Not sure honestly but it looks like it would do well from their data. I have some N140 so may try it in the .308 and see what it will do first.

Id be curious if N140 could push a heavier 308 say a 185 or something along those lines. If I could cross use my N140 with 77gr and 185gr bergers that would be amazing.

 

[XP1K]

Brownells has free hazmat at the moment. I may pick up a pound of N540 to try. I shoot short barrels, so I need all the help I can get.

 

[XP1K]

Id be curious if N140 could push a heavier 308 say a 185 or something along those lines. If I could cross use my N140 with 77gr and 185gr bergers that would be amazing.

That's what I'm looking for. Something that will crossover with the 77's in 223 and the 169 to 178 in a 20" 308. I'm using varget now but VV is cheaper.

 

[Cr1775]

I get good results with vv140 with 77 gr smk in the 223 and 155 palma in the 308. I tried heavy in the 308 with it but had better luck with other powders.

 

[diggler1833]

I just read a post in the .308 thread where the guy had great luck with N150. I know this is the .223 thread, but there have been some ponderings about the crossover ability with this powder.

 

[XP1K]

My brother and I decided to order some N540 last night. We decided to go that route instead of the N150. I didn't look at the data but he said the 150 didn't look favorable in the 223 until you got over an 80gr bullet. The N540 was about 150fps faster than the N140 from what he told me. He'll cover the 223 with 77's out of a 16" tikka t3x. Right now he's knocking on 2600 with varget and a 77 tmk.

I'll shoot the 308 out of my custom 700 with a 20" 1:9 lilja. I'll have to see what I've got left in the 175/178gr bullets. I may be down to 168's. I know I've got smk's and Amax, maybe some eld-m's. Been burning up all the loose ends lately. I think I'm going to settle on the 169 smk for 308 and the 77 smk and the tmk when I can get them in the 223.

 

[jLorenzo]

You can with a different powder but interested in the N150 also as they are priced right now. With XBR or Varget I get close to 3000fps with 75 ELDs in my 27” .223 Wylde. If I could get some VV that can do it I would be happy.

75 elds going near 3000 fps own everything inside 800y and can shoot much farther but impact becomes an issue unless using flashers or a good spotter.
I was doing 24.5 gr of XBR, loaded long in a much longer throat than wylde. Winchester brass gave up after a few firings though. If I were to use that combo again I would drop the charge .2gr or so.

 

[Rob01]

75 elds going near 3000 fps own everything inside 800y and can shoot much farther but impact becomes an issue unless using flashers or a good spotter.
I was doing 24.5 gr of XBR, loaded long in a much longer throat than wylde. Winchester brass gave up after a few firings though. If I were to use that combo again I would drop the charge .2gr or so.

Yup I have shot them out to 1150 at a match and they are hard to hear at those distances.