Powder for 5.56

Jester8

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 21, 2006
375
1
Bis. No.Dak.
Just picked up a DPMS Lo-Pro for 599.99, never loaded for the 5.56 round. Thinking about 69gr SMK, with LC brass, and Fed Match primers. Don't know what powder to use, any rec's?
 
Re: Powder for 5.56

i use varget for 69s, but you can use so many different powders for .223. Guys on here also like tac. Don't go powder crazy though; use what you have on hand or in stock and go from there. Otherwise you will confuse the hell out of yourself with 10 different powders and you will never settle on a load that works.
 
Re: Powder for 5.56

I am new to loading with that cart, and based on a suggestion from a friend, I use Winchester 748. It's a fine ball powder that measures and dispenses accurately and quickly. I don't worry about being off a tenth of a grain as I do in my precision rifle loads. I set up my meausure, and dump them right into the case once I confirm the amount with a half dozen throws. I also use LC brass and Sierra 69 SMK's and it's a 1/9 twist barrel. Hope this helps.

Marc
 
Re: Powder for 5.56

I think the 748 worked quite well, was not a bad powder. I had about 200 rds I loaded last year with it and just finished those off last weekend.
Did not have any issues with it. Mildly dirty but not bad.

Varget always works well..


Whatever is in this new XM855 that I got, federal made, sucks - too dirty, brass is sticking to my chamber and causing extraction issues....constantly cleaning my extractor out - 62 gr green tip from Sportsmansguide.com - watch that stuff..
 
Re: Powder for 5.56

I've got some Varget in the locker, I think I am gonna try some Tac, all will be loaded under a 69 smk.

Should I get a small base die, or just the regular Full Length sizer die?
 
Re: Powder for 5.56

The powder list I use with my AR-15's is:

Varget
H4895
H335
H322
Benchmark
IMR4198
BL-C(2)
Win748
IMR4064
RL-15

Benchmark and win748 seem to give me the best accuracy. Im using the 69gr. and 77gr. in the 1-7 twist bbl. The 62gr. and 77gr. in the 1-8 twist bbl. The 52gr. in the 1-9 twist bbl.
 
Re: Powder for 5.56

I load the heavy 77 grn Nosler and at first I tried Varget and then settled on 4064. The accuracy was there but not the speed that I wanted. I now have settled on AA2520. I am getting an honest 2800 FPS with no signs of pressure at 86 degress and good accuracy too.
 
Re: Powder for 5.56

With varget being hard to find, I had to change from using only varget to finding other alternatives. For plinking loads, I use what I can find and save the Varget for the 308 loads.

For 40 grain VMAX, I use BLC-2
For 55gr, I use TAC
for 75 Grain I use Varget or AA2520
I was getting a little over 2800FPS with 75gr Hornady using 2520. I like AA2520 more than Varget. Having more than one brand of powder on hand makes it easier to load when your favorite brand runs out.

 
Re: Powder for 5.56

H335 is the designed powder for 50-55gr bullets in the 223.

BLC-2 works well with bullets up to 80gr, and it meters nicely, and it's very consistent.

I shoot 35-55gr bullets with H335 and anything heavier than that with BLC-2

223/5.56 can be loaded with probably 15 different powders, the two I mentioned are generally easy to get ahold of, and H335 is available in Mil-Surp jugs as WC846
 
Re: Powder for 5.56

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">H335 is the designed powder for 50-55gr bullets in the 223.

BLC-2 works well with bullets up to 80gr, and it meters nicely, and it's very consistent.

I shoot 35-55gr bullets with H335 and anything heavier than that with BLC-2

223/5.56 can be loaded with probably 15 different powders, the two I mentioned are generally easy to get ahold of, and H335 is available in Mil-Surp jugs as WC846 </div></div>

H335 is WC-844.

WC-846 uses BLC (2) load data.