223 Rem what powder works

Smokinyotes · #1 08-12-2018, 04:39 PM

So I’ve tried AE 55gr Fmj, Hornady steel match 55gr HPBT,and Nosler custom 60 gr in the WK180C. Best group so far is 1-1/4”. I’m planning on doing up a load with 50gr vmax for whacking coyotes. I’d really like to get this thing shooting less than moa. Just wondering what powder. Gives a good combination of accuracy and velocity in the -223.

elkhunter11 · #2 08-12-2018, 04:43 PM

Depending on the rifle, I have had great results with CFE-223, IMR4064, and N-133. And CFE-223 does a good job of preventing copper fouling.

Northwinds · #3 08-12-2018, 04:44 PM

any powder you want as long as it say's Benchmark on the container!!!

Benelli1 · #4 08-12-2018, 04:55 PM

Great success with H335 and Win 748. Both meter exceptionally well. Was able to get higher velocities and still maintain accuracy with H335.

DiabeticKripple · #5 08-12-2018, 04:57 PM

I’ve got good results with CFE223 and Varget.

shurshot71 · #6 08-12-2018, 05:20 PM

I have good luck with Varget & 55 vmax bullets.

Smokinyotes · #7 08-12-2018, 05:27 PM

The WK 180C is a 1-8 twist so I could use heavier bullets but have always had good luck with the 50-55gr vmax. I’ve put in a Geissele G2S trigger but haven’t tried shooting it since. It’s a huge improvement over the stock trigger. If I can get this thing shooting 3/4” groups coyotes aren’t going to like it.

Pioneer2 · #8 08-12-2018, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benelli1

Great success with H335 and Win 748. Both meter exceptionally well. Was able to get higher velocities and still maintain accuracy with H335.

Yup

teledogs · #9 08-12-2018, 06:12 PM

I am getting excellent results with 27.0 GR of CFE 223 and 55 GR Nosler varmint ballistic tips. 3140 fps.

260 Rem · #10 08-12-2018, 07:00 PM

H322 behind 40-50gr Vmax.

gunluvr · #11 08-13-2018, 05:47 AM

I only use my 223 for gophers, so I shoot 40 gr. HPs. IMR4198 works great.

bubba300 · #12 08-13-2018, 05:48 AM

Mine really likes the H322 and 50 gr berger fb varmit.had good luck with benchmark and imr 4198 also.

Attilathecanuk · #13 08-13-2018, 06:25 AM

4895 works great for me in .223. 24 grains for 60 gr Hornady soft points.

JustBen · #14 08-13-2018, 06:27 AM

I like varget and BLC-2.

Scott N · #15 08-13-2018, 06:43 AM

I also like to use BL-C(2) and H335 for both my 222 and 223. Ball powder sure meters nice.

Backwoods Runner · #16 08-13-2018, 07:08 AM

Varget or benchmark for all my .223, whichever is readily available. Although the v-max shoot very good, they can't come close to the 52 gr. berger or sierra match. Yotes hate em all.

6MT · #17 08-13-2018, 07:57 AM

I use BLC-2 (26.6gr) in my CZ-527 varmint rifle with 69gr SMK's. Velocity with a 25" barrel is around 3k. I get 1/3moa from this combo.

The only thing I don't like about BLC-2 is the way it meters and pours. It is a very fine ball powder (think of pepper consistency).

360hunt · #18 08-13-2018, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benelli1

Great success with H335 and Win 748. Both meter exceptionally well. Was able to get higher velocities and still maintain accuracy with H335.

I second the Win 748. Meters really well, low flash point and I'm averaging 3000fps with a 55gr bt

Groundhogger · #19 08-13-2018, 09:38 AM

From my experience (and I've read, from lots of others) 25gr. of Varget behind a 55gr. bullet should be a decent shooter in any .223. Refine +/- on the charge. My .223 bolt gun shoots 55gr. V-Max/25.gr Varget AND 53gr. V-Max 25.7gr. Varget almost equally well. (under 1/2 MOA) I'm the variable.

Having said that, semi-autos are different animals, and subtle changes in powder/bullet weights are more likely to be realized using a bolt gun. If a gun like a WK180C is shooting 1"-1-1/4", there is a good chance you've already hit the "sweet spot" in your load development. I'm not suggesting you throw in the towel, but I consider myself a half-sensible/mostly competent reloader and I spent a whole season trying to get a RA XCR-L shooting like my bolt guns do. 1-1/4" was about average, and if it opened-up from there..it was on the bigger side, not smaller. I maybe punched 2-3 groups (5 shot @ 100 yards) that were under 1".

Different gun? =yes, but after allot of reading and chatting with other guys trying to attempt the same thing, I was reminded (over and over again) that it's not what these guns (meaning, the RA XCR-L) were ever meant to do. =punching small groups.

On a positive note, I don't remember missing any groundhogs with it either.

I could probably dig-up a photo or two if anyone is interested.

Gretz5582 · #20 08-13-2018, 12:37 PM

I shoot a vmax 55gr Pill. Proppelled by RL15. Great results under 1/2 moa
My previous recipie with same pill was with benchmark.
Food for thought

fps plus · #21 08-13-2018, 08:44 PM

As you can see there is no shortage of powder choices for the 223. This is my opinion on bullets for coyotes out of the 223 , shoot frangible type bullets at their maximum velocities. I like to use hornady 50 grain SX . They don’t look fancy like all the tipped bullets but they work. Generally they will not exit a coyote .

.257Weatherby · #22 08-13-2018, 08:58 PM

Blc...

YoteStopper · #23 08-15-2018, 12:26 AM

I haven't done much load development for .223, but made some plinking/varmint loads a couple years back with IMR 3031 behind a 53gr V-max.

wolf308 · #24 08-15-2018, 02:43 AM

When in doubt - Varget. I put that chit on everything

If I ever have another boy that's his name - Varget. Lol. Allready got the Barrett and Sierra. Might as well have a Varget too.

Na i.d. really know. Don't load for 223. But the V has never let me down 204 to 9.3x62

JonnyBoy0919 · #25 08-16-2018, 08:33 PM

I've loaded a few hundred rounds so far with H335, and have had good luck with it.

Lefty-Canuck · #26 08-16-2018, 09:51 PM

Varget, dip the case...tap it on the bench fill it to the top and squish a bullet in..(seriously don’t do that)

...but seriously a full compressed load of Varget shoot great in my .223

LC

catnthehat · #27 08-16-2018, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Varget, dip the case...tap it on the bench fill it to the top and squish a bullet in..(seriously don’t do that)

...but seriously a full compressed load of Varget shoot great in my .223

LC

Fir many years a boatload of Varget underneath a 69 grain Seirra was the favourite of the .223 Palma match crowd and many still swear by it - I know I have never had an issue with it and run my .223's out to 1K regularly

Cat

Steyr Luxus · #28 08-17-2018, 06:05 PM

Imr 8208 xbr

midgetwaiter · #29 08-17-2018, 06:45 PM

I've got a couple loads that I like. Rifle is a Savage Model 12. I've had decent results with both H335 and RL7 for 40gr bullets but I figured I have the twist so I may as well go heavier.

60gr Hornady SP Varmint with Ramshot Tac
62gr Varmageddon HPFB with Ramshot Tac
68gr Hornday Match HPBT with RL15 - loaded super long. Avg velocity is 2997 fps

The 62gr Varmageddons fragment reliably and spectacularly on gophers, you would not get a pass through on a yote. Accuracy for this load is ridiculously good for a relatively inexpensive rifle.

pikergolf · #30 08-17-2018, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midgetwaiter

I've got a couple loads that I like. Rifle is a Savage Model 12. I've had decent results with both H335 and RL7 for 40gr bullets but I figured I have the twist so I may as well go heavier.

60gr Hornady SP Varmint with Ramshot Tac
62gr Varmageddon HPFB with Ramshot Tac
68gr Hornday Match HPBT with RL15 - loaded super long. Avg velocity is 2997 fps

The 62gr Varmageddons fragment reliably and spectacularly on gophers, you would not get a pass through on a yote. Accuracy for this load is ridiculously good for a relatively inexpensive rifle.

I'm a bit surprised that a rifle with a twist fast enough to stabilize a 68 gr will shoot a 40 gr. well.