Darkker

I will take my lashings for a bit of a hijacking...
Here is some info for the 308. It is the SAME argument as gets used with the 223/5.56. Brass is brass. Different manu/headstamps are different, so the capacity CAN be as well. It means NOTHING more than that.

The Rifleman's Journal: Cartridges: 1000 Yard .308 Case Capacity and Other Problems

Brass capacity .308 (Win Brass & Laupa& Federal Brass) (Page 1) - Handloading Techniques - Remington Model 700 Forums

StandingTall

nvm...not going to hijack this any further...

laidlerj

I've used Win 748 for most of my .223 reloading, since it is reported to run a little cooler; more recently, I've switched to Hodgden CFE223 to see if it will reduce the amount of copper fouling.

Jim

Yurko

My standard load is 26 grains of Hodgdon Varget with a 55 grain FMJ.
OAL at 2.225.

I hope this helps.
Happy Reloading

264Win

I have had good luck accuracy wise with TAC and hornady v-max . Started mid recomended range and using 58 & 60 gr. v-max not much difference in group size barrel is 1 in 8 twist.

justsoIcanupvotethis

I have a 1 in 8 stainless upper on my AR that just loves 25 grains of Varget and 69 grain Seirra Match Kings. It seems to like 55 grain Hornady boat tail full metal jackets with 26 grains of Varget too for that matter.

scooter.maclusky

The 23.4 gr Varget load had slightly cratered primers.

69 grain Sierra BTHP: COL 2.25, case length 1.750, no crimp, CCI 450
23.4 gr AA2460 average fps = 2757
23.7 gr AA2460 = average fps 2869

75 gr Hornady BTHP: COL 2.255, case length 1.750, no crimp, CCI 400
23.0 gr Varget = average fps 2533 (best ES and SD)
23.1 gr Varget = average fps 2538
23.2 gr Varget = average fps 2548
23.4 gr Varget = average fps 2580

ROGER4314

I'd like to offer suggestions from a different point of view. Reloading the .223 has some unique issues that come up.

For economy, I standardized on IMR 4895 as my rifle powder. I used it for years on 30-06 and .308 so I just started using it on .223 and all other rifle cartridges, too.

IMR 4895 is a tubular powder that hangs up and "Bridges" in the tiny powder funnels of the .223 for my Dillon Progressives. One charge will be light and the next will be heavy. I found this out long ago and finally Dillon put a caution in their press instruction manual about bridging. I changed to 748 ball powder for .223 to reduce that problem. It doesn't totally eliminate the issue but it's better. I check the charge visually. It's slower but it's necessary.

The .223 cases must be chamfered at the neck as the case has a bad habit of collapsing at the shoulder if too much force is used in seating or crimping. I never crimp and only return to "zero bell mouth". Even so, if too much force is used in any of those operations, the shoulder collapses and the round won't chamber.

.223 is bad about ripping the rims off if a tight one gets into the sizing die. I've tried several techniques to remove stuck cases but the BEST was the RCBS "stuck case remover kit". It's about $18 and works like a charm. You can improvise but I got the kit, store it in a Bandaid can and it's always ready to zip a stuck case out of the die. It's well worth the money and it takes about 5 minutes to get the case out without damage to the die!

Flash

stargeezer

I'm running 22grains of varget under 55grn. Winchester or more recently Hornady 55grn. I keep the loads a bit lower since I shoot varmints with a 24" bore. Running a 16" AR you might step up to 23grn Varget with testing. Thats a little hot for me.

Sr40ken

I load 2230 under 55 gr to the .223 section and 75 gr Hornady per Accurates 5.56 section. Getting ready to test some TAC loaded to the 5.56 section.

2ndtimer

I have been reloading the .223 since 1993 but for the AR-15 only for the past year or so. Lots of powders can provide decent results with the .223, especially with 55 gr bullets and up. I have used IMR-4064, IMR-4895, H-4895, H-335, Accurate 2015, 2200, 2230, 2460, Re-15, Varget, Ramshot TAC and others. My current favorites are Ramshot TAC, Accurate 2015, and Varget. I am still playing around with some Hodgdon CFE-223 and burning up some old leftover Accurate 2200. My favorite bullets are the 40 gr plastic tipped bullets, Hornady V-Max and Z-Max, Nosler Ballistic Tip and Varmageddon. I use those mostly in the bolt actions, and I like the 55 gr Nosler Varmageddon tipped bullet in the AR-15. I load the 40 gr. bullets with TAC or Accurate 2015. The 55 gr bullets are charged with Varget or Accurate 2200. I have used most brands of primers with good results, lots of Winchester SR, Remington 7 1/2, CCI-400 and 450, Fed 205, and currently Wolf SR 223. With your 1 in 7 twist barrel, you probably will want to focus your efforts on the 55 gr bullets and up. My bolt guns are 1 in 12 twist, but my S&W M&P 15 Sport's 1 in 8" twist handles my 40 gr loads almost as well as the bolt guns.

Yurko

My classic load is 26 gr of Varget under a simple 55gr FMJ.
Many will say that the cheap bullet is the weak link, but they're plenty accurate at 100 yds.
I like the boat tail shaped ones. They're very easy on the brass when seating.

My AR is a 1:9, 20" AR15A1

Maximumbob54

I haven't found a powder that performs much better than another. What I have found is that IMR 3031 and Varget both have a slew of different loads you can use them with. But both of them are extruded stick powders that I hate to use in most powder measures. I prefer to use Win 748 because as a ball powder it meters out like flowing water. I trust my powder measures to be spot on with ball powders but I trust nothing with flake or stick powders.

GunBlue

Varget is a terrific powder, but density is a serious issue with top loads and lighter bullets up to 60 grains, as it really fills cases up. We're talking super compression with some bullets. I've used all the powders in that case, and my all-round favorite is Benchmark, simply because it handles all bullet weights well, and burns clean, and its report is very mild, as is characteristic with extruded single base powders. H322 is another one, especially lighter bullets up to 60 grains. For all purpose ball powder, H335 is legendary and shoots all bullet weights. I'm not a fan of ball powders though as they have more sensitivity to temperature. Extruded powders may be harder to control, but it doesn't matter, as they are more uniform on paper with more forgiving burn rates, less prone to spikes. Low muzzle flash, too.

phonejack

+1 for Varget. If you live in the warmer "climes" you will find that most ball powders are temp. Sensitive.