Gonna begin reloading for My AR-15 and my 30-30 Win..anybody recommend a good powder and 55 gr bullet for the AR .. gonna basically be doing short range <100 yd work...and ditto for 30-30...perhaps there's a powder suited for both..

For cheap 55s, varmint nightmare from midsouthshooterssupply or hornady bulk. I like the soft points.

 

For powder, I like ramshot tac. Works under a lot of bullets for .223. Varget meters like poop, but I don't think it is physically possible to fit a dangerous amount into a .223 case under a 55gr bullet. Lots of guys swear by it, but tac was cheaper, more accurate, and more versatile.

Powder - Two powders I use are W-748 and CFE-223. Do your homework. Both excellent powders, meter well, and I have found them very accurate.

 

Even the lightest loads cycle my ARs.

I use Hodgdon H335 for my non-match .223 rounds, both 55gr SP and 62gr steel core.

Varget is for my match rounds (52, 69 and 80gr) only

No idea on 30-30

Take a look at Hodgdon.com for data

Thanks for all the suggestions...as money allows Im gonna experiment with choices you gave me

Ramshot TAC is also popular with 223 for the lighter bullets such as the typical 55gr.

I just started reloading, haven't done anything with .223 yet. For .30-30 I used about 27 grains of IMR 3031 with 150 grain bullets. Pretty decent results, even with me shooting.

 

Edit to add that my reloading book lists IMR 3031 for .223. Not sure how it would work though.

Fort the 30-30 I just started using the hogden leverevolution powder. i havent worked that up to my final load yet though since I started using the leverevolution, I havent been happy with any load on the 30-30 yet. My favorite load for the 223 is 25gr of varget under a 55gr hornady vmax pill in lake city brass with Winchester small rifle primers. This is the most acurate out to about 200 yards. The muzzle velocity averages 2900 FPS with an 16"barrel AR wich is closing in on the high side for Varget so drop it a grain if you want to try it. The cleanup isnt too bad with Varget at the end of the day either. Ive worked that load with H4895, IMR4895, and IMR 3031 and the Varget wins on the chrono and accuracy.

These are what works for me, research and read all loading data you can before you decide to see what works for you. All guns perform different.

Enjoy

Ken

Fort the 30-30 I just started using the hogden leverevolution powder. i havent worked that up to my final load yet though since I started using the leverevolution, I havent been happy with any load on the 30-30 yet. My favorite load for the 223 is 25gr of varget under a 55gr hornady vmax pill in lake city brass with Winchester small rifle primers. This is the most acurate out to about 200 yards. The muzzle velocity averages 2900 FPS with an 16"barrel AR wich is closing in on the high side for Varget so drop it a grain if you want to try it. The cleanup isnt too bad with Varget at the end of the day either. Ive worked that load with H4895, IMR4895, and IMR 3031 and the Varget wins on the chrono and accuracy.

These are what works for me, research and read all loading data you can before you decide to see what works for you. All guns perform different.

Enjoy

Ken

 

I love Varget for accuracy but it meters terrible in a progressive Dillon. But for hand weighed loads it's +1

I havent tried it yet but heard from many that the IMR 3031 is a bear to meter because of the long cut..

I personally like the CCI AR primers, and Varget powder. I'm probably wrong, but I think the recipe I use (From Lyman's manual) is something like 20 or 22 grains, and a 55gr hornady FMJ. It works pretty well, They cycled great in my AR, and seemed to work be fairly hot. I like the Varget powder quite a bit, and it wasn't too expensive either.

CCI AR primers, Varget powder, 69gr SMKs or 68gr Horn BTHPs. I handload these on my single stage. Its been awhile and only have loaded a few at this point. I did pick up the new Hodgdon CFE 223 powder that I plan on using once I tool up my progressive for .223. Its supposed to meter better then Varget. Haven't tried it yet, but I have 2lbs just waiting for a go.

 

Don't forget one of those strap on shell catchers for your AR. You won't have much fun chasing brass around at the range!

I tried running Varget through my LnL progressive powder measure in an effort to try to quickly whip up some semi match grade 223 ammo and all i got was a bunch of crushed case mouths and spilled powder. I love the accuracy i've been getting with Varget, but the stories are true, its a PITA to dispense. I even had to make a special reduced diameter nozzle for my auto charge since it would drop too many heavy ass kernels even when "trickling" and always overcharge. IMR 4064 was even worse; its like trying to meter vermicelli! LOL

I tried running Varget through my LnL progressive powder measure in an effort to try to quickly whip up some semi match grade 223 ammo and all i got was a bunch of crushed case mouths and spilled powder. I love the accuracy i've been getting with Varget, but the stories are true, its a PITA to dispense. I even had to make a special reduced diameter nozzle for my auto charge since it would drop too many heavy ass kernels even when "trickling" and always overcharge. IMR 4064 was even worse; its like trying to meter vermicelli! LOL

 

Tac meters like water. No seriously, like don't use it in a lee perfect powder measure, it'll actually work its way out in funny places due to tolerances. Works awesome from my hornady lnl powder measure on a stand with a satern funnel. Nearly as fast a gravity.

 

In my gun I get better accuracy than Varget because the charge is more consistent since I'm not going to trickle every charge to a specific weight. Add to that the issues with seating on a not identical compressed charge, and tac wins.

Matt, what bullets are you using TAC with? Previously i thought it was only suitable for 55 grainers, but looking at ramshot's site, they have load data for heavies too. I like to load 69 gr SMK's for more precision shooting and from what you describe, a powder like tac would work great for my LnL.

Matt, what bullets are you using TAC with? Previously i thought it was only suitable for 55 grainers, but looking at ramshot's site, they have load data for heavies too. I like to load 69 gr SMK's for more precision shooting and from what you describe, a powder like tac would work great for my LnL.

 

I've only got the 55 gr varmint nightmare (vne in the ramshot load data) out to the range yet. I've got a mess of 60-62gr stuff to chrono and test for accuracy waiting for a day I can take off and it isn't raining.

Any stick powder can be a ****. Its the nature of the beast. I stick with it because its the least senstivie to temperature differences. I load single stage one step at a time so its not really that bad for me. Having a consistant throw with the powder measure helps.

I guess its something you have to spend a few thousand rounds getting used to!

Dan... Let us know how the CFE223 works out. I was considering it but I wanted to hear a little personal experience first. I spent a LOT of time working up the loads I use now. The copper fowling limiting properties of the CFE223 did get my interest though

Ken

Any stick powder can be a ****. Its the nature of the beast. I stick with it because its the least senstivie to temperature differences. I load single stage one step at a time so its not really that bad for me. Having a consistant throw with the powder measure helps.

I guess its something you have to spend a few thousand rounds getting used to!

Dan... Let us know how the CFE223 works out. I was considering it but I wanted to hear a little personal experience first. I spent a LOT of time working up the loads I use now. The copper fowling limiting properties of the CFE223 did get my interest though

Ken

 

Tac is pretty insensitive to temp swings. There was an American rifleman article on temp sensitivity, that had a few powders. One of the hodgkin extreme powders (not Varget iirc), tac and a couple others. Loaded them all at once and chronoed them over multiple seasons. Iirc the temp spread was 20f to 90f, and tac's muzzle velocity changed less than the Hodgkin powder marketed as enhanced temperature tolerant.

 

It's a very good powder for the ar platform.