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Best powder for 80gr 223 in 1-8 twist 24"

Kubitza123

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 15, 2012
806
35
44
Central Texas near Waco
Just bought a barreled action and now need to find and buy some loading stuff .

Ill be using Lapua brass and Berger 80gr VLD .


What powders would work good for this??

Looking for something accurate and not temp sensitive .

Any help would be great thanks .
 
VARGET...period. Nothing else will come close, believe me I have tried. Works just as good in a 15 inch pistol barrel. There is a picture of my Mongoose here:
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...-bolt-action-handguns-learn-me-something.html

I have made boring hits with it on 12" steel at TVP out to 700yds. Sadly it runs out of steam pretty quick after 700 and try as I might 1000 yds eluded me. But hell its is a PISTOL!

I did not use the 80gr Berger although I do have a box. Mostly I used 80gr SMKs, Nosler CCs, and Hornady AMax. I need to get it out of the safe and take it for a spin.
 
I'm quite partial to N140 with the heavy bullets.
 
Do yourself a favor and try AR-Comp Powder.

If you have a true Wilson Chamber barrel,
80gr SMK
24.0gr AR-Comp
LC Brass
Tula SRMP
2.46" OAL

That load shoots very well out to 600yards in my RRA NM 20" Service Rifle. Accurate, brass is on 5th firing, and primer pockets are still nice and tight.

that said, I also have a Krieger barreled upper...that load is waaay too hot for it & accuracy isn't there either.
 
Just bought a barreled action and now need to find and buy some loading stuff .

Ill be using Lapua brass and Berger 80gr VLD .


What powders would work good for this??

Looking for something accurate and not temp sensitive .

Any help would be great thanks .

Too many different 223 chambers out there for a one size fits all answer. What is OAL with 80 gr bullet of choice to touch lands? Once that information is added to your post, an accurate answer can be posted.
 
After a lot of testing with Varget, TAC and IMR8208 I went with AA2520. I shot it at matches when temps ranged 35 to 95 degrees and it was pretty stable. Also gives me enough ass to get to 1000 yards without pooping out. Won't relay my powder charge as it was worked up for my gun.
 
I shoot pointed 82 bergers. I've tried a lot of powders: Varget, TAC, H4895, RL15, and finally 8208xbr.

Varget was excellent, but too bulky and a little slow.
TAC meters like water, and has excellent velocity, but is more temperature sensitive than I would like.
H4895..ain't nothing wrong with that.
RL-15 is picky with higher temps, more so than TAC in my opinion.

And then, I tried 8208xbr...it's damn near magical for heavy bullets and 223. No temperature sensitivity, excellent metering capability, superb velocity, low ES/SD, easy on brass. I am sending my 82 bergers at 2900 with 24.4 grains of 8208 and it is easily my favorite rifle to shoot.