Better powder to use on Light/Heavy bullets?

[Tactical30]

I just got into reloading and noticed all 3 of the reloading books dont really say what powders (by name) are the best for either the lighter or heavier bullets. Why?

I mainly load for my .223/AR-15 and 6.5 Grendel/AR-Platform and was wondering what powders are better for the heavier and lighter bullets.

Example: <span style="font-weight: bold">Better powders for 68gr.-77gr. bullets for AR's??</span>
Example: <span style="font-weight: bold">Better powders for 52gr-62gr. bullets for AR's??</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Why are faster/slower powders better for either of these?
</span>

How about for the 6.5 Grendel? I checked the 6.5grendel website and it seems most of them use BL-C(2) and Win748 for the 120 and 123gr. bullets. I have loaded some 123gr. Lapua Scenars with BL-C(2), 120gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips with
BL-C(2) also it shoots VERY well.

Also for the 6.5 Grendel most if not all of the load data I have found they use the CCI-450 Magnum primers, im thinking because it will burn the "ball" powder better but can you use stick powder such as Varget or Benchmark with magnum primers?
On Alexander Arms load data it only has 1 stick powder listing of Benchmark but it was with a 95gr. bullet if im not mistaken. All other bullets such as 107gr, 108gr, 110gr, 120gr, 123gr, 140gr are ALL ball powder. Why is this?

 

[gnfiter3]

Re: Better powder to use on Light/Heavy bullets?

Welcome to the land of "What Power." Generally speaking, lighter bullets, faster powders.

I don't have "Professorr Status," a term I use for guys here with a bucket load of tech experience in loading; but that's a rule of thumb. The trick is to find a powder that has a wide range. Here the favorite is Varget, for the most part.

I think you will find in most cases, load data from manufactures list the powder with a bullet weight where best performace can be attained; usually with a given twist rate.

Example: Ramshot list Xterminator with the lighter pills with the slower twist. TAC with the heavier pills and faster twist. TAC will work with the lighter pills, but IMHO, powder manufacurers make recommendations for a reason. We just work around it. Check their web-sites and you will see this. A general reloading manual, listing multiple powders and manufacturers, may not show this trend.

I have come to the conclusion that I can make do, and do well with one powder, for the majority of what I load (.223, 69 grainers and .308, 168 hpbt), TAC, BLC-2, RL-15. I also want something that meter well progressively. Hope to find that one of these also works wonders in .243 & 25-05, but two powders beats one for light and one for heavy in four calibers.

The other consideration that has been noted here, temp. sensitivity. Not an issue for me, it's cold this morning, like 51, not like Pa, where it's (2damncold) in the winter, and 95 in the summer. Atmospheric conditions are not a concern of mine.

Just stay tuned, and one of the "Resident Professors" will give you the tech. solution?