Need to get some powder to load up some strings to test for my AR15 (223/5.56) . I bought some Hornady ELD Match 73gn and I've used TAC for all my loads so far but Hornadys manual doesn't have TAC as a powder option for this bullet weight.... Haven't ever used anything but TAC so far thru this gun. I'm getting .400" groups out of my other loads at 55gn, 69gn bullets with TAC. Would love to get that outta these ELD rounds.... Looking for a "top 3" list to start development. Any advice is appreciated.
Powder recommendations 73gn ELD Match
- Thread starter NorthCackHunter
- Start date
8208XBR, Varget and CFE223 are the top 3 I use for heavier 223 loads, 69-77gr+.
I vote Varget or Benchmark. My go-to .223 powders personally. Good results with BLC-2 also.
This might also help: http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/223-5-56mm-load-data-77gr-smk.31521/
This might also help: http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/223-5-56mm-load-data-77gr-smk.31521/
I have been working up a load for this bullet also. YMMV, but for me Varget is too slow, CFE 223 wouldn't group well and neither would AR Comp. XBR 8208 is promising but I'm concerned about over pressure once the temps rise. TAC is next on my list to try.
You can use TAC; probably even the same data as the 73gr seems to have a small bearing surface for BC even though it is long, and moves quite fast. You might want to back off and start no higher than 23.8 grains if a 5.56 chamber and work up.
I just plopped them over the same 8208 charge I was using for 77gr SMks (23.4gr) and did not have any pressure signs. 2820fps in an 18" douglas and grouped OK but it was a terrible weather day and I didn't have the patience to put a lot of effort into recording data. I also dropped them over my TAC load (24.3gr) without pressure signs just to test a couple rounds. Hope this helps.
I bet TAC will be your speed king if it groups well. It seems to yield some of the highest velocities with this class of bullet.
EDIT: I never put any more effort into them as I had a lot of TMKs and SMKs on hand and didn't consider the time to work them up worth the gain when the other two are dialed in and shooting so well. YMMV, of course.
I just plopped them over the same 8208 charge I was using for 77gr SMks (23.4gr) and did not have any pressure signs. 2820fps in an 18" douglas and grouped OK but it was a terrible weather day and I didn't have the patience to put a lot of effort into recording data. I also dropped them over my TAC load (24.3gr) without pressure signs just to test a couple rounds. Hope this helps.
I bet TAC will be your speed king if it groups well. It seems to yield some of the highest velocities with this class of bullet.
EDIT: I never put any more effort into them as I had a lot of TMKs and SMKs on hand and didn't consider the time to work them up worth the gain when the other two are dialed in and shooting so well. YMMV, of course.
I bought some Varget and Tac.... I'll let you all know how they go down range later this week ? thanks for all the input.
