reloading .223/5.56

Post by **kyswede** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:53 am

I will be reloading for my AR soon and would like to know what powder most folks are using. I have 3 reloading manuals at the present time and have been reloading for over 25 years. Thanks in advance.

Post by **Wyldman** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:20 pm

My favorite 5.56 powder is Win 248 using small rifle magnum primers. Gets a 55 gr pill moving right on out to around 3300 fps pretty easily.

Post by **Dustin** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:45 pm

I have been using that new CFE 223 and have had good luck with it and Varget. H4195 Ran great in the carbines but not my SBR. I really liked the H4195 because of the low charge weigh.

Post by **kyswede** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 3:15 pm

Dustin wrote:I have been using that new CFE 223 and have had good luck with it and Varget. H4195 Ran great in the carbines but not my SBR. I really liked the H4195 because of the low charge weigh.

Did you mean to type 4198? I have a pound of 4198 and may start with it, as 20 grains will get me where I want to go. Getting 350 loads per pound sounds good to me. I also have some Varget. When I find a powder I really like I will buy an 8# jug.

Post by **Dustin** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 3:24 pm

4198 could be correct. I was going from memory. Charge weight sounds right. If that is what the manual has.

Post by **jmeister** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 5:26 pm

I use Varget or H4895

Post by **kyswede** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:05 pm

I use H4895 in a couple of other calibers. Maybe I will load about 50 each using H4895, H4198 and Varget. I should have my die set and bullets by this weekend, so I may be loading next week. I need to get a RCBS primer pocket swage tool that mounts on the bench for removing primer pocket crimp on military brass. I have enough commercial brass to get me started.

Post by **son of liberty** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:02 pm

24 grains of varget pushing a 75 grain sierra BTHP, loaded to 2.253.

Post by **Wyldman** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:25 pm

kyswede wrote:I use H4895 in a couple of other calibers. Maybe I will load about 50 each using H4895, H4198 and Varget. I should have my die set and bullets by this weekend, so I may be loading next week. I need to get a RCBS primer pocket swage tool that mounts on the bench for removing primer pocket crimp on military brass. I have enough commercial brass to get me started.

The Dillon pocket swaging tool is far superior and not too expensive. It makes swaging military brass really fast and easy. I have it bolted to my portable bench and can clean up military brass with crimped primer pockets as fast as I can throw the handle. I have found nothing that works better, period.

Post by **kyswede** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 9:11 pm

Wyldman wrote:
kyswede wrote:I use H4895 in a couple of other calibers. Maybe I will load about 50 each using H4895, H4198 and Varget. I should have my die set and bullets by this weekend, so I may be loading next week. I need to get a RCBS primer pocket swage tool that mounts on the bench for removing primer pocket crimp on military brass. I have enough commercial brass to get me started.
The Dillon pocket swaging tool is far superior and not too expensive. It makes swaging military brass really fast and easy. I have it bolted to my portable bench and can clean up military brass with crimped primer pockets as fast as I can throw the handle. I have found nothing that works better, period.

Thanks Wyldman. I will check it out. I have read some reviews saying the RCBS is as good or better than the Dillon.

Post by **etownguy** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:54 pm

Last loads I picked up from dad last part Is a joke he got a killer deal on a bunch of z-max bullets. He said they were pretty fast loads using magnum primers.

Better than 50 years of loading experience

Kentucky Armory Club