223 with 77 grn bullet

KnotRight

KnotRight

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I know every gun likes different bullets and powders, but I have some 77 match bullets coming and never reloaded from the weight. What powder have you found with the best results.

I have on hand:
Benchmark (mainly use in the 204 Ruger)
BL-C(2)
CFE-223
H335
H4895
Varget (Mainly use in the 308)
IMR 8208 (mainly use in the 204 Ruger)
 
I’d try a couple loads each in benchmark and varget just based on experience with those powders
 
jimmyjames8 said:
Where is there any 8208?
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I have some left over from loading the 204 Ruger. That is the only caliber I use it for because it is hard to get. Last pound of powder I bought was over 3 years ago. Luckily the 204 does not use much powder.
 
KnotRight said:
I have some left over from loading the 204 Ruger. That is the only caliber I use it for because it is hard to get. Last pound of powder I bought was over 3 years ago. Luckily the 204 does not use much powder.
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8208 XBR is good stuff. I have not been able to find any for awhile now....



I tried TAC as it is very close in performance to XBR in both the AR-15 and AR-10. It is also readily avaliable.
TAC_front__78694.1646141892.1280.1280.jpg




Definately try a few of your powders to see what your rifle likes best.
What barrel length & twist??
What chamber? .223, .223 Wylde, 5.56NATO
 
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If it were me, I’d probably run 8208.

I can’t speak as to how it does with 77s, but it’s the shiznit for 75s…at least, that’s been my experience with it.

The supply of it seems to have up and vanished like a fart it the wind, though, so I am giving RS TAC a try and so far, it’s been a winner.
 
In order..
8208 great all round powder works good with 69-77 bullets
4895
BLC-2
335
CFE-223
Vargot..don't really use it anymore,
Replaced it with 8208, when Vargot..was not around.

Use 8208 to work up some loads..
Then 4895

Its always best to work up loads with various powders just in case one is
hard to obtain. Not a oz or grain of Vargot..in the house
8208 have a few # here n there.

Still have 844, 844T, 846, 846T from the cheap days..


-Snoopz
 
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Snoopz said:
In order..
8208 great all round powder works good with 69-77 bullets
4895
BLC-2
335
CFE-223
Vargot..don't really use it anymore,
Replaced it with 8208, when Vargot..was not around.

Use 8208 to work up some loads..
Then 4895

Its always best to work up loads with various powders just in case one is
hard to obtain. Not a oz or grain of Vargot..in the house
8208 have a few # here n there.

Still have 844, 844T, 846, 846T from the cheap days..


-Snoopz
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Snoopz, I love 8208 and have maybe 2 pounds left. Once that is gone it might be impossible to find so I am saving it for the 204 Ruger. Interesting that you ranked CFE-223 so far down on your list. I use it in 223 (55 grn) and in almost all my 6.5 Grendel loads. I have a little over 2 pounds on hand, but that powder is available.
 
I've found CFE223 to be near king if you want pure velocity. It can be accurate when you're using the lighter bullets. However, AA2520 gives me amazing accuracy and velocity with lighter bullets in 556. I worked up a load using Xtreme 42gr zinc core. From my 20" AR it's moa accurate and averaging 3700fps.

Personally, I've had way better luck finding Varget than I have 8208. I've still got a good 9+ lbs of 8208, but I've got a lot more Varget. :)
 
clay_fv said:
I've found CFE223 to be near king if you want pure velocity. It can be accurate when you're using the lighter bullets. However, AA2520 gives me amazing accuracy and velocity with lighter bullets in 556. I worked up a load using Xtreme 42gr zinc core. From my 20" AR it's moa accurate and averaging 3700fps.

Personally, I've had way better luck finding Varget than I have 8208. I've still got a good 9+ lbs of 8208, but I've got a lot more Varget. :)
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clay_fv, I have a couple pounds of Varget but when looking at the Hodgdon reloading data, the max loads are compressed loads and I have a thing about shooting compressed loads. Are you loading Varget close to the max load?
 
KnotRight said:
clay_fv, I have a couple pounds of Varget but when looking at the Hodgdon reloading data, the max loads are compressed loads and I have a thing about shooting compressed loads. Are you loading Varget close to the max load?
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I'd have to look at each load. If you look at compressed load data though, you'll often see the pressures are fairly low. You just can't stuff enough if it in the case when you use those longer bullets.
 
I have had good results with Alliant RL15 and Varget, but they are both expensive and impossible to find now, so I switched to RS TAC. Based on internet conjecture, Black Hills uses a non canister grade blend of TAC with a flash suppressant to make MK262. Those are loaded hot with crimped primers, so I have not been able to duplicate the velocity, but the accuracy with off the shelf TAC is fantastic.
 
KnotRight said:
Snoopz, I love 8208 and have maybe 2 pounds left. Once that is gone it might be impossible to find so I am saving it for the 204 Ruger. Interesting that you ranked CFE-223 so far down on your list. I use it in 223 (55 grn) and in almost all my 6.5 Grendel loads. I have a little over 2 pounds on hand, but that powder is available.
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Yeah sorry bout that...when you have a supply of Ole WC-844 pull down all basically the same lot. Thats what I use for 55gr pills practice / blasting
24.5grs, CCI-400, LC, WCC brass

CFE is not a bad powder overall, just don't use it that much. Waa using the list of powders provided other than the WCC powders. Use a lot of 748, IMR-4895 though

Out of all them I use IMR-4895, IMR-4064, the most.. will exclude the 338 LM or the 50 BMG.
 
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jjwestbrook said:
My pet load is 75 gr bthp 25.8 gr blc2 I use it in 3 gun and consistently get hits out to 600 yds
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The Hodgdon website said the max load for BLC-2 was 24.9 using a 77-grain bullet. That produced a little over 2,800 ft/sec.
AT 25.8, were you getting any blown primes?
 
KnotRight said:
The Hodgdon website said the max load for BLC-2 was 24.9 using a 77-grain bullet. That produced a little over 2,800 ft/sec.
AT 25.8, were you getting any blown primes?
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Keep in mind they are probably using a 24" barrel. That sounds about right for 77. No blown primers with 75s at 25.8. I chrono out of a 16" at around 2650
 
Lee Satterfield said:
Everything you have will work. H4895 and 8208 would be my top pics.
23.2-23.4 of 8208 is a very popular load with 77 SMKs loaded to 2.26”.
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Made me go back and look at my data.

Best loads:
For 77 SMK, I use Varget @ 23.5gn.
For Hornady 75 BTHP, I use 8208 @ 23.2 gn.
 
Hashknife said:
8208 XBR is good stuff. I have not been able to find any for awhile now....



I tried TAC as it is very close in performance to XBR in both the AR-15 and AR-10. It is also readily avaliable.
View attachment 642718




Definately try a few of your powders to see what your rifle likes best.
What barrel length & twist??
What chamber? .223, .223 Wylde, 5.56NATO
Click to expand...

Worked up a load using TAC that shoots identical to the load I have using 8208 XBR (23.2 gr).

24.4gr TAC
 
For 69 or 77 gr 223, I like TAC or accurate 2520. I like to use the powder drop so the extruded powders are out. They also are way less efficient in terms of using the case volume. For example Varget has always given very consistent velocities for my 223 loads but nowhere near the Velocity of AA2520 or CFE223. I like TAC because it’s plentiful and works well for any bullet weight. with 69 gr SMK it’s a very forgiving powder.
 
The ONLY thing I don't like about TAC is that it's not temp stable like Varget or 8208. You could make an awesome winter load then come to summer and it needs to be tweeked by half a grain.

I believe it was ultimate reloader in YouTube that did that very test with Varget vs TAC.
 
clay_fv said:
The ONLY thing I don't like about TAC is that it's not temp stable like Varget or 8208. You could make an awesome winter load then come to summer and it needs to be tweeked by half a grain.

I believe it was ultimate reloader in YouTube that did that very test with Varget vs TAC.
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I’ve never done a test to determine temp stability of powders, but that is what I have heard/read about Varget and 8208. Ultimate Reloader on YouTube is one source I trust.

 
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In service rifle, I started with 24.0 of Varget, but I switched to 23.2 XBR. I made high master and legged out using XBR.

24.0 of TAC is good as well especially if you don’t want to weigh charges or don’t have an automatic powder dispenser.
 
I’ve heard that Varget works best with heavy bullets in 223.
 
Toprudder said:
I’ve heard that Varget works best with heavy bullets in 223.
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And that's true. For small 55gr and under bullets, CFE223 or AA2520 for better accuracy. For heavy (which usually means you want accuracy) then 8208 or Varget. TAC really is a great all around for light and heavy , but as mentioned, it is not temp stable.
 
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