[El Chorizo]

I currently reload three rifle calibers, .223, .270 and .308. I'm currently using Varget in the .308 and .223. I would like to be able to use one powder for all three calibers. What do you recommend for one powder for all three calibers listed above?

I've looked at IMR-4320 and Alliant's RL-15. What do you think of either of those two?

Thanks in advance!

 

[andrew21]

I can say that RL-15 works well in my SPS tactical .223. Looking at the Alliant reloaders guide it say's "RE15. The best all round medium speed rifle powder. It provides excellent .223 and .308 cal. performance. Selected as the powder for U.S. Military's M118 Special Ball Long Range Sniper Round". This is a 2005 edition so I'm not sure if this is still the case. As for .270 I have no experience with that but going by the same book they recommend Reloader 22 but that is not to say RE-15 will not work in your .270. Hope that help's a bit

 

[El Chorizo]

Thanks for the reply.

I will probably just try what powder I have - Varget - before buying new stuff... I will need to use it up somewhere! I've had very good results with Varget in the .308, so It may be ok in the .270 as well. I've heard it works OK in the .223, so I may just try it out and see what kind of results I get with it.

 

[BK]

It's tough trying to make one powder work for all three. The .270 really thrives on a lot slower powder than the others. You'll probably end up with one that's a little too slow for the .223 and .308, while being too fast for the .270.

 

[thornblom]

I don't see any reason to try and make do with one powder for those 3 entirely different cartridges.
When consulting your loading manuals, you will see what the optimum powder should be for each of those cartridges. Usually it is the one that produces the highest velocity with the bullet you are intending to use and at the same time most nearly fills the case for the velocity you need with your chosen bullet. When looking at it in this light you will see that one powder can not even come close to being right for those 3 cartridges. For my shooting in my rifles, I use ww-748 and 60 grain bullets in the .223, IMR-4350 and 130 grain bullets in the .270, and either IMR-4064 or RL-15 and 165 to 168 grain bullets in the .308.

It may not be right for everyone, but it works for me.

Sincerely,
Dave (Bubba) Thornblom

 

[El Chorizo]

Dave, I think you are right. I think I will try the Varget in the .223 at least... and see how that goes. Although, I will be shooting my AR .223 in more of a "benchrest" style, so I may want to get a separate powder for it anyways.

What powder would you recommend for 62 grain FMJ bullets in the .223 for an AR-15?

 

[thornblom]

Dave, I think you are right. I think I will try the Varget in the .223 at least... and see how that goes. Although, I will be shooting my AR .223 in more of a "benchrest" style, so I may want to get a separate powder for it anyways.

What powder would you recommend for 62 grain FMJ bullets in the .223 for an AR-15?

Either ww-748 or IMR-3031. I used those powders in my Ruger #3 single shot .223 and in a Ruger mini 14. 3031 was cleaner at lower pressure loads and 748 was cleaner at close to max loads. Another powder that a lot of people use in .223 is Hodgdon's Bl-C (ball-c).

Sincerely,
Dave (Bubba) Thornblom

 

[El Chorizo]

I'm currently looking into the IMR-3031 as this powder as the AR was developed around this powder... or so I've read.

 

[BK]

Hodgdon's Bl-C (ball-c).

I don't mean to be the spelling/punctuation Nazi here, but I think when we are naming powders we had better get it right... BL-C(2)

Good recommendation here Bubba. This is a very good powder for the .223. I have loaded a bunch of it behind Ballistic Tips, V-Maxes and Speer SPs.

 

[M700]

What you are looking for is a "Jack of all trades" and you know what they say about that? "Master of NONE".

Ain't no such thing, ain't ganna happen.

.308 = RL15/Varget.

.223 in a bolt gun = IMR4198 and these are loaded on a RockChuker press, but for a gas gun = I have used H335, RL7, 748, BL-C(2), and I have tried IMR3031

.270 I can't help you here, I don't own one nor load for it.

 

[El Chorizo]

How do you like the IMR3031 for a .223 gas gun? Yeah, I think I will just use a dedicated powder for each gun. I will get better results that way I think.

 

[BK]

According to the guys at SC, IRM3031 is the right choice for loading an AR.

http://www.snipercentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13086

I have never really liked using it because I like to load a whole bunch of .223 at a time, and I also like to weight every charge with stick powders, and the two don't really work together. But I'm mostly loading for a Remington bolt action rifle, not an AR.

I have heard pretty good things about TAC in ARs. Supposed to have a coating that keeps the action from getting gummed up (I think).

 

[El Chorizo]

That's an excellent post at SC... I read that a couple times awhile ago, that's what made me look into IMR-3031. I used to weigh every charge for my .308, but I have a standalone powder measure and I finally decided it was accurate enough for what I was shooting!

 

[BK]

I have two RCBS Uniflow meters, and I trust them for ball powders, but not so much extruded.

Perhaps I should say I don't trust the operator.

 

[M700]

How do you like the IMR3031 for a .223 gas gun? Yeah, I think I will just use a dedicated powder for each gun. I will get better results that way I think.

You will have to remember that when the 5.56mm cartridge was designed for the Military, the original powder was IMR. The Army wanted a ball powder for firing at lower temps, and that's when the problems with jamming started - read fouling. IMR powders are cleaner burning than ball powders.

IMR powders are a PITA to load due to being a stick powder, but they are good.

 

[Targetshoot308]

I currently reload three rifle calibers, .223, .270 and .308. I'm currently using Varget in the .308 and .223. I would like to be able to use one powder for all three calibers. What do you recommend for one powder for all three calibers listed above?

I've looked at IMR-4320 and Alliant's RL-15. What do you think of either of those two?

Thanks in advance!

SemperFi, did you find a powder for all 3 yet?
I have some Benchmark that I am going to work with to see what I can get out of it.
I have a 700P in .308 and 1 in .223 and I have a friend that has a Tikka T3 in .270 so I am trying to achieve the same thing just to keep it easier in inventory. It will be a couple of months before I will have anything to report but will when I have the info.
I am going to work on the .308 then probably the .223, the friend doesn't think he will require a hand load, we will see.

Randy
700P .308
700P .223

 

[El Chorizo]

Well, not really. I decided to use Varget for my .308 and Benchmark for my .223 and the H4831 for the .270.

However, I think the benchmark would probably work in the .308, but I think the Benchmark might be just a bit quick for that gun. Which would only mean I could load it a bit lighter I guess.

The H4831 had such big kernels and after a lot of reading I decided that the H4831 was the best for the .270.

I also tried the Varget in my .223 (AR-15), and that just didn't seem to burn as clean as the Benchmark. However, the Varget would work well with heavy bullets. I'm shooting 55 grain v-max and have had good results with the Benchmark there.

I look forward to the results you get though!