What Is the Best Powder to Use for Reloading 5.56

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I have several powders for these and would looking to buy one(1) large container of a spherical powder that will work well in both calibers.
Prefer Hodgdon/IMR/Win powders(I like their online data) but open to others as I have all the main manuals

I am not a benchrest shooter just a range shooter, I am well stocked for 223/5.56 but lacking on 308 powder. I shoot more 5.56 than 308. I have enough primers and bullets. I use mainly H335 for the 5.56.

So is there a one, do it all. Per Hodgdon the CFE 223 and the Bl C(2)? I really do not care about copper fouling erasers.

If there is a Accurate brand spherical powder, that is fine also

Thanks
HJ857 Member

Joined:

Jun 14, 2007

Messages:

645
Personally I like powders with good temperature stability. So for me it's H4895 for both the calibers you listed. And I really like how it fills the case.
H335 works just fine in 7.62 Nato ammo for a gas gun and it sure meters great. Outside of it being a little temperature sensitive it's about perfect for both 5.56 and 7.62 IMHO. Just don't load to the ragged edge and it's fine even in hot weather.
I used about 75% of pound of BL-C(2) on .308Win load development using 165gr SST and was not really impressed. I found that low end loads proved to be sufficiently accurate but man were those cases smokey. I found another accuracy node around 46 gr but the test firing was done in single digit weather and when I tried the load again at 60 degrees F I was sorely disappointed... the cases were cleaner though.
I've read that BL-C was a military ball load powder but I didn't like the dirty cases in my bolt gun, I wouldnt dare try that load in a direct impingement firearm. I don't like spending more time than necessary cleaning so take this comment with a grain of salt.

Edit: my load development was based on Hodgdon data but used magnum primers
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Reloadron Contributing Member
I have yet to find a one powder fits all solution. Powders like H4895 or IMR4895 work in both .223 Remington (to include 5.56 NATO) and .308 Winchester but I can't seem to get a works best in all. Even with that said within for example the .308 Winchester family my gas guns (AR-10 and M1A) work very well with IMR4064 and IMR4895 but I get my best bolt gun results with AA2495.
I just can't find a single best powder so I always stock several and I will have several anyway for handgun loads.

Ron
I use Accurate 2230 for 223 and 308. Meters well and accurate in my guns.
I know I said Ball powder but after poking around how about IMR8206xbr?
It is one of Hodgdons "extreme" powders and lists both 556 and 308.

I am trying to get one powder as I have about 6 different ones in 1lb containers.
H-4895 or 8208XBR would be my choice, both are temperature stable powders and work well.
I personally load .308 with H-4895 and I really like it. 42 grains under a 168 grain HPBT is a real tack driver.
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Nature Boy Contributing Member

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Apr 21, 2015

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6,385
Varget
There's a reason it's hard to find. It makes accurate loads in both .223 and .308
Pro-tip, ADI is the powder manufacturer for Varget and different importers sell it under different names.
Handy little powder conversion chart for ADI powders.

http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloaders/equivalents.asp
Don't overlook ancient IMR 4320 powder.
H4895 is a fantastic powder for so many calibres. Plus it's ability to be loaded to a 60% off max charge for reduced recoil/velocity loads. It's like the "Unique" of HP Rifle powder. I'm actually loading some 140gr Hornady PSP's for a friend of mine's 270. He has been battling cancer and so many neck surgeries have eleminated his ability to draw a bow or look through a peep sight. Loading them with 28-31gr H4895. I'll run them through the Chrono next week and check accuracy. But don't overlook a classic.....IMR3031. Everything from .223/5.56 - 45-70. 3031 has a place in all of them.
Reloader 15 or Varget. Rel 15 has been REALLY good to me for .223 (69gSMK) and .308 (168gSMK).
I don't believe in "best powder" claims.
It might, or might not work as well in my gun.
What works great in your gun, may be absolute garbage in mine.
We can try different powders, but only you can say what works GREAT in yours.
Those powders are "close" but are not exactly Varget. There is only one Varget and yes, it is made by ADI but only Hodgdon gets it. The chart is not a conversion
"NOTE: These tables are only approximate, showing equivalent values within about 5%."

Regardless it is one of the "unattainable"
- Contributing Member
kcofohio Contributing Member
How about TAC, anyone? Western Powder seems to have plenty of data for it. As do some of the reloading manuals. And it seems to be out there.
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Toprudder Contributing Member
That chart is nothing more than a burn-rate chart. Never use similar burn rates as equivalency.
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rbernie Contributing Member
I'm a huge H4895 fan. It's not the very very best at anything but gives very good results in just about everything.
Too slow for M1A or Garand, IMO.
Varget gives me excellent results in .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, .243 Win and .308 Win. It is quite versatile.
Geno
BL-C(2) works great for me - maybe the brass comes out a little bit sootier than with other powders but at the end of the day the rifles themselves don't seem any dirtier (AR15s). I burn through a lot of it and buy it in 8#; I've also used W748 for both .223 and .308 with good results.
748 is easy on barrels and meters like nectar of the gawds.
The (purported) downside is temperature sensitivity.
If the Hodgdon powder (or IMR in the case of Trail Boss and 8208) is made by ADI in Australia, it is the equivalent of the ADI powder in the chart:
From another site (bold annotations made by me):
Other Hodgdon reps have also confirmed this to many people.
Now, for any other powders listed on that page, they're approximations. Obviously H414 isn't an exact equivalent of H4350 or AR2209 since H414 is a ball powder and the others are extruded powders.

The important question is, Why can't they spell Center correctly?

Matt