Hey everyone,
I am going to start reloading .223 for my AR's and my Mini. All have 16 inch barells. So I was wondering what recipe you all use for this configuration. I want to get the most velocity and energy.
Thanks.

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All that is needed for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.

I've loaded using all 5 with excellent results throwing from RCBS powder measure.

Winchester 748
WC846 (surplus)
WC844 (surplus)
H355 (basically WC844)
BLC2 (basically WC846)

62 gr SS109 w/24.5 gr WC846, CCI41 primers,and mixed range brass is my standard range bang bang load. It runs me around .12 a round when I buy powder, primers, and bullets in bulk. (THIS IS MY LOAD AND NOT A RECOMMENDATION. BE SAFE AND WORK YOUR OWN LOAD UP)

Many load data choices listed with a Google search including powder choice and bullet type/weight.

Example:

http://www.223reloads.com/home/223-5...g/wc-846-loads

Three powders...
Varget
Benchmark
CFE223
All Hodgdon powders, and will work wonders with your barrels

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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Accurate 2230 All so 2200

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man that loves guns Big Little X NAVY 375 Dan 357 M 41 M 44 M Long guns 22 223 243 25.06 270 30.06 Black powder 45 cal 50 cal hand and longe guns. I load all that I shoot

I second Winchester 748. It works good in both AR's and mini's.

Varget and 8208XBR. the others listed are no problems, either... those two are just my preference.

Rl 10x

What is the pet load you have found .... with CFE 223? Not NECESSARILY the ones listed on the PLASTIC JARS' LABEL. ( experienced loaders ONLY) .55 gr. pills in .233

RL 10X is a fast buring powder. In a shorter barrel, there is little time for the powder to burn up. That's why I use RL10X. It's made by Alliant. I use AA2230 and H335 in my longer barrel rifles.

Yeah... we ALL read about it in this month's guns and ammo magazine too! LOL!
I think the EXPERIENCED loaders would tell you that you need to tailor the load for YOUR particular rifle... As MY load may shoot like utter CRAP out of YOUR particular firearm.

I also am willing to bet that as NEW as CFE223 is there are not a whole lot of reloaders out there who have got this particular flavor MASTERED yet... give it a month or two... I havent had the chance myself to go buy any. At $135.00 for 8 pounds, and the fact that its will work well in the 243, 308, etc... I have a lot of things I plan to try it in...

It seems logical that we should use a "faster" powder for short barrels but it's not so; what ever works 'best' for a longer barrel also produces the highest speed in shorter ones. It matters not a bit to the bullet how efficent the powder burn is, all that matters to the bullet the time/pressure curve. Peak chamber pressure occurs within the first 3-4 inches of bullet travel no matter the burn rate. Using a faster powder will raise the intial pressure faster but it also decreases the pressure faster, leaving less time for the peak pressure to work on making things fly fast.

243 likes slower powder any of the 4350 is good 2700 3100

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man that loves guns Big Little X NAVY 375 Dan 357 M 41 M 44 M Long guns 22 223 243 25.06 270 30.06 Black powder 45 cal 50 cal hand and longe guns. I load all that I shoot

Well, to answer your question above... 55 grain bullets in a 223... I loaded 4 different loads with CFE223 yesterday. 55 grain Midway dogtown hollowpoints, and 55 gn FMJBT hornady's. I loaded them over 27 grains, and 27.5 grains respectively. 10 rounds of each. 40 rounds total. 8 sets of 5 shot groups. a few minutes of barrel cooling in between group shootings, and no bore cleaning in between, as that really contradicts the whole POINT of CFE223, doesn't it?!??! LOL

the FMJ rounds did not group as well out of my particular 20" heavy barrel 1 in 9 twist AR15 as the dogtowns did. The 27.5 grain loads did not group any better than the 27 grain loads with FMJ but DID seem to tighten up the dogtowns by about a quarter inch. ALL 8 Groups averaged appx. 1 inch with 5 shots in each at 100 yards.
Also as I would expect... the 27.5 grain loads shot about a quarter inch to a half inch higher, on average, than the 27 grain loads.

Needless to say, it was not super conclusive... and more loads/weights need to be tested... but for now... I am confident to load 27 grains of CFE223 under a 55 grain bullet and have it hit where I aim, do what its supposed to... and HOPEFULLY keep my barrels clean.

Also... load data for CFE223 for the .243 is for lighter weight bullets... 75 and lighter... I plan to try a bunch of those as well when I get some time to load them up... I just got a half dozen boxes of 70 grain bullets for the 243... sierras and hornady's... plus the multitude of lighter stuff as well... I could make three dozen loads and not find the "perfect one" lol!

I like Reloader 7 & 10, H335, H4198 for short barrels. I shoot my minis with these powders. My Savage bolt shoots all my hand loads well.

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...Just take the shot...
Don't bother me-I'm reloading!

The 2200 is faster than the 2230

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man that loves guns Big Little X NAVY 375 Dan 357 M 41 M 44 M Long guns 22 223 243 25.06 270 30.06 Black powder 45 cal 50 cal hand and longe guns. I load all that I shoot