Temp. stable 223 powder that meters in a progressive press?

LeviSS

LeviSS

New member
I've used Varget with a 60gr V-Max for years. It works really well for me.

I bought a Dillon 550. Varget doesn't meter well with the powder drop, being an extended powder.

I've been using CFE-223 and 55gr soft points for my blasting ammo. The CFE meters excellent, but I've read of people having trouble with it being temperature sensitive.

Is there anything that meters well in a progressive press and doesn't have problems with temperature swings since I hunt in the winter months? I'm spoiled by the progressive press, but will just load with a single stage or hand drop and use a funnel with the 550 if I have to.
 
exatly how much hunting ammo do you plan on needing?

i too run the powder drop for blasting ammo, but for hunting stuff the CHargemaster hits the bench and the funnel goes in place of the powder thrower.


loading 50 or 100 round here and there 'the hard way' isnt THAT bad is it?
smile.gif
 
With careful load development and slow meticulous press operation, I loaded thousands of rounds of 30-06 match ammo on a Dillon 450. There's not a lot of difference in size/shape of 4895 & Varget so I'd expect to be able to throw +/- .1 gr or better w/Dillon w/Varget as well.

I realize the case capacity of a .223 is much less than an '06 but w/careful load workup doubt you would see it in the field, but have to admit, I've never used stick powder in the 223.

We don't have the temp. extremes that you do, but never had a temp. issue w/H335 in the 223's FWIW.

Regards,
hm
 
Originally Posted By: Plant.Oneexatly how much hunting ammo do you plan on needing?

i too run the powder drop for blasting ammo, but for hunting stuff the CHargemaster hits the bench and the funnel goes in place of the powder thrower.


loading 50 or 100 round here and there 'the hard way' isnt THAT bad is it?
smile.gif


I don't need that much per year to hunt with, but I like to shoot with it some in my scoped AR to stay sharp with it and use the blasting ammo in my M4 style AR. That's what I'm trying to figure out, though...if I can do it with the powder drop, then I'd like to. But if I have to break out the scale and funnel, it's not that bad.
 
Originally Posted By: GCTAC...
X2!! Beat me to it. Getting ready to load for a 204 and this was suggested to me by another shooter.
 
Have you had issues with CFE-223 at varied temperatures? Or are you letting others convince you you have a problem when you don't? Do your load development NOW, in the heat of the summer, and life will be simple.
 
I also load on a 550,I have had very good results with IMR 4195.And in a pinch I can use H4198.Have not had any powder spills and drops are very consistent.This is shooting out of an AR and a Rem 700..223 caliber
 
For Blasting ammo which I call my 3-Gun ammo I use Alliant 1200-R which is relatively cheap to load as it takes about the least amount of powder per case to run 50-60gr bullets at good velocity. Also it doesn't fill the case quite so full as say CFE223 so less spillage while on a progressive machine.
 
Originally Posted By: Varminterror Do your load development NOW, in the heat of the summer, and life will be simple.

this is what ive always done. get my data when its hot. then re-verify the chrono results so i can make up any lost FPS in my click charts when i get closer to normal hunting temps.

i take all my pet loads out and shoot them at various temps so i have data.
 
Originally Posted By: VarminterrorHave you had issues with CFE-223 at varied temperatures? Or are you letting others convince you you have a problem when you don't?

Im letting others convince me.
smile.gif
. I've read that it can be finicky about temperature a few places, but I just started using it a couple months ago, so I haven't been able to see for myself.
 
Personally, I think the whole "temp sensitive powder" deal is blown way out of proportion. I HAVE experienced occasions where a load I worked up in the winter with no pressure signs might cause CHS in an AR or a sticky bolt lift in a bolt gun, but I've never heard of nor ever had any negative consequence from doing my load work up in the summer and then shooting in the cold. Things slow down a bit, that's a fact of life.

Largely I think the prevalence of temperature sensitivity in the firearms rumor mill has a lot more to do with Hodgdon's marketing strategy any any real world effects. By offering similarly numbered powders in "H" and "IMR" flavors, with one of them temp stable or "Extreme" and the other not, Hodgdon created a market where temperature sensitivity was a marketable attribute. Guys don't talk about temp sensitivity regarding Alliant, Accurate, or Vihtavuori powders nearly to the extend they do for H vs. IMR powders. There's also research out there which suggests the temperature insensitive powders are only insensitive in a specific operating pressure window - certain cartridges, bullet weights, and charge weights, and outside of that, they're just as sensitive as anything else on the market.

Then couple with that - there's a very common trend that the IMR non-"extreme" version of a powder ends up being more accurate in a lot of cartridges than the H version. So it's a give and take at best.

I worry more about finding a powder which gives me accuracy coupled with a lot of forgiveness at a max or near max velocity, and I do my load work in the summer whenever possible so I can spend my winters hunting.
 
Maybe im confused, but I would think that there is a considerable difference between "Blasting Ammo" and "Hunting Ammo". I would loading accordingly.
 
Originally Posted By: Smokin250Maybe im confused, but I would think that there is a considerable difference between "Blasting Ammo" and "Hunting Ammo". I would loading accordingly.

There is. I will of course use a different bullet. I don't get too excited if my blasting ammo has a little bit of variation... hunting ammo I want as consistent as possible.

That's what I'm trying to do...see if I can make very consistent ammo on a 550.
 
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