As a new reloader I am courious to find, which powder is recommended for loading 223 and 30 06 loads. I will be useing 55gn projectiles for 223 and 150, 165, 180gn for the 30 06. Would like to be the low 3's for the 223 and the high 2's for the 06. Also looking for the best publications for these applications, Thanks to all.

I can't tell you what's best; others have more experience than I. I can tell you that I've liked Vihta-Vuori N133 in 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem.

Varget can be used in both cartridges.

I've always leaned toward IMR4350 for the '06, but 4895 does a good job, too.

I load for both.

In the .223, I use H4895 but H335, Varget and BLC2 all work well too.

For the 30-06, I use IMR4350 but IMR4831 is a common choice.

Best thing is to find what your rifle likes. That the joy of reloading, it gives you lots of reasons to shoot!

As a new reloader I am courious to find, which powder is recommended for loading 223 and 30 06 loads. I will be useing 55gn projectiles for 223 and 150, 165, 180gn for the 30 06. Would like to be the low 3's for the 223 and the high 2's for the 06. Also looking for the best publications for these applications, Thanks to all.

Allegany, I couldn't decide if you wanted to load both with the same powder, or if you wanted the "best" powder for each.

With a both scenario, IMR/H4895's would be my chioce. MOST .223's will shoot their "best" with one or the other, if you try a couple of different bullets. And MOST .30-06's, or at least the half dozen I've owned, will shoot extremely well with 150/165/180 gr bullets with either H or IMR.

But for .223's, I've had very good luck, with several that I've owned over the years, with BL-C2, W748, AA 2230, IMR 4895, (and others). Any one would likely give very good results with several different bullets.

For the .30-06, H-414, and W760 would be my first choices with 150/165gr bullets, H4831, and AA 3100 with the 180's.

But the 4895's would be my only choice for a single powder on the shelf.

In general, the optimum powder for a given use will fill the case to the base of the bullet without compression, and deliver nearly but not over maximum pressures.

Given that definition, however, both the 223 and the 30-06 have a good number of optimum powders. The "best" of those optimums is the one that shoots best in your individual rifle. That requires experimentation, which in our sport means to have to shoot a lot. (Oh darn, huh?)

To TMan's excellent list for the 223, I'd have to add AA 2015, RL-15, Varget, Benchmark, TAC, H335, and STILL others. The 223 is simply omnivorous. It will digest almost anything with great results. My current favorites include TAC and Benchmark, but my previous two "goto" powders were W748 or H322. Note that I like to have one spherical and one extruded choice, because in my experience, a rifle can have a strong preference for one or the other. I have no clue why, but they darn sure do. I always try both with a new gun and let it pick.

I'll have to let others opine on the 30-06, but it is equally non-fussy with powder. Forced to make a recommendation, I'd nod at one of the 4350s or H414/W760, that again being an extruded/spherical pairing.

Yeah Rocky, I'm sure a couple of powders qualify as a bad .223 powder, H1000, or R25, but I've shot the barrels out of a couple .223's over the last 40? years or so, and the list is pretty short.

I have had great results with 4895 (both) and generally start with it for all rifle cartridges. I buy it by the keg because it is so versatile. My current stores are IMR, chosen ONLY for price at the time, but Hodgdon and surplus have worked just as well for me. I have determined for myself, at least for the 4895s I have tried, that the differences between the two are no greater than normal lot-to-lot variations within the same brand. Any change in lot or brand requires a new set of workup loads to insure safety. That said, the load for my match rifle (.223) has stayed the same across 3 kegs of powder from very different lots and changing from Hodgdon to a surplus lot from an unknown manufacturer, to IMR all being 4895.

I have had good experience with other powders, and a few of my rifles prefer others, but I *always* start with 4895 and go from there. The exception to this rule is my "rifle" calliber "pistols" (Contenders) where I start with 4198, which I also buy by the keg and have the same experiences with regarding manufacturers and lots.

4895 or Varget is a good choice for both especially if your 06 is an auto loader. Slower powders work great in 30-06 bolt guns but can bend the operating rods of auto loaders.
I load for a Garand and a bolt gun the Garand likes 4895 and the bolt gun loves H4831 so for the bolt gun I use nickle brass to make it less likely to get the wrong loads in the Garand.

It is easy to say that 4895 is the 30-06 powder since the Gov't purchased thousands of tons if it during WWII. IMR 4064 and 4320 are also very close and will work well. As someone stated before, powders with slower burning rates may not work well in auto-loading rifles, and could even cause damage.

I use Benchmark in my .223 with both 40 and 55 grain bullets. The old 788 really likes both and shoots clover leafs at 100 yards. The new 700SPS Vamint I'm not sure because it's still without glass.

My old Enfield likes H4350 with 180's and 165's. It still shoots very well, despite it's advanced age. Kinda like kdub and M1894 in that respect.:D

RJ