Picking up some powders for my rifles, looking for tips

[HairyScandinavian]

Midsouth has a free hazmat going so I'm going to pickup more powders to try, looking for recommendations for powders that would be good for my rifles especially if they have a chance to knock two or more of them out.

Here's what powders I already have.
VV N555
CFE223
Lever
H4895
LT-30
Superformance

These are the rifles I'll be reloading for in order of me getting started learning and projectiles I plan to try which I have most of already in possession just not the newer TMK's.

Tikka 6.5 CM 20" barrel, 147 M, 130 TMK, 153 TMK
AR15 6mm ARC 18" barrel, 95 TMK, 108 M, 107 TMK
RAR 6mm ARC 16" barrel, 108 M, 107 TMK, 95 TMK
Bergara 6.5 CM 18" barrel, 130 TMK, 140 M, 147 M
AR15 6.8 SPC 18" barrel, 110 VMAX, 115 Gold Dot
AR15 223 plinkers 16" barrels, 75 MidSouth Blacktip, 62 bulk FMJ

I'm prepping cases today and will actually be making my first ever live ammo this week! Super excited but have a lot to learn and would like to have a variety of components and powder options as I start this new journey.

 

[kevingm1987]

6.5cm was built around H4350. Back in the day, Hornady used to post charge weights of H4350 on the box. Still probably the best and most used powder for the 6.5cm. Your barrels are a tad shorter than test barrels, but my 20" 6.5 shoots 130 vld-h at 2710 with 42.2gn of H4350. Deadly accurate. I would use it in that 130-147gn weight class.

Recently picked up some staball 6.5. Haven't had a chance to tinker yet though.

 

[streamerfish]

I haven't messed around too much with .223, but between the cfe223, 4895 and the lt-30 you should be fine. You can never go wrong with Varget or 8208 for a couple other options.

No comment/no experience with 6 arc or the 6.8.

On the 6.5's I consider N555 part of the holy trinity of 6.5cm. Its a very good powder, It may be trending a bit on the slower side burn rate wise on those short barrels. Maybe grabbing one of the other holy powders that are a bit faster burning might be prudent. RL16 or H4350.

 

[Chris in TN]

RL16 is great stuff in 6.5cm, but a bit expensive IMO. I'll likely switch when I run out.

I have shot 6.8 spc for a long time with VV N133 and now have used a bit of AA LT-30. The latter is fast and can be a bit spiky. The former is bulky and you kinda have to compress it a bit.

I really like Benchmark for my 5.56/75/77 loads.
I am now using Varget - yes, Varget -for lighter (not fully 'reduced' but on the lower end of full-power) 6.5cm/130 loads and have also used IMR4895. The cool thing about Varget is that it will also make great 5.56/75/77 loads. But if you already have H4895 there's no need for the Varget as those two will cover the same basic uses pretty well.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Guy could do a hell of a lot with h1000,4350, and lever

 

[Castle Rock]

You need 4350

 

[streamerfish]

RL16 is great stuff in 6.5cm, but a bit expensive IMO. I'll likely switch when I run out.

I have shot 6.8 spc for a long time with VV N133 and now have used a bit of AA LT-30. The latter is fast and can be a bit spiky. The former is bulky and you kinda have to compress it a bit.

I really like Benchmark for my 5.56/75/77 loads.
I am now using Varget - yes, Varget -for lighter (not fully 'reduced' but on the lower end of full-power) 6.5cm/130 loads and have also used IMR4895. The cool thing about Varget is that it will also make great 5.56/75/77 loads. But if you already have H4895 there's no need for the Varget as those two will cover the same basic uses pretty well.

Yeah...RL16 a little more expensive, but a little faster in most use cases. Both RL16 and H4350 are extremely temp stable. Great powders....

Really, between the Hodgdon Extreme line, and the Alliant temp stable lines of powders that covers pretty much any and all bases for reloading....

Tons of other great powders for different situational use bases, but those powders get the job done, and are all at the very top of temperature stability. If your looking for temp stability, and not a big tinkerer, stick within those two families, and your good to go.

 

[AndrewMT34]

H4350 for your 6.5cm and XBR 8208 for your 223

 

[Matt5266]

H4350, Varget, XBR 8208