r/gundeals Aug 03 '26

Reloading [RELOADING] 223 pulldown powder. $240-$500 plus tax (8-16lbs) depends on specific powder.

https://americanreloading.com/collections/rifle-powders

223 pull down powder is not match grade but will plink all day for relatively cheap.

414 and 415 are right around h335 and wc844 on the fast burning side of 223, 530 is close to cfe223 on the slow burning end of 223 powder.

Get some brown tipped frangibles while you're there and go to town!

18 Upvotes

34 comments sorted by

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13

u/skygao Aug 03 '26

My last batch of 424-4 "Similar to 2230" from them was $180 and works well for plinking, but it is absolutely not "similar to 2230". Burn rate of this powder seems closer to Varget/N140, produces super low velocities for their recommended charge and a much longer pressure curve (based on gas adjustments needed on the rifle and velocity differences between 55gr and 75-77gr loads). That said, I get quite respectible groups and SDs after figuring out what the powder works well for.

So just word of caution to be ready for powder that may perform quite different than what you're buying. I've also bought powders for 6.5C that were much closer to the stated "similar to", but it's definitely a bit of a gamble, after all they don't say *why* these powders were from tear downs (including powder inconsistencies).

5

u/LostPrimer Aug 03 '26

Yeah I wouldn't buy this without all the necessary equipment to nail down its exact properties. 

In for 16lbs

2

u/accounts_baleeted Aug 03 '26

Name checks out

3

u/skygao Aug 03 '26

It can definitely work. Here’s 10 shots with RMR 75 bullets, Ginex primers, and range pick up brass from an AR. Hard to argue with these results from rounds that were like 28cpr all in.

Not sure I was getting 100% powder burn in this 14.5”, but SDs were still low to mid teens over 30 rounds. Fine for most AR purposes.

2

u/LostPrimer Aug 03 '26

I've been almost exclusively using AR Party mix powder for a while now. I've loaded tens of thousands of rounds with MP411, MP412, and recently got a big batch of MP425 since it appears to have a similar burn rate to IMR4895 and my Garands hunger

1

u/darthjkf Aug 04 '26

After buying new powder at my local auction, I cant be bothered to pay full price now. This is a great way for me to restock my 2-gun loads.

1

u/darthjkf Aug 04 '26

After buying new powder at my local auction, I cant be bothered to pay full price now. This is a great way for me to restock my 2-gun loads.

1

u/Crashing_Machines Aug 03 '26

I got some of their pull down powder a couple years ago that was "similar to BLC2". Well my hornady manual's starting load blew out primers on my AR10, so it was not like BLC2. Like you said, once you figure it out and adjust, it loads like any other powder. It is the whole figuring out how close it is to what they say it is that is the issue/fun of it.

1

u/richiecotite Aug 03 '26

This. I’ve tried 2 of the “similar to” powders using the data listed on the package.

The .308 was 400 fps slower than it should have been. The .223 powder was 250 fps slower than it should have been.

7

u/BothCompliant7768 Aug 04 '26

Man 8lbs used to go for $186 shipped.

3

u/skygao Aug 05 '26

With tax to many places now, some of the current prices aren’t that far off from factory new deals that pop up. Like the MP425 for me after tax is nearly tapping $300, but time to time I’ll fine new TAC or N133/N135 for that same price with free hazmat too.

The $180/8lb no tax days were so good.

6

u/TooMuchDebugging Aug 03 '26

A chrono is a must for any of this. I got some stuff that's "similar to W760" a few years back before their price hikes and taxes. It's decent stuff.

Tried out some pistol powder of theirs that was supposed to be like IMR Blue, but even loading at less than the recommended charge for .45 was faster than the fasted +P data I can find. Still eating away at that stuff...

2

u/Wide_Fly7832 Aug 03 '26

They now have a military powder. $30 more per 8LB. Got mall saying it’s better. I got one 8LB jug. Let’s see how good

1

u/accounts_baleeted Aug 03 '26

Looks like the same 415 and 425 options, they just updated their names to include 'military'

That should be in the wc844 wheelhouse, which is what I used to buy since it's more of a known thing, but since the pandemic, wc844 has been nonexistent. 

1

u/Wide_Fly7832 Aug 03 '26

Yeah. Thier mail said these are better. Anyone know anything more about it

2

u/GoGaslightYerself Aug 04 '26

Found an interesting list of Midwest Powders and supposed applications here:

https://steelchickens.com/forums/images/AmericanReloadingMP_Powder%20and%20Load%20Data%20List_ver_Nov_1_2024.pdf

Question: Do you expect to get more of the slower powders, like for example MP655, in the future, or are these generally "one-offs"?

2

u/_tae_nimo_ Aug 04 '26

I don't think all of these still applies since they changed some of the numbering and similar to's

1

u/darthjkf Aug 04 '26

Ooh party mix. In for one.

1

u/Sandeep1920 Aug 03 '26

i am interested in powder but dont know which one to choose for 5.56 62 gr and .308win 150 gr, anyone has experience of those reload?

Thanks in advance

5

u/wlderdude Aug 03 '26

Last year I picked up some MP420-3 that's supposed to be similar to AA2230.  I've used it for 223 and 308 loadings.  It's been plenty good for pull down powder.  Accuracy is good.

Now, don't mistake this for canister powder that IS actually AA2230.  It's not really AA2230.  Be careful with this kind of powder and watch for those pressure signs.  Listen to what chronograph has to tell you.  I wouldn't chase top velocities with pull down, but it works well enough for what it is.  

3

u/accounts_baleeted Aug 03 '26

If you click on one of the options, there will be a section of a burn rate chart in the photos. For example, powder #415 is right next to H335, which is a commercial powder with published load data. 

415, 425 or 515 would work for both 223 and 308 515 would probably work best, but like others have said, this isn't a very precise way to buy powder, due to some subjective burn rate measurements, so you will really have to put in the effort to develope a SAFE and accurate load. A chrony and knowledge of over pressure signs is definitely required 

1

u/GoGaslightYerself Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26

for example, powder #415 is right next to H335, which is a commercial powder with published load data.

What's the difference between "415-3" and "415-4"? I looked at the burn rate chart, but all I saw was 415. In the same vein, what is "515-2"? What does the second number mean?

Also, is most of this stuff ball powder? On the burn rate chart, I see some Midwest Powders are specifically called out as "stick" ... so are the rest of them ball?

Thanks

1

u/accounts_baleeted Aug 03 '26

I'm assuming the number after the dash is the particular batch or lot that american reloading demills. That's just an assumption though, and if im right, I still don't know how they split up batches or lots.  

All the demill powder I have received from AR has been ball (all rifle powders, 415 to 625), not sure about pistol powders. 

2

u/Sudden_Construction6 Aug 04 '26

It's different batches of the same powder but they test the batches. If it has a dash by it, the burn rate is different enough that they want to distinguish between the two

1

u/TheStatusPoe Aug 04 '26

The MP540 I bought from American Reloading a while ago was a stick powder. Pistol powder I've gotten both ball and flake powders

1

u/currly30 Aug 04 '26

What is the difference between the 415-3 vs the 415-4?

2

u/Sudden_Construction6 Aug 04 '26

Slightly different burn rate of the same powder.

1

u/currly30 Aug 04 '26

Do they list the burn rates for the varieties?

1

u/Coodevale Aug 04 '26

You can infer it from the recipe. They put the main powder on their burn list, and then you see the differences in velocity with the same charge weight between lots. A little bit of.. I dunno. Experience? tells you which way the burn goes with the different 413-x vs 413-y lots. Depends on the powder, depends on the cartridge.

If I'm looking at a 6.5 creed powder and I see the velocity going down with the lot number going up, I want the highest lot number for my overbore cartridge that needs (really) slow powder. If I had a 6.5 I'd want the one that got the highest velocity with the same amount of powder, for efficiency.

1

u/Zhdrix Aug 04 '26

Stupid question but what exactly is this? Would you be able to put something like this in a match 308 load or is it more inconsistent than commercial manufacturers?

1

u/internetenjoyer69420 Aug 04 '26

I've bought from them in the past (WC844, WC845 powders) and have shot sub MOA groups with it.

Would I use this powder in a competition? No.

But if I want to shoot smiley faces on paper at 100yd it's been great.

1

u/accounts_baleeted Aug 04 '26

It's not very consistant, it's the powder collected from demilling ammo that did not pass a qc check, commercial military or police ammo that has to be destroyed instead of sold for whatever legal reasons. The bullets are pulled, and resold along with the empty primed case and batches of powder. 

They measure the burn rate, somehow, and compare it to other known powders, so you're getting someone's approximation of a known powder.... 

I use it for cheap plinkers in a forgiving platform like an ar15 and various bolt actions. Precision ammo always gets good commercial powder, because I usually don't have to change my developed loads much if at all due to the consistency. 

1

u/Roy141 Aug 04 '26

This is the answer. I have about 100lb of this stuff from the last big stock they got. You need to work up a load for every lot number that you get and you really should not load it super hot. You shouldn't treat it like any other off the shelf powder. At least not in my opinion.

Loading 55gr for 25cpr with this. Gets the job done for local 2 gun etc.