Hodgdon
Powder Company is the leader in gunpowder and has introduced
Benchmark, a precision rifle propellant, new this year.
As the name implies, it is developed for precision cartridges.
Benchmark powder is suited for bench rest and varmint
cartridges like 222 rem. 6mm, 22ppc, 6mmBR, and my favorite,
223 Remmington. Benchmark powder works well with 308
caliber light to medium weight bullets and is also a
good choice for 30-30win.and more.
Benchmark is a very short and fine extruded powder,
which is suited for powder measures on progressive presses
to deliver exact weight every round.
I tested two rifle calibers with Benchmark powder. One
was 223 caliber in 55 grain match from Sierra bullets
with Remmington brass and CCI primers. I followed the
reloading manual for the correct powder weight and seated
the bullet to the specified AOL. The rifle I used was
a bull barreled AR-15 with a 3x9 scope and a bipod on
a bench with sandbags. The rifle was locked in and I
was shooting at one hundred yards. With a chronograph,
I measured every round. The average feet per second
was 3250 for 10 rounds and measured a sub 1 MOA on average.
The second caliber I tested was a 308 with a match 168
grain hollow point from Sierra bullets with Winchester
brass and CCI primers. I followed the same reloading
procedure as before. This time I used a Savage model
110 in 308 caliber and a Choate stock and with a bipod.
The rifle was locked in and started shooting at one
hundred yards. With a chronograph, I measured every
round. The average feet per second were 2642. For 10
rounds, I measured a sub MOA on average.
What I liked about the Hodgdon's benchmark powder was
that it burns very clean and leaves very little residue.
This is especially nice for shooting semi auto firearms.
The chamber and the gas port are not fouled like with
other gunpowders. I was impressed by the performance
of the powder and will continue to use Benchmark.
To contact Hodgdon Powder Company:
Phone: 913-392-9455
Fax: 913-362-1307
Watts: 800-622-4366
Website: Www.Hodgdon.Com
by: Ken Menge
