Loading .223 to Keep Your AR-15 Fed

In my first reloading article, I launched shooters to the world of reloading. We checked out parts, gear, procedures, and many others. For the second a part of this collection, we are going to take a look at reloading .223. This is among the hottest calibers to reload, together with 9mm. Although you should buy both caliber in bulk, with the current spike in costs, it’s nonetheless cheaper, in the long term, to “roll your personal.”

This text will delve into the query of why you’d need to reload this caliber, the gear that it’s worthwhile to reload this rifle caliber, its parts, and different basic data. Hopefully, I can throw in a couple of suggestions alongside the best way.

Why Reload The .223?

Let’s take a look at the query of why we’d need to reload this caliber, particularly when you should buy it in bulk as talked about above. There’s multiple reply to that query.

One factor that reloading .223 can do for you is provide you with whole management over your hundreds…

Wish to shoot a sure bullet which you can’t discover in loaded ammo in a retailer or on-line?
How about it’s worthwhile to load some lower-pressure hundreds which might be down a grain or two of powder for a brand new shooter?
Do we have to make totally different hundreds to be shot in a bolt motion versus these certain for an AR?

Load your personal. This alone is the explanation that many rifle shooters select to reload. You’re in command and might do no matter you need to do — inside purpose, after all — the place loading this versatile caliber is anxious.

Inquisitive about what’s wanted to reload? I described the 4 fundamental varieties of reloading presses within the first article, so you may get data there in regards to the selections you could have the place they’re involved. I additionally describe the opposite gear you’ll want.

The second (enormous) purpose to reload is that it might prevent some cash. There’s something to consider the place that is involved, although… it’s a must to personal the gear first. In the event you run out and purchase a reloading press, dies, calipers, powder scale/measure, parts, and different instruments of the commerce, you’ll not notice many financial savings initially. You’ll, nonetheless, make progress within the amortization of the price of your set-up with every spherical you load.

In my expertise (I’ve been reloading and serving to new reloaders since 1978), most new reloaders purchase a set-up to load one or probably two calibers. That is nice, as you’ll be able to department out to different calibers as wanted. However if you happen to purchase all the pieces wanted, even for simply the .223, you’re nonetheless out a reasonably penny. You’ll finally re-coup the associated fee, as I stated above… it should simply take time.

Parts: Let’s Do The Math

OK… you’ve purchased what you want when it comes to gear and parts. How a lot will that value? A reloading package with all the pieces it’s worthwhile to get going may value anyplace from about $150 to simply occasions that quantity… that’s a subject we’ll deal with in a bit extra element within the third article of this collection, so keep tuned.

What about parts? Let’s do a fast breakdown of what it’s possible you’ll count on to spend on parts.

Brass/Case: We’ll assume you’ve hung to your fired brass or have been gifted some by your non-reloader taking pictures buddies. You’ll nonetheless want primers, bullets, and powder. Math was by no means my robust swimsuit (I used to be a music trainer – to cite the previous joke, I counted to 4, then began over…).

PRIMERS: I simply noticed CCI small rifle primers in my native gun store for $80/1000. That’s 8¢ every.

BULLETS: I not too long ago purchased some navy pull-down 55-grain FMJ bullets for $52/500. That’s barely greater than a dime every. They appear model new and can work very nicely for my functions.

POWDER: You usually will load a cost of between 23 and 27 grains of most powders appropriate for the .223. Let’s say 26 for this state of affairs. A pound of powder consists of seven,000 grains and now will value round $30-$45. In the event you discover it regionally, there isn’t any HazMat payment to cope with. We’ll assume $35/pound at your LGS. That equals .005¢/grain, so 26 grains could be 13¢.

Including it up, we now have:

Case: offered
Bullet: 10¢
Primer: 8¢
Powder: 13¢

That provides as much as 31¢ every. That is, admittedly, a low-end instance… in order for you name-brand manufacturing facility searching or heavier bullets, you’ll pay extra. My level is to indicate you which you can get monetary savings over the bulk-buy ammo if you wish to. I’ve not seen .223 ammo in any amount for lower than $.46/spherical. That’s $.15 greater than what yours value to make.

Once more, this assumes you already personal the gear and have the time to spend money on pumping your reloading press deal with up and down dozens of occasions. Most people who reload think about it a companion interest to taking pictures and revel in turning out loaded rounds.

Gear

A typical reloading set-up consists of a reloading press with a powder measure of some type and a powder scale. We assumed, keep in mind, that you simply had circumstances accessible to you…

… so it’s worthwhile to lube them. Lubed circumstances aren’t optionally available except you want digging caught circumstances out of your die. You will want case lube and dies for the caliber(s) you load except you personal a carbide sizer die. That is bare-bones.

You also needs to spend money on calipers of some type (dial or digital), a bullet puller, and storage bins for parts and loaded rounds. The third tier of apparatus that you must add later would come with a case trimmer with totally different pilots, a pitcher to wash your circumstances, and a case deburring instrument. I described all of those within the earlier reloading article.

By way of illustrations for this text, I will probably be utilizing my Dillon Precision XL750 press, arrange for .223. I selected to indicate one case because it goes by means of the method, for readability. Usually, all stations could be full. It is a progressive press and, as such, produces a loaded spherical with every pull of the deal with (as soon as all of the stations are full). Chances are you’ll need to think about a single-stage or turret press to get began with, however I wished to indicate you the quickest solution to produce loaded ammo. That may be with a progressive press. In the event you can swing a kind of, you may be impressed with how shortly your ammo provide builds! For the variations between the varieties of presses, I’ll but once more discuss with my authentic article. It explains the presses fairly nicely, together with different gear.

The Handbook

I waited till now to say reloading manuals. A brand new reloader (and even an skilled one) wants a minimum of one handbook printed by an organization that makes bullets, powder, or reloading gear. My go-to has been the Hornady handbook for years. There’s nothing improper with any of the others… I’ve simply labored with the corporate for earlier critiques, and the parents at Hornady have all the time been extraordinarily useful. You will get this specific handbook in a hard-bound e-book, e-book, or within the Hornady app.

Why not simply get reloading information off the web? Opposite to standard perception, all the pieces printed on the great previous interweb just isn’t all the time true, good, or correct. Except you’re getting information from a producer, do your self a favor and use verified information from a good producer.

So… What Parts Ought to I Purchase?

As I discussed earlier, you will have circumstances, bullets, primers, and powder. What you purchase is decided by what kind of taking pictures you’ll do.

Bullets. If you wish to eradicate that pesky prairie canine city behind your again corn subject, you’ll in all probability need a lighter varmint-type bullet that just about explodes on impression. What if you wish to shoot paper or metal targets method on the market? A heavier bullet with a great ballistic coefficient could be helpful.

How about ammo to shoot these marauding tin cans within the again lot? Plain previous cheap 55-grain FMJ bullets (just like these I purchased) would work. There are such a lot of good bullets on the market on the market that I gained’t try and listing them. Simply keep in mind to purchase from a great vendor or producer… don’t guess that the bullets that your cousin Bob’s gun-guy pal Tony sourced will probably be any good. Keep on with main producers or on-line bulk sellers which have nice rankings. They’re on the market. I discussed one above that I simply handled and I’m joyful.

Right here’s one thing to recollect… .223 rifles which were round for a couple of years could have barrels which might be rifled with a 1:10 or 1:12 twist. These twist charges aren’t finest with heavier bullets — they have been made just about for 55-grain bullets or lighter. If you wish to shoot the complete weight vary of easily-obtained .223 bullets (from roughly 40 to 80 grains, in spherical numbers), be certain that the barrel of your rifle has a sooner twist like 1:8 and even 1:7. Most newer ARs can have this, as heavier bullets have gained in recognition. I don’t keep in mind the final time I noticed a .223 rifle with a sluggish twist.

Powder.  There are about as many appropriate powders for the .223 as there are Taylor Swift hit tunes. In a phrase, many. Some are higher than others. I’m utilizing a powder that I purchased from an LGS earlier than it closed which is a navy powder, WC844. It’s the similar as Hodgdon’s H335. It really works very nicely and was low-cost. However what if you’re in your native gun retailer and are eyeing the powders on the shelf? What do you purchase? Sure powders are perennial favorites for the .223. Right here’s a brief listing:

Hodgdon: 

Winchester: 

IMR: 

Alliant: 

That is certainly not a whole listing however is just meant to provide you a spot to begin. There are tons of excellent powders on the market, however like I stated you want a beginning place. Your reloading handbook will help you determine what to purchase. A few of these powders are higher with lighter bullets, others, heavier ones… a couple of respectable all-around powders are H335, Varget, and IMR 4895. The powder scene has modified rather a lot up to now few years. A number of new, “high-tech” powders have been launched resembling CFE223. This powder has an additive that helps scale back copper fouling – therefore its title, Copper Fouling Eraser.

I’d decide up a pound of no matter your native of us have that’s good with .223 to begin with. Load it, use it, after which on the following journey to the shop, decide up a unique kind of powder so as to add to your powder assortment as your finances permits. Powder (and primers) are simply now beginning to make a comeback after the COVID craziness, so hopefully, you will discover some regionally.

In the event you can’t discover powder regionally, for the addition of the HazMat payment (which ranges anyplace from about $23 to $50, relying on the vendor and the shipper), you’ll be able to order from a big selection on-line. Simply know that whether or not you order one pound of powder or many kilos, you’ll pay the identical payment. A lot of reloaders pool their orders and break up the payment up amongst themselves. Anyway, I wanted to say that. Primers are included on the HazMat get together listing, as nicely. Talking of primers…

Primers. Primers are what make the gun go “bang”. Keep in mind that cap gun you had as a child and used it to sneak up in your sister and pop it in her ear? Positive, you by no means did that… Primers are like caps on steroids, however many occasions louder and extra harmful if used improper. I’ve heard of shooters who have been attempting to impress their buddies put a primer on a board and smack it with a hammer. There’s a purpose that they solely do it as soon as. That is NOT an ideal “maintain my beer” exercise!

What – No Reloading Knowledge?

That is the place I’d usually stick in mounds of reloading information in my typical reloading article. I can’t try this right here, although, as a result of there’s a lot information on the market. I wouldn’t know the place to start. The .223 is really one standard cartridge, with scads of bullets in lots of weights and appropriate powders accessible. So, as an alternative of loading this text up with all types of knowledge, enable me to state that every one the key bullet and powder producers publish information for his or her merchandise. Some shooters like Hornady’s bullets… others Speer, Nosler, and many others. So, go to these websites to collect examined information. Please… don’t simply Google “223 reloading information” and go together with what Joe Shooter says works the most effective. I’ve realized my lesson the place utilizing “unofficial” information is anxious. Keep on with the key gamers and also you’ll haven’t any regrets.

The Course of – What To Look For

Reloading the .223 just isn’t exhausting. Some rifle calibers might be extra of a trial, however not the .223. However, to produce completed .223 cartridges, you continue to must comply with the accepted reloading steps. I defined what these are within the first article of the collection – once more, the hyperlink is above. You would possibly need to learn that article if you happen to haven’t already.

Right here are some things to remember as you go about loading the .223…

Keep in mind that since you’re loading a rifle cartridge with copper-jacketed bullets, flaring the case mouth as you’ll for lead bullets just isn’t crucial, nor beneficial. Simply use the 2 dies that got here with the set and seat the bullet usually.
The .223 headspaces on its shoulder, so don’t set the shoulder again. A trick I love to do to make sure I’m not sizing the shoulder is to take a Sharpie and make a vertical line on the case neck, from the shoulder up. (Another that gained’t completely mar your case is to take a lighter or candle and “smoke” the neck with a deposit of soot). Lube the case if you’re utilizing a “regular” (non-carbide) sizing die. Again the sizing die out 2 -3 turns and run the case into it. Examine the road you drew… it ought to present the place the die rubbed the ink off. The place does that finish? How near the shoulder? If it’s nonetheless above the shoulder, run the die in a flip or so. Repeat till the road is smudged because it “simply kisses” the case shoulder.

This may dimension your circumstances with out setting the shoulder again. I all the time use full-length-size circumstances I shoot in an autoloader like an AR or Ruger Mini. In case you are taking pictures solely in a single bolt-action rifle and never sharing ammo with others, you would possibly need to neck-size solely. Simply again your die off a flip in order to not contact the shoulder. This may take a little bit of experimentation as you establish the least quantity of sizing required that also permits the bolt to shut simply. You’ll notice higher accuracy if you are able to do this, however for ammo supposed for a semi-auto, I don’t advocate it. Full-length sizing is the best way to go for that motion.

Two extra basic items… be certain that to insert bullets into case mouths earlier than seating as straight as you’ll be able to. It may possibly make a distinction. It may pull the neck out of spherical if the seating motion has to straighten the bullet along with seating it. That is uncommon, however it’s one thing to consider. Additionally, be certain that your primers are slightly below flush with the case head, and certainly not ought to they protrude.

Lastly — this is applicable to all the pieces you load — retailer your rifle hundreds correctly. Be sure that the bullet noses aren’t bumping round. It is a no-brainer, however you’d be shocked on the variety of loaded cartridges I’ve seen put into Zip-lock baggage and thrown right into a taking pictures bag. Spring for some ammo bins with labels!

And, In Conclusion…

Reloading the .223 is enjoyable and simple. Simply take note of the small print. Time spent at your loading press is an effective solution to calm down, however don’t get TOO relaxed… go away the Jack Daniels within the different room. “Rolling your personal” can prevent cash and permit customization that manufacturing facility ammo could not present. The .223 is among the best rifle cartridges I’ve loaded. Economics comes into the image, too… being a .22 caliber, you gained’t want as a lot powder as bigger cartridges require, plus bullets are cheaper. Whether or not you load on a single stage, turret, or progressive press, get your parts collectively and have enjoyable! In the event you load .223, let’s hear from you under.

About Mike Hardesty

With expertise spanning over 45 years, Mike Hardesty has lengthy loved taking pictures and reloading. An inveterate reloader, he casts bullets and reloads for a various array of firearms, every dealt with with long-practiced precision. Dwelling in rural Indiana, his homestead boasts a private 100-yard vary the place he shares his love for weapons to his 4 sons, their wives, and eleven grandchildren. As a acknowledged writer, his writings have been featured in notable platforms like Sniper Nation, Bear Creek Arsenal Weblog, Pew Pew Tactical, TTAG, Dillon Precision’s Blue Press, and Gun Made, revealing his ongoing ardour for firearms on the age of 72.

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