[Muzzlelover]

Do you all think it's worth the time and effort to reload the 223 rem.with how cheap factory ammo is?I mean unless you want a specific bullet and load,there's pretty much every bullet and velocity combo out there.So do you think YOU would reload?(I proabably wouldn't since I don't have a 223 die set)

[Nanook]

I don't think factory ammo is exactly cheap anymore. 1000 rounds of 55 grain PMC is now going for over $400 here in IL.

I favor different bullet weights than that, so handloading is the best option. I do have some factory ammo, but the handloads are much more accurate.

I voted yes.

[Hacker15E]

I currently load low volumes of .223 for about $0.20/round.

Now that is cheaper than even Tula or Wolf.

[primalmu]

Yes, especially if you're looking for specialty or hunting ammo.

[fehhkk]

I load 1000 roads of 55gr ammo for about $240. So, yes to me it's worth it. It's more laborious prepping the brass, but I do it during my downtime.

[readyeddy]

Blasting ammo is fairly inexpensive, but hunting ammo goes for more than $20 per box of 20.

[RustyFN]

It is for me. I bought components in bulk and am still loading 223 for $110 per 1,000. It's not blasting ammo either, it's accurate.

[latesvak]

Just got into it . Did all the case prep,got the 55gn bullets,got some h335and now all I need is some primers and I'll be all set. .



Latesvak

[NeuseRvrRat]

i voted yes, but be aware that you're asking a very biased group

[mmay1]

Absolutely worth it - more accurate ammo, considerably lesser cost, all the brass you can scrounge, flexibility to make rounds for different purposes in whatever quantity you want. Brass preparation is time consuming but it's a hobby, so the time spent is one the reasons to reload.

[472x1A/B]

Yes and yes. For the rifles I and the other 2 guys I shoot/hunt with, it is more advantagous for me/us to reload .223 Rem.. We buy 3-4000 brass, 5 cases of primers, and 3-8 lb jugs of powder, and 1000 each of 4 weights of bullets all at the same time from the same LGS owner. We get a discount for volume, split evenly 3 ways and we shoot year round.

[wanderinwalker]

Yes, very worth it. Sure, you can get blasting ammo inexpensively enough, but I can reload 69gr match bullets for the same price. You've just gone from "should all be on target" to called Xs at 300 yards. And you can reload 55gr FMJs for less.

[oldpapps]

I only shoot my loads.
Kind of makes a statement in favor of reloading.

[jwrowland77]

Absolutely would. I love the accuracy a lot more with my reloads than I do with factory. Plus all the brass I have, and a large majority of it is LC, I picked up myself from the range for free, and I currently have 3000+ cases...enough to last me awhile. So the only cost I have in my .223 rounds is powder, primer and bullets. So I am definitely saving money, but well I just love reloading as well. Gives me time to relax plus make accurate ammo for my rifle.

[GLOOB]

I woulda been on the fence on this a few months ago. I reloaded it, but I didn't feel like it was strictly worthwhile. This put me in a bit of a dilema, since I have a lot of 223 brass, and I didn't want to stop picking up my cases. I tentatively decided to try casting 223.

I held out for awhile, feeling like cast bullets probably wouldn't work well in a 223 autoloader. My 223 mold was the last mold I bought. But it's my first mold to break the 1k barrier. I've shot over 1200 cast 223 bullets in about 2 months.

The rifle bullets, in particular, made casting well worth the initial investment for me. Gas checked bullets seem to be very easy to get right. It's a wonder to me why cast rifle bullets are not as readily available from component suppliers (at reasonable prices) as pistol bullets.

[cfullgraf]

I like to reload so why wouldn't I. Besides, my reloads are less expensive and more accurate.

[ArchAngelCD]

Using 55gr M193 bullets from Widener's, 25.0gr H335, once fired brass and CCI primers I can load 20 rounds for only $4.12. If I use a CCI#41 primer which I usually do the price is $4.20/20 rounds. The cheapest .223 ammo on the discount shelves will usually cost you at least twice that price.

Switch the powder to WC844 and the price drops to $3.10/20 rounds, that's good right there! ($154.95/1000 rounds!!!)

I guess that's a yes for me...

[holdencm9]

I've already got the dies and components...but have not started reloading for it yet. I think .223 will be the 4th cartridge I learn to reload. I am starting with .45 auto, will try out 9mm too and then jump to .308 win.

The reason I think it is worthwhile to reload is I did the math and even with regular-priced (non-bulk) components, a box of 20 can be produced for $4.65 and can get down to near $4 per box if I scour sales ads or order in bulk.

The cheapest brass-cased ammo I have seen lately is $7 a box. I just bought 1000 for about .32 per round to start stocking up on brass. Sometimes the cheapest stores have is $8 a box. I can find steel-cased for $5 occasionally, but it is getting rarer, and more often than not, even that is $6 a box usually. And I just like shooting brass better. Something satisfying about the jingle jangle as they hit the floor.

So, say $3 savings per box, that's $7 or $8 savings per 50. Not quite the great margin of reloading .45 auto (I have figured a savings of at least $10 per box versus factory) but still pretty good.

[Ky Larry]

When I was buying .223 ammo for $2.79 a box it wasn't worth it.I remember buying Russian 9mm and .223 for $69.00 per 1,000 at Centerfire Systems. Now, I reload both 9mm and .223.

[RhinoDefense]

You want cheap, cast your own bullets too. Don't believe the myth about the gas port/tube plugging up.

[GLOOB]

Well, +1 on casting yer own. And a direct gas (AR system) might be a different sorta animal. But I hafta say my gas piston rifle does plug the heck up. I built a custom wrench to pull the plug out. It can seize in there pretty darn tight after a couple hundred rounds. And if not cleaned every couple hundred, the piston will eventually seize, preventing return to full battery. Once out, the lead flakes right off, though.

Maybe it's time for me to buy my first AR. :)

[RhinoDefense]

If your "gas piston" plugs up, you're doing it wrong.

[GT1]

I just recently picked up a couple Colt ARs, and while I can get Tula 20 boxs of steel case for $5 at wally world, it isn't very satisfying.

I am rounding up components now. Have powder, primers, bullets, and dies on the way.
I have a couple cases of factory ammo to shoot for brass, or I might grab some if I can find it cheap(range pick up is not an option, everyone around here reloads or knows a friend who does.).

[xxhaxx]

You should totally reload 223
I get ~18 cents/round loading 69gr bullets :D

[evan price]

No. Besides not saving any money, it will cause you to gain weight, your feet to stink, and your cows will dry up; You might even develop a nasty boil in a personal area.

Why take the chance?

Just leave your brass at the range for me to pick up.

OK THX BAI.

[FROGO207]

IMHO any round that is center fire is an advantage to reload. The cost of brass in 7.62X39--7.62X54 is the limiting factor there for me. All others I shoot are fair game for me however.:) There is a certain satisfaction to shooting accurate handloads and doing it for cheaper than the factory. I recently got 2K once fired brass and 700 premium assorted bullets from a fellow reloader who gave up on reloading 223 ammo. He said he would rather get his teeth pulled than reload 223.:eek: Try to load 25 ACP if you want to talk a problem to deal with ( big fingers small parts:D). Good for me getting his stash for a reasonable cost. 223 is one of the first rifle rounds that I set up to reload for myself 30+ years ago after learning and using my grandfathers stuff for 10-12 years first. YMMV

[45lcshooter]

I have reloaded for 5 years for the my 223, saved over thousands of dollars on not buy new ammo, and price spikes because of the current over see'er of this great land.

Here and there i pick up components to sort of hoard. but when the basement is as big as the house (with basement under garage) i have some room to put things.

[hentown]

I load quality .223s for about 1/2 of what Wal-Mart sells them for. However, I've never understood what "I mean" adds to a sentence! :evil:

[griff383]

A friend of mine just picked up 900 rounds of brass cased 223 for $300+tax and that was the best he could find it for. I thnk he said it was just some FMJ stuff but will be fine for plinking. I kind of got on to him for buying it and explained that I could reload 1000 rounds of 223 for $50 less, not only that but my load has proven MOA or better in 6 different rifles and counting.

[mtrmn]

You're asking RELOADERS if they would reload. I know my answer is yes, even if it cost more than factory ammo.

[jwrowland77]

One important fact that I may have missed someone saying, but you can't compare reloads to cheap steel case ammo. You have to compare it to middle of the road up to higher end stuff. I say this because reloads in affect is higher end ammo due to better consistency and customized for your particular rifle. So comparing steel case thrown together cheap stuff is not the same as a quality reload.

[Fatelvis]

If you are looking for blasting ammo and don't like to reload, its not worth it. If you want accurate ammo, it's definately worth it.

[Kyle M.]

I don't load .223 but I've looked into it several times and come to the conclusion that I can load it for about $150/1,000 still cheaper than cheap steel cased.

[redclay]

Of course I reload, cheaper and more accurate. What the heck are you thinking!

[Sniper66]

I load and enjoy it, but can't always find the time os buy factories sometimes. My Rem 700 .223 likes Fiocchi so bought a bunch of 40 and 50gr, but now I can't find it at Cabela's in KC. So, yeah, some kind of 223 ammo is always available, but it may or may not shoot well enough for 200+ yd p-dogs. My reloads always do.

[Muddydogs]

If I had to reload 223 on a single stage I would say no its not worth it, way to time consuming. If you do not have any reloading equipment and looking to buy stuff just to reload 223 then no its not worth it as you can buy lots of ammo for the cost of a set up. But since I load 223 on a progressive and load for multipule calibers both progressive and single stage then of course its worht it.

[TFL]

Im reloading 55gr Z max for 254.00 per 1000, PSP 55gr 194.00, 55 FMJ 180.00. Use LC cases. All reloading done on SS presses, in the winter when can't be out shooting or doing other things.

[GLOOB]

One important fact that I may have missed someone saying, but you can't compare reloads to cheap steel case ammo. You have to compare it to middle of the road up to higher end stuff.
This isn't universally true. It's not only the accuracy of the ammo that matters. It's the way in which you intend to use it. If you do a lot of offhand, informal plinking, fast-action shooting, or your rifle isn't especially accurate, you can make the most accurate ammo in the world. But you would still have to compare it to the cheap steel case stuff when you're figuring your time/expenses! :) If my 223 ammo can hit a beer bottle at 75 yards every time, it's about as good as I need 99% of my ammo to be with my particular 223 rifle and usage. And don't forget the time you might be able to save by leaving steel cases lay (where appropriate).

By shooting cast bullets, I have reduced my cost for 223 to about 13 cents a round, and it doesn't take all that much longer to cast and check the bullets. Using a 6 cavity mold, a Lee push-thru sizer, and tumble lube, it's probably adds roughly 25-40% to my overall time spent reloading 223, depending on my exact methods and/or batch sizes. And yeah, they break those beer bottles just as good as the factory jacketed bullets. The optics and trigger on this rifle are the limiting factors. (Or it could be my skill. :))

[jwrowland77]

This isn't universally true. It's not only the accuracy of the ammo that matters. It's the way in which you intend to use it. If you do a lot of offhand, informal plinking, fast-action shooting, or your rifle isn't especially accurate, you can make the most accurate ammo in the world. But you would still have to compare it to the cheap steel case stuff when you're figuring your time/expenses! :) If my 223 ammo can hit a beer bottle at 75 yards every time, it's about as good as I need 99% of my ammo to be with my particular 223 rifle and usage. And don't forget the time you might be able to save by leaving steel cases lay (where appropriate).


I don't ever factor in time when it's something I enjoy doing. I look at it like a hobby that I greatly enjoy. That'd be like figuring in time that I spend on another hobby like Geocaching, or golf, or hunting. It wouldn't matter how long I spent on it. If I enjoy it, it's good quality time spent. :)

[Dubya Bee]

None of the competition shooters I've known (including a Wimbledon match winner among many others) have shot commercial ammo. I got my Master card in Highpower shooting my own loads.

No one I knew could afford to buy enough ammo to compete regularly - they'd rather spend it on gas to get to the match. Not to mention the advantages of having ammo made to the preferences of your gun. In service rifle this isn't a huge deal at 200 and 300, but at 600, as your throat erodes it can help a great deal to match your seating depth to the throat.

[MSgtEgress]

Considering the events in CT today I would not be surprised to see restrictions on .223 ammo purchasing. If you don't reload I'd start stocking up now

[Reefinmike]

I see a lot of talk of 223 casting. i already cast for 38/357 and 380 but have read in general that cast boolits is a uphill battle with a semi-auto.

[bkundingerii]

Terrible question, I reload match grade .223/5.56 for half the price of factory made.

[GLOOB]

Reefinmike. I still shoot a lot of plated and jacketed bullets in my handguns. Cuz pistol bullets are so cheap.

Im my rifles i shoot nearly 100% my own cast because it's a lot cheaper.
Uphill battle? Maybe i got lucky. But every rifle load ive made with a gas check has been plenty accurate. Even when downloaded a ridiculous amount.

[Sudden Impact]

At the rate it's currently skyrocketing...any ammunition that can be reloaded is smart to reload! IMHO

[dap22]

I figured using second time around brass and WC844, Tula primers my cost is about .17 per round. First time around brass runs the cost to .248 cents per round.........by my calculations anyhow. The last brass I bought cost me $60.50 shipped for Prvi Partisan.

[rdhood]

Is it worth it? Well, I, after five years, finished building my first AR-15, and guess what? NO AMMO!!! So I am ordering 1000 bullets and a set of dies (already have everything else, including about 500 .223 brass).

When you can't purchase ammo at any price, reloading is definitely worth it.

[Encoreman]

You said it RDhood, I saw 1k offederal .223 go for $811.76 on gunbroker 2 days ago, also they had 2 ads for 1k at $899. Friend went to gunshow today, said going price was more than $600. Both the price and availability play a big factor in reloading. If you have guns and no ammo, a golf club would be better for defense!!

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

The cost of reloading isn't the only factor. It gives me alone time doing something that really enjoy next to shooting. the fact I can load cheaper than factory rounds is a bonus.

[rondog]

I reload every caliber I shoot except .22lr. Biggest pain about rifle calibers is case trimming, but that's what I have a Giraud for. I have thousands of rounds of .223, yet I've never bought a box of new .223 ammo.

And there's NO WAY I'm going to buy any of that steel-cased Russian....."stuff". Pisses me off to see that garbage laying all over the ground at every range I go to. The people that buy it seem to be the ones that refuse to pick it up. "Why pick it up? It ain't worth nothin', and my time and energy's worth more than that. Besides, it's steel, it'll rust away into dust in about 10 years of so."

I bought a large round magnet on a handle at Harbor Freight, and carry that and a bucket with me to pick up as much of that garbage as I can. I have a general dislike for guys that shoot steel-cased crap, unless I see them picking it up afterwards. Then they're OK Joes.

Same with shotgunners....pick up your damned empty hulls! Freakin' slobs. A leaf rake and a flat shovel with a bucket works wonders, and your fellow shooters won't talk about your mamas.

[mjsdwash]

im at 21 cents per round for 55 gr, 3200 fps, accurate as i can shoot stuff. bulletworks.net bullets, H335, and federal primers. Thats about thirty percent less than steel case in my area.

[Hacker15E]

If anyone thought it wasn't worth it three weeks ago...they sure do now!

As of today, you can't find anything 5.56/.223 at practically any price!!

[Beau Bo]

I reload every caliber I shoot except .22lr. Biggest pain about rifle calibers is case trimming, but that's what I have a Giraud for. I have thousands of rounds of .223, yet I've never bought a box of new .223 ammo.

And there's NO WAY I'm going to buy any of that steel-cased Russian....."stuff". Pisses me off to see that garbage laying all over the ground at every range I go to. The people that buy it seem to be the ones that refuse to pick it up. "Why pick it up? It ain't worth nothin', and my time and energy's worth more than that. Besides, it's steel, it'll rust away into dust in about 10 years of so."

I bought a large round magnet on a handle at Harbor Freight, and carry that and a bucket with me to pick up as much of that garbage as I can. I have a general dislike for guys that shoot steel-cased crap, unless I see them picking it up afterwards. Then they're OK Joes.

Same with shotgunners....pick up your damned empty hulls! Freakin' slobs. A leaf rake and a flat shovel with a bucket works wonders, and your fellow shooters won't talk about your mamas.

Well stated...

[CraigC]

It depends. If I had a .223 boltgun, I would definitely reload for it. Blasting ammo for an AR that slings brass all over hell's creation? Handloading is not what I call fun but a necessary chore. So I ALWAYS figure in my time and for a .223 semi-auto, it ain't worth it to me. Brass catchers can be problematic and I don't always shoot in the same spot. So recovering brass is definitely more trouble than it's worth. For standing in the corner or popping coyotes, I just buy a couple boxes of V-Max loads. It lasts me a while.

[Hacker15E]

And there's NO WAY I'm going to buy any of that steel-cased Russian....."stuff". Pisses me off to see that garbage laying all over the ground at every range I go to. The people that buy it seem to be the ones that refuse to pick it up. "Why pick it up? It ain't worth nothin', and my time and energy's worth more than that. Besides, it's steel, it'll rust away into dust in about 10 years of so."

I pick up as much spent Tula and Wolf .223 (and Tula/Wolf .45 and .40) as I can at the range I go to -- it reloads (and shoots after reloading) quite nicely. It is perfectly possible to be as recycle-friendly with some kinds of steel as it is with brass.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/Hacker15E/4A1283CC-D624-4AD9-8742-A10414708BA8-10957-00000D1F03CF5428.jpg

[lead slinger]

as much as i shoot hell ya i reload the 223

[GLOOB]

Brass catchers can be problematic and I don't always shoot in the same spot.
223 brass is a lot easier to recover than pistol brass! Just shoot a lot from each spot, and your piles are easier to find. :)

I prefer to reload 223 than pistol. Pistol seems more inefficient, because every round I make for a pistol feels like one pellet of a shotgun load compared to the accuracy and range from one centerfire rifle round. :) Of course, if I had a progressive press, I'd probably find rifle tedious. On a SS press, it's only one more step, and an oddly fun one with a cheap Lee trimmer and Zip chuck in a drill. (Plus the lubing and delubing adds another minute per 100).