223/556 setup?

[drmajor]

I have Lee Turret press setup for 38 Special.
I want to reload 223/556----What do I need????
Your input appreciated...

Also, what powder have you found for accuracy and clean..?


This is my questionable list:

Lee Deluxe Power Quick Trim

223 REM QT DIE

PACESETTER DIES 223 REM

Safety Primer Feed Small and Large

AUTO-DRUM POWDER MEASURE

Quick Change Drum Set

CHARGING DIE KIT

POWDER MEASURE RISER

GAGE/HOLDER 223 REM--guage

Lee Precision .223 Remington Quick Trim Die

 

[WestKentucky]

I like cfe223 but it is not as budget friendly as I would like. Nice and clean, meters well, just takes a bunch to load. Plenty accurate through my guns although they are far from built for precision.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I have the LCT too.

For each set of dies having a Turret base is nice and let’s you set things up and quickly change calibers. To use the trimmer you picked you’ll need one extra. I picked up a bunch used on a killer deal. they’re not expensive new though so just get a few extras and be ready as you add more calibers!

The dies you pick are your choice. But I think you’re wise to pick the Lees to use the powder through with those riser.

Which powder throw you pick is also your choice and the powder you use will determine how well they work. But the Lee drums seem to get decent reviews.

223 use small primers.

A shell holder should come with the Lee dies but an extra is always nice.

Also if you use range brass you need a way to stage primer pockets.

Otherwise your list looks good. Oh and Calipers if you don’t have them!

 

[Axis II]

AR-15. H335, cci 450 or mi spec primers, lee dies, lee comes with shell holder, auto drum is fine, don't need multiple drums if only using for one caliber/powder, skip the lee trim dies, riser, etc and get the linked below I find it much easier. If your plinking the above is perfect, if you want super accuracy the below is good IMO.

Bolt gun-RCBS, RCBS shell holder, lee or RCBS powder thrower that mounts to bench, auto drum isn't accurate enough for me for precision, trickler, chamfer, debur, trimmer, h322, varget, benchmark, cci400/450 and workup from min-pressure or accuracy for both above and here. Loading block to hold rounds waiting bullets.

You also need a good scale and check weights and manuals!

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lee-Case-Trimmers/741082.uts?slotId=0

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/509050/lee-8-32-threaded-case-trimmer-cutter-and-lock-stud

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lyman-Case-Care-Kit/1317242.uts?slotId=14

The lee cutter threads onto the little lyman lathe and cuts perfect and fast and then swap out heads for chamfer and debur. I use a lee drum and the riser isn't needed. I also don't like the lee trim dies cause its clutter on the press and don't like shavings by powder, primers, etc. the lee safety prime is also very good for your press and will be great.

 

[flashhole]

I use the LCT for 223 for my Mini 14. If the LCT is your only press you might be best served with a separate turret for the case re-form dies and Quick Trim dies.

For 223 brass processing I don't use the auto index feature. I have an RCBS small base FL die, a Lee Collet Neck Die and the Quick Trim set up in one turret. I also have a Lee Universal Decapper Die in this turret. Trimming can get a bit messy.and you don't need brass chips in the other dies.

In a second turret I have the Powder Through Expander with the Auto Drum, the seat die (I use the Forster Benchrest Seat Die) and a Redding Taper Crimp Die.

You don't say what bullet you intend to load. There are lots of good combinations out there. I really like the Sierra Semi Point 63 grain bullets and H4895 powder.

 

[Ruger 15151]

I like Ramshot TAC because it meters like water so you get more drop consistency. Very accurate for 55gr plinking AR-15 loads. Riffle powder do not meter like most ball powders do that you would load for handgun. Therefore, most guys have to hand weight each powder drop in order to get consistency. You will hear lots of suggestions on powder like Reloader 15, Varget, H335, CFE223 and 20 more but few meter very well. Unless you are shooting out to 600 yards with a match chamber, you will get sub MOA accuracy with Ramshot TAC as long as you do your part with the trigger

If you are looking to process cases in volume, check out these tools that I have found work very well.



Lastly, you will likely be processing some 5.56 brass with a crimped primer pocket and will have to decide whether to ream or swage the crimp. There are a multitude of opinions as to which is best and you will have to decide which method makes sense to you. Personally, its difficult to tell when you are processign a bucket of brass if the primer pockets have already been swagged or not. Therefore, I choose to ream them instead. I can easily tell which cases have already been processed because the reamer leaves an obvious bevel on the rim of the primer pocket.

Either way, there are several videos on YouTube showing each method and the tools you can buy for that operation.

Lastly, HighBoy76 has some great instructional videos on reloading 223/556. He is super thorough and will walk you every step. If you are patient, you will learn a lot about reloading properly from this guy, Here is a link to first video in his 223/5.56 playlist:



Hope that helps.

 

[Walkalong]

If you are worried about metering, H335, BLC2, 2230, TAC, etc will all meter great and shoot well in .223. Some stick powders will meter very well too. H-322, 8208, LT-32, N133.... Lots of powders that will do very well in .223/5.56, and powder charges, ball or stick, don't have to be individually weighed to shoot very well up to 300 yards easily. I am using TAC right now because I have it in quantity.

I like RCBS dies in general, and am partial to RCBS or Redding bushing style full length dies.

The Wilson case gauge works for checking headpsace and length, but not diameter, although cases that fit it will fit most chambers. The Sheridan gauge (And the JP rifles one as well) will check diameter too. I have both a Wilson and a Sheridan in .223 and some cases that will fail the Sheridan because of diameter will pass the Wilson. They all fit my .223 chambers though. A lot of people just size their cases and go without ever using a gauge.

It is a good idea to have a way to check shoulder location so you can set up the sizer to move the shoulder about .003 instead of as much as the sizer is capable of which is good for case life and helps keep cases from failing near the web due to incipient case head separation. I use a home made "button" for this, basically the same thing as in the link. The one in my pic is for 300 BLK.

 

[Mr. Paco]

I would go with the deluxe die set. it works with all types of rifles. IMR 8208 XR is also a very accurate powder and you don't need to use as much as CFE223 witch I also use. I have also heard Varget is a good one but I haven't tried it yet. Also a flash hole uniforming tool helps with accuracy.

 

[ar-newbie]

I can vouch for the lee quick trim setup, it works, and works well. There will be a lot of folks pitching various powered trimmers, using drills etc... so yeah, there are other ways to do it. Personally, I am quite comfortable with the quick trim setup, I use that on my RCBS rock chucker, and load the ammo on the classic turret.

 

[Mr. Paco]

I like the Lee quick trim. It is very precise and can be set to the exact length you want.

 

[Whiterook808]

If you don't already have one I would buy a digital or a dial caliper.

 

[KYregular]

I have the same Lee press, 223 is a lot of work until you get a rhythm. My method follows:
Tumble/clean brass
Size and deprime
Tumble again to remove lube
I size using World's Finest Trimmer
Debur/chamfer, swage, using Lyman case prep center
Prime cases
Add powder using Hornady charge master
Put in tray add bullet
Then press and crimp

It may be that I'M picky but i weigh every charge.

CFE223 for precision and velocity
H335 for plinkers works well
Varget for the big bullets

 

[Bartojc]

I load .223 on my Lee Turret. I have a separate turret with RCBS dies on it. I use the Lee Auto drum with a lee powder charging die. Basically I do case prep first and get all my cases ready. I size with the press set up for single stage, then trim if needed, debur and chamfer. Once I get the cases ready I use press as a turret, prime, charge, insert bullet, and crimp if needed. I've been using H335. Ball powders tend to meter better. I weigh the first 5 or so rounds to make sure everything is settled down. Them about every 10-15th round or so after that. The Auto-drum is almost always right on for me. YMMV. Once your cases are prepped you can load quite a few in a rather short time with the turret.

-Jeff

 

[ATLDave]

Case lube. You need case lube.

 

[flashhole]

Bartojc - interesting that you discount case prep time as part of the reloading process. That's where all the work/time is. Priming, charging and seating a bullet is not the major effort.

 

[ATLDave]

flashhole, I think that's exactly what he was saying - that once all the case prep is done, reloading on the turret flies along pretty fast. That's also what I think, and what you think, it appears!