223...am I missing something?

[gspn]

I've reloaded both pistol and rifle for a long time. I was on the fence on whether reloading .223 would be worth it for me but figured I'd give it a shot with a few hundred rounds just to see.

So far it seems like a larger pain in the neck than I maybe want...but it could be that my process just needs to be refined. Here is what I've been doing:

1- lube cases on pad then deprime/resize (I took all other dies out of press and just ran them all through this die)

2 - use electric drill to remove crimp from every case (this was only somewhat effective...but it could be user error since I'm new to this device)

3 - wipe every case with rag to remove lube

4 - trim (using electric drill and lee cutter...very slow locking every round into and out of the holder)

5 - send through the progressive to finish remainder of steps


It took a long time to get steps 1 through 4 finished. I'm looking for any suggestions on how to improve my process to make this faster.

Thanks.

 

[jwrowland77]

Case prep is one of the things that just takes the longest. I normally do most everything I can in front of the TV in my recliner, to make it seem less cumbersome. Plus I have a horribly bad back.

Either way, case prep just takes time. And it's a necessary thing that needs to be done.

 

[jr_roosa]

Get rid of the lee cutter. Too slow for volume loading.

After sized and trimmed just polish in the brass tumbler again to get the lube off.

I use the rcbs primer pocket swager. That's a one-time thing anyway.

Brass prep sucks.

J.

 

[918v]

Use new brass? That's the only way to make the process faster.

U don't need to trim after the first firing.

 

[MtnCreek]

1- Duct tape the inside seems of a cardboard box, fill about 1/3 high with brass, spray w/ Dillon (or similar) spray lube, shake and repeat.

2 - Only have to do this once. Dillon swager is a great tool.

3 - Tumble to remove lube.

4 - If you're using a Dillon, you can trim w/ their trimmer. A little messy, but fast.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

For plinking rounds I cull out any cases that are between 1.748 and 1.756 inches and don't trim, chamfer or deburr because I never trimmed the cases in the first place. In plinking rounds I use a boat tail bullet (Hornady 55gr BTFMJ) so I don't have to lube the case necks.
Don't cut crimped primer pockets, use a swaging tool chucked up in a single stage press for the purpose. I touch brass to the swaging tip; if it seats I don't bother swaging.
For match or defense rounds I run the entire gamut including concentricity inspections.

 

[NCsmitty]

Some of the steps used on fresh milspec brass need not be duplicated, like removing the primer crimp, and you do not need to trim brass each time you load them.
For some, case preparation is drudgery, for others, it's just part of a great hobby. Where do you stand? I've been reloading a looong time, and it's still fun.


NCsmitty

 

[howlnmad]

You only have to worry about primer crimps once.

Remove the lube with your tumbler

You don't have to trim every session unless you're crimping.

 

[stavman11]

.223 is for sure a longer process...It was the 1st caliber i started loading... so the rest where easy for sure

Best thing I can tell you is to make each process easier.... Correct tools make a Huge difference.

1. I toss about 60 brass in a Box... spray lube em, let dry and load into Case feeder on my Lee Pro and de-prime and size em all, then repeat (1 die only like you do) can bust out 300 in about 30-40 minutes..

2. I dont trim every time i load..... so that does speed the process.... when i do trim them i use the WFT.. $69 and works UBBER fast and real easy.. chuck it in my drill and is fast and easy...

3. I use a 3/4" Countersink Bit to Chamfer neck and remove crimp ( remove crimp only on Brass that needs it, Military 5.56 etc) Chuck it in a drill and can do both with same Bit just flip the case from end to end... very fast and easy (usually with the WFT de-burring case neck isnt needed) this Bit was like $9 at Home Depot.. The Lyman case Prep system also has a Bit that works well for this

4. I then toss em all in my tumbler ta clean again, maybe an hour tops...

5. I then hand Prime... i have a Lee hand primer... and its reall easy ta prime 100 cases in like 10min... i have found this Process speeds things up on my press a LOT, just sit in front of TV ...nice and fast... the problem child on a .223 brass is the primer...some 5.56 brass always have issues with tight primers even after trimming... so hand Priming I can always FEEL the primer seat perfectly and eliminates those problems

6. Then I load the case feeder in my Lee Pro 1000 and Powder drop and Bullet seat.... i can do 50 brass in about 5-7 minutes if trying to go fast... usualy about 10min max


the easiest way to do all this is in Stages... i probobly have Brass in 3 diff stages right now... that way yer not frustrated durring the entire Process... at least this works well for me.. I have about 6 boxes with sticker on each one for What stage the Brass is in THAT specific Box... so if I walk away for a week i know what needs what done to it



hang in there... youll find a system that works well, and fast, for you

Lyman Deburring tip.. sold at Most reloading stoes... chuck it in a drill and works Great

 

[gspn]

Thanks guys...very helpful.