Anything I'm missing to get started on 223?

[Rushthezeppelin]

Well I've had some things for AR loads for a while but finally bit the bullet on the rest today. I've had the Lee powder through die and shellplate for my Pro 1000 for a while (came with the used one I bought that had a full set of 38 special dies). Been slowly building up powders and have 3lbs IMR4895 and 1lb CFE223. Finally happened upon some CCI No 41s today (got 700) and decided to just go ahead and throw down on the rest of the things I need. Also have over 500 once fired cases I've been saving up for a while.

From Midway I purchased the Lee RGB 2 die set (full length sizing die and seating die, non-carbide), 2 Pro 1000 turrets (will have one setup with just sizing and then another with powder and seating dies), Lee rifle case feeder and collator, FA tumbler kit (HF ultrasonic I had sprung a leak right in the middle of the basin and I'm a bit past the return date, plus I want something that gets brass extra shiny), Hornady primer pocket reamer, Lee sizing lube, Lee double disk kit, and 500 dogtown 55gr HP (only 55gr I could find in stock).

From Brownells I decided to go for at least one pricey item for this and picked up the WFT in 223, I figure if anything is worth spending a bit of extra money on it's the thing that ensure good headspacing (and not having endless wrist throbbing hours of using a lee trimmer).

Anything I'm missing in all of this?

Any advice for someone who's only reloaded 9mm up to this point?

 

[gahunter12]

Here's a must for proper head spacing. This will be even more important since you will be trimming with the WFT trimmer, since it indexes off the shoulder. This case gage DOES NOT check for bulging cases, but checks your Head Spacing. It has a min/max shelf for head space, and also has a min/max for neck trimming. With this must have tool you will be able to determine how far to bump your shoulders back.http://www.midwayusa.com/product/456614/le-wilson-case-length-headspace-gage-223-remington

You will need a debuting/chamfer tool. I know the WFT does it for you with a twist of the wrist, but yo will still find some that need a little extra. Also you can use it for removing crimps. http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloadi...eburring-tool-sku749-002-912-34013-66643.aspx

You will need a way to remove primer crimps from military brass. Here's what I use, its expensive, but worth every penny I spent. http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25263/catid/8/Super_Swage_600

Sizing lube. Here's what I use, and have never had a stuck case. One 2oz can has lasted me 3 years/ 12,000 rounds or so. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/519525/imperial-case-sizing-wax-2-oz

I would add a Chrono to your tools if you don't have one. This will allow you to safely work up th best load for your AR. Here's what I use. http://www.amazon.com/Competition-Electronics-ProChrono-Digital-Chronograph/dp/B0028MTBJ4

There are other tools like flash hole deburring tool, and other case tools that are nice but not a must. There's also motorized case prep tools that are nice, but very pricey.

 

[primalmu]

I would HIGHLY recommend an RCBS (or Hornady) collet bullet puller. Using a kinetic bullet puller is passable with a .30 caliber cartridge, but I found the tiny .22 caliber bullets just didn't seem to have enough weight to them to easily use the kinetic bullet puller.

 

[JonB]

If you are using any once fired military brass, you may want to order another decapping pin for your sizing die, or get a dedicated decappng die. Hate to have to stop if you break the little pin on a stubborn primer. I bent the pin on my Lee die once...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you are using any once fired military brass, you may want to order another decapping pin for your sizing die, or get a dedicated decappng die. Hate to have to stop if you break the little pin on a stubborn primer. I bent the pin on my Lee die once...

This is one of the best tools I've bought for very little money. It's the best tool for removing military set primers hands down.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/297408/lee-decapper-and-base-22-caliber

Lee also sells one for large primers too...
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/636747/lee-decapper-and-base-30-caliber

As much as I like my toys sometimes the simple tools are the best.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Here's a must for proper head spacing. This will be even more important since you will be trimming with the WFT trimmer, since it indexes off the shoulder. This case gage DOES NOT check for bulging cases, but checks your Head Spacing. It has a min/max shelf for head space, and also has a min/max for neck trimming. With this must have tool you will be able to determine how far to bump your shoulders back.http://www.midwayusa.com/product/456614/le-wilson-case-length-headspace-gage-223-remington

You will need a debuting/chamfer tool. I know the WFT does it for you with a twist of the wrist, but yo will still find some that need a little extra. Also you can use it for removing crimps. http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloadi...eburring-tool-sku749-002-912-34013-66643.aspx

You will need a way to remove primer crimps from military brass. Here's what I use, its expensive, but worth every penny I spent. http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25263/catid/8/Super_Swage_600

Sizing lube. Here's what I use, and have never had a stuck case. One 2oz can has lasted me 3 years/ 12,000 rounds or so. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/519525/imperial-case-sizing-wax-2-oz

I would add a Chrono to your tools if you don't have one. This will allow you to safely work up th best load for your AR. Here's what I use. http://www.amazon.com/Competition-Electronics-ProChrono-Digital-Chronograph/dp/B0028MTBJ4

There are other tools like flash hole deburring tool, and other case tools that are nice but not a must. There's also motorized case prep tools that are nice, but very pricey.

Doh knew I was forgetting something. Definitely need a headspacing gauge. Been skating buy doing the plunk test on 9mm so I forgot all about a guage ><

Doesn't the primer pocket reamer I ordered take out military primer crimps?

Sizing lube I got on there.

Can't afford a chrono atm...I'm not one of those reloaders who just shoots more...yet : P I'm sure I can find a friend that has one I could borrow or come out and use with him at the range.

 

[gahunter12]

Yep your right. I didn't see the reemer, and lube on there. Sorry :banghead:. Check out these bullets. Just another source for bullets. I have loaded 10,000 of these this year. http://www.xtremebullets.com/223-55gr-FMJ-p/xj223-55fmj-b0500.htm

Also look out for AA2230, AA2200, Benchmark, H335, BL-C2, Varget just to name a few more good powders. I have developed some really nice loads this year with Benchmark, AA2230, and AA2200.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Doesn't the primer pocket reamer I ordered take out military primer crimps?

I don't know which reamer you bought but most will.

Here are a few that will:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/501588/hornady-primer-pocket-reamer-tool-small
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/643126/lyman-primer-pocket-reamer-tool-small
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/135615/lyman-case-prep-multi-tool

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

I don't want to get too complicated with powders just yet. I'm preferring to keep a minimal variety. I'll use the 4895 for plinkers and I've heard amazing things (on par with BL-C2) about CFE223's accuracy potential. Of course my rifle may hate the powder but I want to get the basics down first. Also anybody know where the hell I can find one of those LE Wilson gages in stock? Midway and Brownells and even Amazon are all OOS.

Edit: Well I have found Dillion and Lyman gages in stock. It looks like these work off the same principle. Any reason I should get the LE Wilson over any others?

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

This is one of the best tools I've bought for very little money. It's the best tool for removing military set primers hands down.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/297408/lee-decapper-and-base-22-caliber

Lee also sells one for large primers too...
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/636747/lee-decapper-and-base-30-caliber

As much as I like my toys sometimes the simple tools are the best.

I think this will be my solution for tough to deprime primers. I always like to set the collet on my decapping pin a bit loose on my 9mm so that I don't loose it (thats how Lee is able to claim unbreakable decapping pins....when used properly). Can always do the same thing with the 223 and it would also give me and obvious indication of which ones I'm going to need to ream in addition to manually depriming.

 

[rondog]

Get a small pocket penlight too, for looking in cases. Small pebbles get in them, and there's also a few Berdan primed 5.56's sneaking around out there. Save your decapping pins and your sanity.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Get a small pocket penlight too, for looking in cases. Small pebbles get in them, and there's also a few Berdan primed 5.56's sneaking around out there. Save your decapping pins and your sanity.

I only have my own once fired and only have 5 brands, all of which are definitely boxer primed. Regardless I have a nice desk lamp on my reloading bench that I've used for verifying powder charges before seating bullet that I'm sure would work just fine for inspecting case interiors.

 

[rondog]

I carry a Ray-O-Vac Brilliant Solutions LED pocket penlight all the time, it's the handiest tool I've ever owned! Single AAA battery, lasts for months. They're $2.98 at WalMart, best light ever for inspecting guns and a million other uses. You'll use it more than you can imagine. I bought a dozen of them, have 'em all over the place, drawers, toolboxes, vehicles.....

 

[gahunter12]

The Dillon should work, but I have never used one. Also check Dillon's web site. They carry other brands of tools besides Dillon.

 

[HexHead]

You're likely to run into military brass, you'll need a tool to swage the primer pocket to remove the crimp.

 

[greyling22]

Assuming you have a range you can pick brass up at; life's too short to deal with military crimped brass.

 

[gahunter12]

Assuming you have a range you can pick brass up at; life's too short to deal with military crimped brass.

I AGREE! Send every Crimped case to me, and I will take care of shipping cost! DO NOT attempt to reload them! I can Swage a crimped case about every 1.5 seconds with my Dillon 600. No problem for me to load crimped cases.

 

[Otto]

From Midway I purchased the Lee RGB 2 die set (full length sizing die and seating die, non-carbide)...

For $8 more, I would have opted instead for Lee's Deluxe 3-die set which includes the neck collet die. The collet die provides consistent neck tension, improved concentricity and better accuracy.
Simply FL size the case first and follow-up with the collet die. This is one of the few Lee products that I can recommend.

 

[SuedePflow]

You can get a Dillon case gauge for about $25 shipped right now on eBay. I figured it was worth mentioning being that the Wilson at Midway is out of stock.

Also, I trim with a WFT as well and absolutely love it. But I have found that I still prefer to have a chamfered/deburred inside edge on the case. And for that, I use one of these. I chuck it up in my cordless drill and I can bust out 25-30 cases per minute when I'm on a roll.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A1B78TY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[hentown]

Unless the OP is a nationally-ranked competitor, which just doesn't seem likely, I'd suggest that he forget about the Lee Collet Die for his AR reloading.

I do recommend the RCBS X die for loading a lot of .223s, though.

 

[rondog]

I'll take every crimped military case I can get! Only takes a couple seconds to remove that crimp, then that case is good for more loadings than I'll ever need.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Unless the OP is a nationally-ranked competitor, which just doesn't seem likely, I'd suggest that he forget about the Lee Collet Die for his AR reloading.

I do recommend the RCBS X die for loading a lot of .223s, though.

I'm certainly not there yet but I sure would like to be

I have been getting into competitions in the past 4 months or so though and do have a pretty big competitive drive in just about everything I do, and I'm still fairly young, so as long as I can progress my skills to that point I wouldn't completely rule it out. Not trying to be boastful or anything just my nature. I certainly could use the increased accuracy on the long range stages my local 3 gun match sets up which can go out as far as 600 yds. Also with my planned setup of having 2 different turrets it shouldn't slow me down to have the extra die. I will definitely look at picking up that die soon, thnx Otto for the recommendation.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

You can get a Dillon case gauge for about $25 shipped right now on eBay. I figured it was worth mentioning being that the Wilson at Midway is out of stock.

Also, I trim with a WFT as well and absolutely love it. But I have found that I still prefer to have a chamfered/deburred inside edge on the case. And for that, I use one of these. I chuck it up in my cordless drill and I can bust out 25-30 cases per minute when I'm on a roll.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A1B78TY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm assuming an 82* countersink for Home Despot should work just as well correct? No point in paying shipping if I don't have to.

 

[AABEN]

Case lube case lube

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Case lube case lube

You are the third person to miss Lee sizing lube on my list >< Planning on mixing with Isopropyl and putting in a spray bottle so I can throw a bunch of cases in a ziploc, spray, shake and go nuts with sizing.