Yes, it is simple and easy.
Just in case you get bum advice from someone on an internet forum, gather advice from many sources before making a decision.
For what it's worth, I've been using the P1000 on and off for years to reload 223 Remington. I usually use the single-station press. But the P1000 works well. For most users, I would offer the following:
- Tumble and lubricate the cases. Inspect for splits or other defects (read your manual). Adjust the sizing die to bump the shoulder back until the cases fit the chamber if you shoot an AR15 (do a search on this subforum, we've covered it a million times). This is a trial-and-error task. A bolt rifle may or may not require shoulder bump, you'll have to discover that yourself. For a nice accurate bolt rifle, you'll want the cases to fit the chamber nicely without extra movement.
- Run the cases through the P1000 with only the sizing die and collect them in a container as they fall out. Back out the other two dies for this step.
- Using any case trimmer you want (the cheap Lee setup works OK) do your trimming. The equipment is up to you, they all work well. Trim to 0.010" less than maximum SAAMI case length. If you don't already have one, a cheap chamfer/deburr tool should be used after you trim the case neck. Just to get the crap out of the way.
- With the sizing die removed, run the cases back through the P1000 to prime, charge, seat bullet. No need to crimp unless you discover that you have a setback problem. Back out the sizing die for this run.
An extra 3-hole turret is handy. Often less than 10 buck on sale. Cheap enough.
That would be my generic advice to a person using the P1000 to load 223 Rem.
Notes:
I don't use the case feeder tubes for 223 Rem, just place a case in front of the slider and it does its job.
If you get a second shellplate carrier, it comes with both priming setups. You don't have to buy another.
I don't clean primer pockets in 223 Rem. I only clean pockets for serious match grade efforts in larger calibers.
As long as you can bump the shoulder back with your standard sizing die, the Small Base series is a waste of your money. Some really picky rifles need them (I own one of them) but the standard sizing die works for the vast majority of semiauto/lever/pump rifles.
I reload match ammo for half the cost of surplus crap ammo, but it's your wallet, you decide what the effort is worth.
Sort your brass by primer pocket: Commercial stuff is easy, but milspec crimped pockets may or may not prime easily. If it doesn't, reaming or swaging the pocket may be necessary. Do a search on that, we've covered it a million times.
I've never reamed the case neck of 223 Rem once-fired brass.
The vast, vast majority of 223 Rem cases that I throw into the recycle bin have split necks.
