Getting ready to start reloading rifle rounds for the first time

[SWThomas]

I've been loading pistol for a while now and have done thousands of them. I'm ready to get into loading for my rifles. I currently have a .30-06 bolt rifle (not planning to load for it), an AR-15, and an AR-10 in 308 WIN. I've accumulated a bunch of 223/5.56 and 308 brass and I have one box of SMK 175g HPBT in 308. I just put a backorder in with Brownells for 16 pounds of Alliant AR Comp and will be picking up more bullets and some primers soon. I've read enough on the forums to learn about case trimming, lubrication, swaging mil-brass, and a lot of other useful data on loading rifle bullets. What I'm looking for is input on the following questions...

1. Are steel dies fine or should I spring for the carbide dies?

2. What primers would you recommend for max accuracy in the 308? The 223 will be for plinking so I'll use whatever I can find.

3. I'm reading that AR Comp is a shorter cut extruded powder, so it's supposed to meter better than other extruded powders like Varget. Anything special I need to pay attention to when throwing 223 charges on the Dillon 550? I'll be loading the 308 for accuracy so I'll be measuring powder and filling cases off the press.

4. Being that all the bullets I'm loading will be used in AR platforms, should I crimp or not?

5. What are some good 223 bullets I can buy in bulk?

6. Any other general advice before I get started?

 

[saitek]

reloading

steel die's are all you can get for bottle neck cartridges just use a good lube like imperial sizing wax .
stick with cci primer's in auto loaders to elimanate any chance of slam fire's .
natchez shooter supply has a good price on hornady 55 gr fmj bt $11.99 per hundred .
i would crimp with the lee factory crimp die . good luck !
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=HO2267BAG&src=tpSlrHm

 

[RustyFN]

I would buy the steel dies for rifle. Even with a carbide size for bottle neck rifle cases you will still need to lube the cases so I don't see the advantage.

 

[witchhunter]

Steel dies are what we all use. Lube required as you will have to FL size for AR's. There are a lot of powders that will work in the .308 case.... 4895 or TAC comes to mind. That long bullet might have to be seated very deep to fit your magazine though....If you are crimping, make sure your cases are all trimmed so that the crimp is consistent. I saw PV has Hornady 55 PSP for $10/100 in stock also. Good luck.

 

[SWThomas]

As far as sizing and trimming, are you guys depriming and sizing before you trim? Seems like it would make sense to size first so the OAL doesn't change if you sized after trimming...

Here's how I have it laid out in my head...

- Tumble brass in dry media just to lightly clean the outside.
- Lube, size, and deprime.
- Trim.
- Wet tumble to get everything clean.
- Prime, charge, seat bullets on the press.

 

[Magnum Shooter]

Yes you pretty much have to size and deprime before trimming. I have/use a set of Dillon carbide dies for 223/5.56 although I see little advantage to carbide with bottle necked rifle brass.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

As far as sizing and trimming, are you guys depriming and sizing before you trim?

Yeah, if you don't, you'll end up doing it twice.
Don't worry about carbide dies with rifle stuff. Dillon makes them and they're expensive. On top of that, you still have to lube them just like steel.
Primers aren't going to make a noticeable difference in accuracy. Use whatever you can find.
I don't think there's a need to crimp for a magazine fed auto.

This is a 3-shot group fired from a .308 using standard $30 RCBS steel dies.

 

[primalmu]

1. Yes, steel dies are fine. I like carbide dies for pistol brass because I don't have to lube and it makes loading high volumes much easier (no need to remove lube after resizing).

2. You really need to test different primers. I would say primers are one of the last things you need to worry about, and one you can look into once you've worked up a powder load and cartridge overall length (COAL).

3. Can't help ya there.

4. I would definitely crimp. I worry about bullet setback due to the rough cycling of semiautomatics. Some say you don't need to, though.

5. Can't hardly go wrong with Sierra.

6. Go ahead and get a collet bullet puller. Don't fool with those kinetic pullers.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

^ I agree get a collet bullet puller. I have the kinetic and its a PITA.

 

[SWThomas]

Thanks for the info fellas!

 

[cfullgraf]

1. Are steel dies fine or should I spring for the carbide dies?

FYI,

For a few cartridges, carbide rifle dies are available but as already indicated, you still need to lubricate the cases.

The carbide dies are expen$ive and designed for high volume loaders who are likely to wear out steel resizing dies.

What's high volume, to paraphrase Luke Skywalker, "it's more than you can imagine."

That said, I do know a couple reloaders, not me by the way, who use the carbide sizer dies but they certainly are not necessary.

 

[gamestalker]

Carbide dies are the choice when working with straight walled cases, not bottle necks.

GS

 

[warhwkbb]

SW,
I'll speak up for the Dillon Carbide Rifle Dies. I reload quite a bit of 223. I use a spray-on water soluable lube with the small-base Dillon Carbide sizer.
With the Carbide sizer, I can size a large lot, (I do 1000 at at time), and rinse them in hot water without ever having to individually handle each case.

When using steel dies, I always had to use a regular lube such as RCBS Case Lube2 which required that each case be wiped individually. So for me, the time savings were worth the extra cost of the Carbide dies.

In my opinion, Spray-On lubes generally suck, but work for me only with the Carbide dies.

Another feature with the Dillon Dies is their built-in case extractor.
I found out how well the case extractor worked when I came into some LC once fired (machine gun?) cases. I HAD to use regular lube with those.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

^ I can see where they would be an advantage in your situation. Just goes to show, everything has its place.