Going to Start loading .223 for AR. Questions

[JRWhit]

I was going to use LEE 3 dye set with full length size die.
Probably use either 55gn sp or Hornady 68gn.
any particulars i should know?
Was considering Varget for powder. Looks like it covers a good range of projectiles.
Whats typical for brass life? Rifle is chambered .223/5.56. Will that shorten the life of full length sized 223 brass a significant amount?
any help is much appreiciated

 

[Dudedog]

You will need to prep the brass before loading. I don't know if you know you will need the following type items or not.
I hate to tell you you might need to spend more money but here goes..
(You should probably search to get other opinions on what to use for the following as well)

1. You will need some way to trim the brass. If you plan to do very many I would reccomend a Worlds Finest Trimmer. I like mine. http://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/wft.html
2. After it has been trimmed you need to chamfer and debur, The Lee tool will work, (and I have used it)
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/389104/lee-chamfer-and-deburring-tool?cm_vc=ProductFinding
but I have one of these and like it much better.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/78...ng-tool-17-to-45-caliber?cm_vc=ProductFinding
3. You will need some way to remove primer pocket crimps. There are many ways to go about this but I use one of these. It is somewhat slow but cheap.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/501588/hornady-primer-pocket-reamer-tool-small?cm_vc=ProductFinding
4. I would reccomend a case guage to help make sure you are not "over sizing the brass" There are different brands but I use
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/45...space-gage-223-remington?cm_vc=ProductFinding

I have not used Varget so I don't know how well it meters. I have used both BLC(2) and H335 and they both meter well. (guessing since you said AR you will be shooting quite a bit of ammo)
In general a ball type powder will meter better than a stick type powder. I have used both of these for 50-62 gr bullets. (add 8208XBR forgot about it, there are others as well these are just the ones I have used, for these 3 I like BLC(2) the best).

Some people reccomend magnum/miltary type primers for ARs to prevent Slam fires. I use them to be on the safe side. Currently using TulAmmo KVB-5,56M

Walkalong has an excellent post for checking for case head seperation, you can use the brass until the primer pockets get loose or you detect the ridge in the case.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=689327&highlight=case+head+seperation
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=761860&highlight=Case+head
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=734058

OK I know thats probably enough links about that.
I have not had a case head seperation, but I don't want to try it for fun.

I use the Lee dies and they work fine for me.

 

[Reloadron]

I was going to use LEE 3 dye set with full length size die.

There are some who will argue that a SB (Small Base) sizing die is the better choice but what you have in my opinion will do fine.

Probably use either 55gn sp or Hornady 68gn.
any particulars i should know?

You don't mention barrel twist rate but two of my AR rifles are 1:7 twist and neither shoots the light 55 grain bullets well. They shoot, just not real well. Depending on your rifle both bullest would be a good choice and depending on the rifles intended application.

Was considering Varget for powder. Looks like it covers a good range of projectiles.

While I don't care for Varget with the light 55 grain bullets I like and use it with the heavier 68 through 80 grain bullets. I just prefer powders like BL-C(2), AA2230, and AA2520. Again, not saying Varget is not a good choice, just saying in my rifles I dislike it for lighter bullets, including my 1:12 twist bolt gun.

Whats typical for brass life? Rifle is chambered .223/5.56. Will that shorten the life of full length sized 223 brass a significant amount?

Carefully inspect your brass after each firing and sizing. Generally I run my 223 used in AR rifles four times. Your mileage may vary. Just thoroughly inspect your brass including feeling for weak case close to (just above) the case heads. The old bent paper clip trick.


any help is much appreciated.

The above is just pretty much how I go about 223, you will develop your own habits and methods in time and find what works for you and your rifle. Additionally read the above post by Dudedog as he makes some very good points and good information there.

Ron

 

[Okcafe86]

Varget is extruded, doesn't meter well. If your going for volume reloading I'd go for a ball type...cfe 223,rl 15,win 748 are good examples.

 

[Rugg_Ed]

I just finished test firing several combination of bullets and powders for my AR15 1in9 twist. The bullet design made a much bigger difference than the propellent. Find a bullet your AR likes for accuracy and will fit in the magazine. To my liking it is a cheaper than dirt 55 grn HP next is a 55 or 60 Hornady SP. The 55grn HP gives under MOA @ 200 yrds with Win748, CFE223, ARcomp, H335, TAC, Benchmark, and Varget. Loading to fit the magazine was a change. Follow the reloading steps and load safely, Use common sense.

 

[JRWhit]

I have everything on the list but the case guage and primer pocket reamer. I load a lot of pistol cartridges so most things are covered.I'll have to get the case guage, but I've got a thousand peices of brass to use up that are non crimped primer so I'll wait a spell before worrying too much about that.
Definately will have my paperclip ready. Great links. Thank you.

Just got back from a show and Varget was a bust, ended up grabbing some CFE 223.
My barrel is a 1 in 8 twist and claims to due well at stablizing 40-70gn bullets.Er abouts.

How concerned should I be about using Federal SR primers? I have always heard rumor that they are thinner and ignite easier than most. Though I probably answered my own question with the word rumor.

 

[Dudedog]

I do know at one point in time Lee reccommended against using Federal Primers in thier hand priming tool. Because they are more sensitive?????
I have used CCI regular small rifle with no problem but less sensitive primers for the ARs floating pin does semm to make sense so when I needed more I changed to SRMs.

Aaaahhh 1000 pieces of brass with no pesky crimps

Trimmed a bunch with my lathe type trimmer before buying the WFT.
(some of the best money I have spent, drill bzzz = trimmed case)

PS: It is important to get the colored paper clips to match you equipment,
I use red but the blue ones at 3 times the price must work better.

Ok I just could not stop myself on this one.

 

[Speedster00]

I use IMR 4198 in my 556 using lee dies. It meters very well being spherical powder if your using the pro disk kit. I always use full length resize as a last step because I had issues with out of spec bases with the 3 die kit so I filled the fourth hole in the turret press with a full length resizing die. Since I load for short distance, I don't load high pressures and max powder charge. I'm at the bottom end and 4198 works well.

 

[gahunter12]

Looks like others have worked up a good list of tools you will need. The Lee 3 die set will work, but I would personally go with the 4 die set with FCD. I do use the FCD sometimes, but for the most part I don't crimp. Get a case gauge, or the Hornady head space tool that mounts to a set of calipers. This will allow you to only bump your shoulders back .004"-.005" on cases fired from your chamber, and case life will lengthen. I have 7-8 firings on some of my cases. Annealing will help prevent cases from splitting, improve neck tension, and neck tension consistency. This process softens the work harden brass which is a result of multiple firings.

I load Xtreme 55gr FMJ bullets, but I have noticed that the Hornady 55gr FMJ have also come down in price. Powder.... I love H335, but also have loads worked up using AA2230, AA2200, Benchmark, CFE223, and Varget. Ball powders like H335, AA2230, and AA2200 meter better.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree with the others, using a ball powder is probably best with the .223, it works very well for me.

I use mostly H335 but TAC is a very good choice too. CFE223 and AA2230 are also both top choices for .223 Rem powder. If I were to start all over again I would choose TAC or CFE223 as a powder.

 

[stavman11]

Ive used a lot of CFE223 and really Like it... that and H335 are my go-to Powders

I also love the 55gr HP's.... more accurate Than I am most the Time... FMJBT just dont seem ta work as well for me....so use them up close and personal

 

[FLIGHT762]

A couple of minor information errors on a couple of posts.

I use IMR 4198 in my 556 using lee dies. It meters very well being spherical powder if your using the pro disk kit.

IMR 4198 is a single base extruded powder, not a Spherical (Ball) powder.

If your going for volume reloading I'd go for a ball type...cfe 223,rl 15,win 748 are good examples.

Reloader 15 (rl 15) is a short grained extruded powder, not a ball powder. CFE 223 and Win. 748 are Ball powders and do meter very well.

O/P, it looks like you found some CFE 223 Powder. It will work very well for what you're reloading.

 

[Otto]

I was going to use LEE 3 dye set with full length size die. Add the Lee Collet Die
Probably use either 55gn sp or Hornady 68gn. Both are fine. Go with 68gr if your barrel twist allows it.
Was considering Varget for powder. Looks like it covers a good range of projectiles. Varget is great and works in 308 Win as well. The metering issue is overblown.
Whats typical for brass life? Rifle is chambered .223/5.56. Will that shorten the life of full length sized 223 brass a significant amount? Not a problem.

 

[FLIGHT762]

Add the Lee Collet Die

I will strongly disagree about using a stand alone Lee Collet neck sizing die for reloading in an AR-15 platform. No issue using one in a Bolt gun, but NOT for an autoloading Rifle. Autoloaders need cases to be F/L sized.

I have Lee Collet dies in 223 Remington and 308 Winchester. I use them in my bolt rifles for neck only sizing, which works for about 4-5 times, then the cases get F/L sized.

There is a way to use a Lee Collet die for autoloaders, but it involves a two step process of neck sizing the fired cases first in the Collet die then F/L sizing the cases using a Redding F/L BODY DIE. This produces ammunition that will chamber in the autoloaders with very low run out.