Reloading .223 for the first time

[learn2shoot]

I have been reloading pistol ammo for a while with good results on a RCBS single stage press which I got from my father when I got him a Dillon Progressive. I am now looking to begin reloading .223 for my AR-15. I am putting together a shopping list and wanted to see if I was missing anything and get some tips.

.223 Dies - What type for the best re-sizing?
Case Trimmer - Suggestions?
Bullets
Powder - What is a good clean burning suggestion?
Small Rifle Primers
primer pocket De-crimper

How essential is the case trimmer?

 

[Pilot]

How essential is the case trimmer?

Absolutely essential and measure the length everytime. Also take the burrs off the case mouth. I get target accuracy out of my relaods, much better than the surplus stuff. I use Accurate 2230 powder, but have heard Varget is good also.

 

[Schleprok62]

.223 Dies - What type for the best re-sizing?

Lee, RCBS, Dylan... how much do you want to spend?? I use the Lee RGB series and they work fine...

Case Trimmer - Suggestions?

Here again, I use the lee trimmer on a Harbor Freight $40 drill press...

Bullets
Powder - What is a good clean burning suggestion?
Small Rifle Primers

Well, these are all up to what you want out of your reloads... I use Nosler, Hornady and Barnes 45 - 60 gr'ers, Federal or CCI primers, Varget and/or H4895 for powders, both burn pretty clean...

primer pocket De-crimper

Absolutely!! I use the RCBS one for now... it's not the most convenient one out there, but it is cost effective...

Case trimming: What Pilot said...

 

[jmorris]

The Dillon carbide .223 die is the best one I’ve used.
The Dillon case trimmer is the fastest case trimmer I’ve used.
For 3-gun and plinking I use Berry’s bullets (55g FMJ).
For hunting I have an array I choose from.
The Hornady 68g hpbt is a top choice for a fast twist AR.
My favorite powder for .223 is Winchester 748.
RamShot TAC is another great choice.
RamShot X-terminator (designed for 223) is very nice as well.
I use Winchester primers for everything that’s not a revolver.
The primer pocket swage on station 3 of a Dillon 1050 is the best thing since sliced bread.
If you cull out the long cases (using a case gauge) you don’t “need” a case trimmer but you’ll likely wish you had one.

 

[nbkky71]

• Dies: I prefer RCBS competition.
• Trimmer: Wilson trimmer is good but if you're going to be trimming LOTS of brass look into a Giraud Power trimmer. Absolutely the cat's meow, but priecy!
• Bullets: Sierra MK 77gr and 80gr
• Powder: Hogdon Varget
• Primers: Winchester Small Rifle
• Primer Pocket: Dillon Super Swage 600

 

[BeJaRa]

I like the Lee dies
I also use W748 with CCI 450 primers. more accurate than factory loads, and the w748 meters really well in pretty much all powder measures.
the bullets I use are 55gr that I got from www.berrysmfg.com and they are the same bullets used to make the m193 rounds. your bullet selection will depend on the twist rate of your barrel. I would say that most AR's will have a 1/9 twist that would mean you need to stay under 70-72 grain bullets. Actually
I always trim my rifle cases and clean the primer pockets.

 

[Walkalong]

Let me throw Forster in there for .223 dies. Good stuff. I like H335. There are other good choices.

 

[Canuck-IL]

+1 on all the above w a caveat - - I don't think the Dillon carbide die is worth the $$ ... you still have to lube cases and the difference in die longevity is probably not relevant in one lifetime.

I also use the RCBS de-crimper - tedious as can be but you only do it once. A good start is a 1000 of already trimmed and decrimped once fired brass from Scharch. Gives you something to shoot w/o a lot of up-front prep.

I use the Hornady trimmer ... adequate but not a Giraud - not that price range either. If I shot as much rifle as pistol, I'd go for a better trimmer but the Hornady is OK for now.

335 meters really well and is pretty clean - a little temp sensitive. Varget is great but deosn't meter as well. I've also used BL-C(2) and keep meaning to try AA2230.
/Bryan

 

[theotherwaldo]

I'm just starting to reload .223s as well. One thing that I haven't liked is the way that case guages work. I find them slow, confusing, and/or inexact.

So I make my own.

Something that I haven't seen elsewhere: I make them from 'mending plates' (2 per assembly)

held apart by small stove-bolts using three nuts and two split-type lock-washers.

The two plates are not supposed to be perfectly parallel. One end is set to the maximum acceptable length, the other to the minimum length.

I then mark the new guage with the intended caliber and length range and I'm finished!

 

[04JRB]

I use:

Lee dies for .223. FL & Neck.

Lee trim tools, used with my drill.

Hornady crim removal tool.

My rifle likes 24.5gr of H335, CCI 400 primer, 55gr V-Max bullets and winchester brass. Savage 12fv 1:9, but I think theres a few people who use this same load for AR's and like it too.

 

[Z-Michigan]

As someone else who's just started reloading .223 (with help from a much more experienced friend) - do you crimp the bullets in place or not? Especially with 55gr FMJ that has a cannelure?

Friend who has successfully been reloading .223 does not crimp and says neck tension is adequate to hold bullet in place; he is also reloading for an AR-15, as I am. To me this seems weird for something being fed through a long magazine in a semi-auto.

If you do crimp, do you use the crimper built into the seating die, a Lee factory crimp die, or something else?