reloading .223 what's needed

[kipkipkip]

Hello,

I'm kinda a newb to reloading. About 4 mos and 1200 rounds of 45.

I have a Hornady LNL. I now want to start reloading .223, but it seems there are a million things to purchase. Chalmfer, deburer, pocket uniformer, case trimer. What is actually needed to reload .223 on my LNL? Does anyone reload on a progressive? and what do you use? I have not purchased dies yet. I was going to purchase Hornady dies. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks
Kipkipkip

 

[rfwobbly]

Kip Cubed -

Hornady dies are nice. You might also look at the 223 RCBS X-Dies which keep you from having the trim. You'll probably have to take what you can get. From what I've seen everyone is out of 223 reloading equipment. Probably have to call Hornady and buy direct at list price is the best bet.

I load 223 on a progressive but you'll have to size, then trim to length... so they pass 2 times through instead of the 1 time you've used on your pistol loading. Other than the 223 bullet, rifle powder, rifle primers it's the same process as your 45. So it goes much slower.

• Note that reloading data varies between 223 bolt action and 223 for AR. Buy a RLM accordingly.

• You only need the pocket swager or countersink if you're reloading Mil brass.

• There is a special small rifle primer for the AR since they can "slam fire" with a standard rifle primer. They go by different names, but you can find them.

• Suggest you buy a ball powder to use in your auto powder dispenser. There are lots of good ball powders for the 223.

• Rifle reloading also calls for case lube.

Hope this helps!

 

[Quickdraw McGraw]

If gonna be reloading any volume of 223 I highly recommend getting a trim mate!! It'll save you tons of time. All the time in reloading rifle is spent prepping the brass. Once you get the brass prepped is a smooth walk home!



Also, if your gonna be buying mil surp (lake city, etc) brass and you can swing it, pick up a super swage from Dillon.



If you need to trim lots of brass you may also want to look at the possum hollow trimmer. I hate trimming so I am now looking at the getting the RCBS X-die which has been mentioned.



I load a my 223 on a Lee Classic Cast Turret.

 

[kipkipkip]

Trim mate

Thanks!! Now let me ask something that I've never really known. What is swaging? Is it where the primer pocket is uniformed? Also, will the trim mate trim the brass as well? The county gun range here sells .223 for 7 bucks for 100, once fired I guess. The guy at the counter states that you get double that because they don't count them out, they weigh the brass they sell. I just wish I could find 7.62 brass at this price.


Kip

 

[rfwobbly]

"Trimming" is a cutting action, done by rotating either the brass or the cutter against a stationary counterpart. A by-product will be "chips" or pieces of brass cut off the case. Trimming can leave sharp edges which may have to be removed by subsequent cutting steps to "chamfer" the corners.

"Swaging" is a press forming operation in which the brass is forced to flow out of the way. It is accomplished by forcing a shaped tool into an area (in this case the primer pocket) under immense pressure on a static case. The process produces no waste material and leaves the part smooth to the touch.

 

[cliffy]

.223 Remington Reloading regarding Quality

I load single-stage, so speed is not a factor. I measure each powder charge on a balance scale. I trim each case as though my life depended on it. I load fifty rounds per evening. I'll bet my life on every round I've loaded. Call me old-fashioned or wasteful of my time, but reloading is merely a hobby to me. A serious hobby of maximum results. I chronograph every range load. It's my hobby to create the finest accuracy and potency per round. Some people have cut me to the quick regarding "unsafe" loads, but they generally adhere to "published" loads of extreme safety regarding OLD, SAD rifles in poor shape. Since nothing is perfect in quality, I always recommend starting safe and working up toward one's rifle's capability. A Newer Ruger Mark II or Remington Model 700 is NOT a SAD old rifle. Use commonsense and either use "SAFE" factory loads, or experiment if you have a MODERN firearm. Even "Factory-Loads" now come in degrees of power. cliffy