reloading
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MovedWest
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First and foremost start reading. Before you invest a dime in equipment, spend some on reloading books - just a couple to start.
You'll need quite a bit of equipment for this cartridge since it's a necked down cartridge. Case trimming will be an important step with such a round. Think clean, resize/deprime, trim, prime, charge, seat, crimp. Those are the steps, but there's a lot of fine tuning involved in some of them.
Get hard numbers and then throw them at the group and ask opinions. Reloading is more of an endeavor than shooting. In short, your question is simple enough to be equated to "how do I lead a successful life?". You should explore a bit more and narrow it down.
-MW
You'll need quite a bit of equipment for this cartridge since it's a necked down cartridge. Case trimming will be an important step with such a round. Think clean, resize/deprime, trim, prime, charge, seat, crimp. Those are the steps, but there's a lot of fine tuning involved in some of them.
Get hard numbers and then throw them at the group and ask opinions. Reloading is more of an endeavor than shooting. In short, your question is simple enough to be equated to "how do I lead a successful life?". You should explore a bit more and narrow it down.
-MW
NuJudge
Member
Be ready to deal with primer pocket crimps. There are various swage tools as well as cutters to deal with the crimp.
After trimming, there is a "beard" on both the inside and outside of the neck left by the machining operation. This needs removal by a chamfer tool.
Some people feel bullet crimps are necessary in the .223 for semi-autos. I am not one of them, but it is an option.
It is nice to have gauges to see if one has sized the case enough, to make sure case lenght is within standard, and other purposes.
Don't do this if you don't have the patience to be very particular. As stated above, read a lot, particularly about what can go wrong, before you do anything.
After trimming, there is a "beard" on both the inside and outside of the neck left by the machining operation. This needs removal by a chamfer tool.
Some people feel bullet crimps are necessary in the .223 for semi-autos. I am not one of them, but it is an option.
It is nice to have gauges to see if one has sized the case enough, to make sure case lenght is within standard, and other purposes.
Don't do this if you don't have the patience to be very particular. As stated above, read a lot, particularly about what can go wrong, before you do anything.
Grumulkin
Member
I started reloading as an unsupervised teenager with a Lee Loader on the kitchen table for a 7X57 Mauser back in the days you could still get rifles and pistols from Montgomery Ward and Sears by mail order. Reloading isn't that hard.
By all means, buy a manual; you should have 2 or 3 anyway. Though I'm not overly fond of the way the data is presented in the Lee manual, its explanation of the reloading process is pretty good so I would recommended that one for starters. Then go and buy one of the kits sold with a single stage press and you'll be in business. My choice would be the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit.
When reloading for 2 guns taking the same cartridge, you will probably need to full length resize. If the cases you use have crimped primer pockets you'll need to remove the crimp before repriming but RCBS makes a fine swaging tool for that. You will need a set of dies, a dial indicator to measure case lengths and some device to trim cases in addition to what comes in the kit.
When you've reloaded a bit, you'll no doubt find other pieces of equipment you'll want to buy.
By all means, buy a manual; you should have 2 or 3 anyway. Though I'm not overly fond of the way the data is presented in the Lee manual, its explanation of the reloading process is pretty good so I would recommended that one for starters. Then go and buy one of the kits sold with a single stage press and you'll be in business. My choice would be the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit.
When reloading for 2 guns taking the same cartridge, you will probably need to full length resize. If the cases you use have crimped primer pockets you'll need to remove the crimp before repriming but RCBS makes a fine swaging tool for that. You will need a set of dies, a dial indicator to measure case lengths and some device to trim cases in addition to what comes in the kit.
When you've reloaded a bit, you'll no doubt find other pieces of equipment you'll want to buy.
SASS#23149
Member
Before buying a press,check your local shops for supplies...primers and powder specifically.These days,those 2 items are very scarce in most of the states.No sense buying a press you cannot feed.
If your guns are semi-autos,a lot of folks like to use small base dies,for just a smidge more sizing of the case,for better feeding and lockup.
EVen dies are hard to find right now,fyi
If your guns are semi-autos,a lot of folks like to use small base dies,for just a smidge more sizing of the case,for better feeding and lockup.
EVen dies are hard to find right now,fyi
dagger dog
Member
Welcome,
byrnesy94 and a tip of the hat to you too!
Read some of the stickies at the top of the reloading forum page and hang around for a while you're bound to pick up a lot of pointers on your first post, you might want to get a litlle more specific in your questions.
There is a lot to be learned and as some of the previous posts state try to read as much as possible .
byrnesy94 and a tip of the hat to you too!
Read some of the stickies at the top of the reloading forum page and hang around for a while you're bound to pick up a lot of pointers on your first post, you might want to get a litlle more specific in your questions.
There is a lot to be learned and as some of the previous posts state try to read as much as possible .
welcome to the THR
I agree with the above post pick up a couple manuals first. Study another book I would more than highly recommend is the ABC's of Reloading. Great book sells for around $20.00 at Barnes and Noble. That book breaks down just about all of the main powders and expains there uses and burn characteristics. Explains alot of loads for class of rifles whether is be for elk, deer, varmit, bench/target. Explains the reloading process in great detail. Once again welcome.
I agree with the above post pick up a couple manuals first. Study another book I would more than highly recommend is the ABC's of Reloading. Great book sells for around $20.00 at Barnes and Noble. That book breaks down just about all of the main powders and expains there uses and burn characteristics. Explains alot of loads for class of rifles whether is be for elk, deer, varmit, bench/target. Explains the reloading process in great detail. Once again welcome.
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