The 223:is it worth reloading

[FROGO207]

IMHO any round that is center fire is an advantage to reload. The cost of brass in 7.62X39--7.62X54 is the limiting factor there for me. All others I shoot are fair game for me however. There is a certain satisfaction to shooting accurate handloads and doing it for cheaper than the factory. I recently got 2K once fired brass and 700 premium assorted bullets from a fellow reloader who gave up on reloading 223 ammo. He said he would rather get his teeth pulled than reload 223. Try to load 25 ACP if you want to talk a problem to deal with ( big fingers small parts). Good for me getting his stash for a reasonable cost. 223 is one of the first rifle rounds that I set up to reload for myself 30+ years ago after learning and using my grandfathers stuff for 10-12 years first. YMMV

 

[45lcshooter]

I have reloaded for 5 years for the my 223, saved over thousands of dollars on not buy new ammo, and price spikes because of the current over see'er of this great land.

Here and there i pick up components to sort of hoard. but when the basement is as big as the house (with basement under garage) i have some room to put things.

 

[hentown]

I load quality .223s for about 1/2 of what Wal-Mart sells them for. However, I've never understood what "I mean" adds to a sentence!

 

[griff383]

A friend of mine just picked up 900 rounds of brass cased 223 for $300+tax and that was the best he could find it for. I thnk he said it was just some FMJ stuff but will be fine for plinking. I kind of got on to him for buying it and explained that I could reload 1000 rounds of 223 for $50 less, not only that but my load has proven MOA or better in 6 different rifles and counting.

 

[mtrmn]

You're asking RELOADERS if they would reload. I know my answer is yes, even if it cost more than factory ammo.

 

[jwrowland77]

One important fact that I may have missed someone saying, but you can't compare reloads to cheap steel case ammo. You have to compare it to middle of the road up to higher end stuff. I say this because reloads in affect is higher end ammo due to better consistency and customized for your particular rifle. So comparing steel case thrown together cheap stuff is not the same as a quality reload.

 

[Fatelvis]

If you are looking for blasting ammo and don't like to reload, its not worth it. If you want accurate ammo, it's definately worth it.

 

[Kyle M.]

I don't load .223 but I've looked into it several times and come to the conclusion that I can load it for about $150/1,000 still cheaper than cheap steel cased.

 

[redclay]

Of course I reload, cheaper and more accurate. What the heck are you thinking!

 

[Sniper66]

Chosen Factory Ammo not always be available

I load and enjoy it, but can't always find the time os buy factories sometimes. My Rem 700 .223 likes Fiocchi so bought a bunch of 40 and 50gr, but now I can't find it at Cabela's in KC. So, yeah, some kind of 223 ammo is always available, but it may or may not shoot well enough for 200+ yd p-dogs. My reloads always do.

 

[Muddydogs]

If I had to reload 223 on a single stage I would say no its not worth it, way to time consuming. If you do not have any reloading equipment and looking to buy stuff just to reload 223 then no its not worth it as you can buy lots of ammo for the cost of a set up. But since I load 223 on a progressive and load for multipule calibers both progressive and single stage then of course its worht it.

 

[TFL]

Im reloading 55gr Z max for 254.00 per 1000, PSP 55gr 194.00, 55 FMJ 180.00. Use LC cases. All reloading done on SS presses, in the winter when can't be out shooting or doing other things.

 

[GLOOB]

One important fact that I may have missed someone saying, but you can't compare reloads to cheap steel case ammo. You have to compare it to middle of the road up to higher end stuff.

This isn't universally true. It's not only the accuracy of the ammo that matters. It's the way in which you intend to use it. If you do a lot of offhand, informal plinking, fast-action shooting, or your rifle isn't especially accurate, you can make the most accurate ammo in the world. But you would still have to compare it to the cheap steel case stuff when you're figuring your time/expenses! If my 223 ammo can hit a beer bottle at 75 yards every time, it's about as good as I need 99% of my ammo to be with my particular 223 rifle and usage. And don't forget the time you might be able to save by leaving steel cases lay (where appropriate).

By shooting cast bullets, I have reduced my cost for 223 to about 13 cents a round, and it doesn't take all that much longer to cast and check the bullets. Using a 6 cavity mold, a Lee push-thru sizer, and tumble lube, it's probably adds roughly 25-40% to my overall time spent reloading 223, depending on my exact methods and/or batch sizes. And yeah, they break those beer bottles just as good as the factory jacketed bullets. The optics and trigger on this rifle are the limiting factors. (Or it could be my skill. )

 

[jwrowland77]

This isn't universally true. It's not only the accuracy of the ammo that matters. It's the way in which you intend to use it. If you do a lot of offhand, informal plinking, fast-action shooting, or your rifle isn't especially accurate, you can make the most accurate ammo in the world. But you would still have to compare it to the cheap steel case stuff when you're figuring your time/expenses! If my 223 ammo can hit a beer bottle at 75 yards every time, it's about as good as I need 99% of my ammo to be with my particular 223 rifle and usage. And don't forget the time you might be able to save by leaving steel cases lay (where appropriate).

I don't ever factor in time when it's something I enjoy doing. I look at it like a hobby that I greatly enjoy. That'd be like figuring in time that I spend on another hobby like Geocaching, or golf, or hunting. It wouldn't matter how long I spent on it. If I enjoy it, it's good quality time spent.

 

[Dubya Bee]

Of course reload .223/5.56

None of the competition shooters I've known (including a Wimbledon match winner among many others) have shot commercial ammo. I got my Master card in Highpower shooting my own loads.

No one I knew could afford to buy enough ammo to compete regularly - they'd rather spend it on gas to get to the match. Not to mention the advantages of having ammo made to the preferences of your gun. In service rifle this isn't a huge deal at 200 and 300, but at 600, as your throat erodes it can help a great deal to match your seating depth to the throat.

 

[MSgtEgress]

Considering the events in CT today I would not be surprised to see restrictions on .223 ammo purchasing. If you don't reload I'd start stocking up now

 

[Reefinmike]

I see a lot of talk of 223 casting. i already cast for 38/357 and 380 but have read in general that cast boolits is a uphill battle with a semi-auto.

 

[bkundingerii]

Terrible question, I reload match grade .223/5.56 for half the price of factory made.

 

[GLOOB]

Reefinmike. I still shoot a lot of plated and jacketed bullets in my handguns. Cuz pistol bullets are so cheap.

Im my rifles i shoot nearly 100% my own cast because it's a lot cheaper.
Uphill battle? Maybe i got lucky. But every rifle load ive made with a gas check has been plenty accurate. Even when downloaded a ridiculous amount.

 

[Sudden Impact]

At the rate it's currently skyrocketing...any ammunition that can be reloaded is smart to reload! IMHO

 

[dap22]

I figured using second time around brass and WC844, Tula primers my cost is about .17 per round. First time around brass runs the cost to .248 cents per round.........by my calculations anyhow. The last brass I bought cost me $60.50 shipped for Prvi Partisan.

 

[rdhood]

Is it worth it? Well, I, after five years, finished building my first AR-15, and guess what? NO AMMO!!! So I am ordering 1000 bullets and a set of dies (already have everything else, including about 500 .223 brass).

When you can't purchase ammo at any price, reloading is definitely worth it.

 

[Encoreman]

You said it RDhood, I saw 1k offederal .223 go for $811.76 on gunbroker 2 days ago, also they had 2 ads for 1k at $899. Friend went to gunshow today, said going price was more than $600. Both the price and availability play a big factor in reloading. If you have guns and no ammo, a golf club would be better for defense!!

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

The cost of reloading isn't the only factor. It gives me alone time doing something that really enjoy next to shooting. the fact I can load cheaper than factory rounds is a bonus.

 

[rondog]

I reload every caliber I shoot except .22lr. Biggest pain about rifle calibers is case trimming, but that's what I have a Giraud for. I have thousands of rounds of .223, yet I've never bought a box of new .223 ammo.

And there's NO WAY I'm going to buy any of that steel-cased Russian....."stuff". Pisses me off to see that garbage laying all over the ground at every range I go to. The people that buy it seem to be the ones that refuse to pick it up. "Why pick it up? It ain't worth nothin', and my time and energy's worth more than that. Besides, it's steel, it'll rust away into dust in about 10 years of so."

I bought a large round magnet on a handle at Harbor Freight, and carry that and a bucket with me to pick up as much of that garbage as I can. I have a general dislike for guys that shoot steel-cased crap, unless I see them picking it up afterwards. Then they're OK Joes.

Same with shotgunners....pick up your damned empty hulls! Freakin' slobs. A leaf rake and a flat shovel with a bucket works wonders, and your fellow shooters won't talk about your mamas.