Reloading Start .223 Questions...

[Smitty506th]

I will be using a Lee Loadmaster Progressive Press. I am seeing .224? I have been told that these are the rounds I need to get. I have been looking at the Lee product dies and plates that I will need on Midway. I am wanting to build up a personal surplus of rounds and am wondering if those rounds would be reliable in a "bad situation" as opposed to factory produced ammunition. That being asked I am also looking at powder and primers. Will I need "small rifle primers"?

1.) What powder should I look at.
2.) What primers should I look at.
3.) What brass should I look at.
4.) What bullets should I look at.

I have used 5.56 in deployment and training. I am sure some of it was reloaded (Police Your Brass as those of us have heard). I am firing it from my Colt 1 in 7 twist and I want to use a 55 to 60 grain projectile. I will not be firing at targets more than 300 yards.

Any thoughts will be appreciated.

 

[obijohn]

1. you may want to try a bit heavier bullet in the 1 in 7 bbl
2. small rifle primers--yes
3. any 5.56 or .223 brass will work, but the milspec will need the primer pocket swaged to cut to remove the crimp.
4. i use h335 or 748 powder
5. you'll likely need to trim the brass over all length
6. your ammo should be as reliable as any if properly assembled.

 

[Lawguns]

1.) What powder should I look at.
I like Varget 24.5 grains (that is in a 55 gr)
My buddy uses Accurate 2230 25 gr. (ball powder runs great in powder
thrower)
2.) What primers should I look at.
Pretty much any Small rifle you can find right now.
CCI 41 are good but cost more.
Wolf Magnum Small Rifle work great
I use Winchester Small Rifle Mostly
3.) What brass should I look at.
I like the Lake City Military brass for plinking. I am getting 8-10 loads
out of it using RCBS small base dies.
You do have to remove the military crimp but I think it is worth it.
Any will really work but try to find once fired.
4.) What bullets should I look at.
Hornaday 55 gr FMJBT seems to be the cheapest on the market
You can find them for $429 Shipped on widners.com for 6000.
I don't know if you will be happy with the 1:7 twist with a 55 grain

Just my $.02

 

[ntrngr]

I will be using a Lee Loadmaster Progressive Press. I am seeing .224? I have been told that these are the rounds I need to get. I have been looking at the Lee product dies and plates that I will need on Midway. I am wanting to build up a personal surplus of rounds and am wondering if those rounds would be reliable in a "bad situation" as opposed to factory produced ammunition. That being asked I am also looking at powder and primers. Will I need "small rifle primers"?

1.) What powder should I look at.
2.) What primers should I look at.
3.) What brass should I look at.
4.) What bullets should I look at.

I have used 5.56 in deployment and training. I am sure some of it was reloaded (Police Your Brass as those of us have heard). I am firing it from my Colt 1 in 7 twist and I want to use a 55 to 60 grain projectile. I will not be firing at targets more than 300 yards.

Any thoughts will be appreciated.

I've loaded 1000s of these babies and I've been doing it since 1978 for a variety of rifles: Mini 14s, Colt ARs, bolt guns, break actions, etc. (I'd really like to find a levergun in 223!)

Powders: IMR3031, H4895 or IMR4895 (Slightly faster than Hogdon's), BLC-2
Primers: Doesn't really matter. I prefer CCI Magnum
Brass: If you use the right load (slightly under pressure in tighter casings) it doesn't matter.
Bullets: I prefer Sierra 55gr Semi Point. Good expansion, decent ballistics, however, if you want better expansion, use the 50gr Blitz.

300 yards in an autoloader? I hope you're not trying to hit anything smaller than a dinner plate. I'm used to varmint hunting so, 300 yards is half in half luck shot. If that Cold groups less than 6 inches at that distance, I'd be VERY surprised. I'm a varmint hunter (Coyotes, Groundhogs, Coydogs) so 300 yards is a high end limit. Between trajectory, wind influences and human error you could hit man sized targets at 300. I've head people say they can kill gophers at 500 yards with a .223 and a bushmaster but I know its all blow. Don't believe the hype: 200yds is a reliable limit, 300yds is a stretch. Anything after that is mostly luck and will lead to frustration and disappointment.

 

[buckhunterbb]

Ramshot also makes a couple of decent powder for 223rem.

 

[IndyGunworks]

.224 is the true size of a .223 bullet thats why you are seeing that..... H4895 is a good powder, good luck finding it... yes you must use small rifle primers.... and a 1-7 twist i would NOT use anything lighter than 55 grain, and would recomend staying 62 grain and up to get accuracy worth a damn which could be needed if SHTF.