Reload 223/5.56?

[Charlie Martinez]

I currently reload 243 Win, 30-06 and 35 Remington. Considering buying dies for 223/5.56 but I have some questions:
1. Are they (relatively speaking) difficult to reload? ie Is there anything in particular that makes either one harder to reload than any of the ones I already have?
2. Is it (money wise) worth the trouble?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I currently reload 243 Win, 30-06 and 35 Remington. Considering buying dies for 223/5.56 but I have some questions:
1. Are they (relatively speaking) difficult to reload? ie Is there anything in particular that makes either one harder to reload than any of the ones I already have?
2. Is it (money wise) worth the trouble?

Aside from a lot of the 5.56 brass having a crimped primer pocket which needs to be cleaned up the first reload, I don't think they are much different than other cartridges to reload.

If you have a lot of brass on hand already, then the cost isn't bad. If buying brass then it may be less wise money spent. Only you really can say what it is worth to you. I load .223 for a nice bolt rifle I have, I haven't done 5.56 as it didn't make sense (for me) yet.

 

[HKGuns]

They are no different than any other cartridge to load. If you're reloading only to save money, you're doing it for the wrong reasons. You do it so you can have more accurate loads in different bullet weights.

I no longer buy ammo, all the ammo I shoot is what I make and it is far more accurate and consistent than anything you get commercially.

 

[AJC1]

I load 223 because the market will no longer determine what I can have when. It's it cheaper, I say having it when I want when you can't buy it yes. If you don't have piles of brass already your miles behind the 8 ball

 

[N555]

If your lube game isn't on point you going to get to lean how to pull a stuck case out of a die.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I reload .223 (and 29 other rounds) because I don't like to rely on the market to provide for my shooting needs.
If I can't make or repair a thing for myself then I don't really own that thing.
Anyway, I like reloading... .

 

[Charlie98]

Aside from the aforementioned crimped primer pockets (usually only with 5.56mm ammos, but can show up on some .223 ammos, too...) it's the same.

Is it cost effective? It depends. If you want a bunch of blasting ammo, it can be, but do you have the time to prep and load say 1000 cases? I've burnt through 1000 rounds over a 3 day weekend... but it would have taken me at least 2 weeks to prep and load all of that... at my level of reloading equipment. If you are loading specific handloads... hunting, target, et al... then, yes, it is absolutely worth your time.

Personally, I prefer a mix... I have both factory ammos, and the components to handload a fair quantity of 5.56mm. My factory ammo gives me my brass for reloading, and I always have ammo on hand to shoot if I want.

 

[AJC1]

Aside from the aforementioned crimped primer pockets (usually only with 5.56mm ammos, but can show up on some .223 ammos, too...) it's the same.

Is it cost effective? It depends. If you want a bunch of blasting ammo, it can be, but do you have the time to prep and load say 1000 cases? I've burnt through 1000 rounds over a 3 day weekend... but it would have taken me at least 2 weeks to prep and load all of that... at my level of reloading equipment. If you are loading specific handloads... hunting, target, et al... then, yes, it is absolutely worth your time.

Personally, I prefer a mix... I have both factory ammos, and the components to handload a fair quantity of 5.56mm. My factory ammo gives me my brass for reloading, and I always have ammo on hand to shoot if I want.

I found Hornaday crimping 223 and 308. The 308 surprised me the first time.

 

[Charlie98]

I don't like to rely on the market to provide for my shooting needs.

Although I understand what you are saying, in regards to factory ammos, those of us who have gone component shopping the past few years still have to rely on the market to provide for our handloading needs. It all has to come from somewhere...

 

[Charlie98]

I found Hornaday crimping 223 and 308. The 308 surprised me the first time.

I would have to go look at my TAP ammos... those might be crimped... but I don't know if I've ever seen any other Hornady ammos crimped.

Fastest way to lock up a progressive is to introduce a crimped primer pocket!

 

[AJC1]

I would have to go look at my TAP ammos... those might be crimped... but I don't know if I've ever seen any other Hornady ammos crimped.

Fastest way to lock up a progressive is to introduce a crimped primer pocket!

I use those guages I got from you a lot, even though I'm just a single stage guy still, I enjoy a smooth operation. I can't immage the nightmare of running mixed headstamps on a progressive

 

[Charlie98]

I can't immage the nightmare of running mixed headstamps on a progressive

Neither can I... so I don't!

 

[AJC1]

If your lube game isn't on point you going to get to lean how to pull a stuck case out of a die.

You going to learn today

 

[tominboise]

I don't reload 5.56 ammo with fmj bullets, but I don't shoot that much of it and I have a couple cases of it that I bought cheap back when it was cheap. I do reload all the 223 Rem I shoot, for coyotes, ground squirrels, rocks, cans, etc. That is for a bolt gun and a varmint barreled AR.

 

[lightman]

Like the others have said, its no different than loading any other bottleneck cartridge except that you will probably encounter crimped primers. The crimp will have to be removed.

Is it worth it? I think so.

 

[blackd24]

I can reload match grade 223 69 grain rounds for $.31 per round considering today’s component prices. The case prep is the worst part, but once they are ready the loading goes quick. Even blasting factory ammo is $.40-.60 per round today so I’m getting better quality ammo at a lower price. I enjoy reloading and making my own - pretty cool to build an entire rifle and ammo and have it function and shoot better than commercially made products.

 

[Show Me]

I don't pay attention to reloading cost. It is what it is. I use name brand bullets with name brand books. Have a bolt action for every auto loader. Have a revolver for every lever action. It's my way to stick it to the man

 

[Hartkopf]

I can build range blasting 223 for half the current price of the cheapest 556. And as much as I like saving aprox $280, it's a lot of trouble. So, I'm sitting on a pile of components waiting for the day I have time and motivation to load em up.

 

[Charlie Martinez]

One visit to my range and I can come home with as much 223 or 5.56 brass as I can carry. I don't believe crimped or non-crimped will be an issue for me because of the volume of spent brass I can gather anytime I go to the range. So far it sounds like it's quite doable.

 

[ballman6711]

I'd say go for it. You may have an appropriate powder, and primers. You have access to brass. You most likely have a trimmer. So you need bullets, a set of dies, a shell holder or plate, and a way to ream or swage the pockets.

With new brass, .223 costs me about the same as factory fmj ( $75/100), but once I take the brass out of the equation I'm around $33/100. So about $6.50 for a box of twenty. Worth it for me.

chris

 

[1KPerDay]

Reloading 5.56/.223 is a PITA and I stopped trying. If ammo supply gets bad enough again I'll reattempt. But based on my first couple of tries, it's not worth the hassle FOR ME. I do reload .308 and .30-06 and .30-30 so I know how to put a rifle cartridge together. For some reason .223 gives me every bit of trouble there is. Stuck cases, PITA to trim and handle, PITA to charge through that tiny neck, etc. 4-stake primer pockets suck, also.

 

[Charlie98]

So, I'm sitting on a pile of components waiting for the day I have time and motivation to load em up.

Reloading 5.56/.223 is a PITA and I stopped trying.

That... and That... +1

Back in the '90's and 2000's, when ammo was cheap, it did not make sense to spend what little time I had at the reloading bench prepping all that 5.56mm brass... so I didn't. Even these days, when you are dropping .40/rd for M193, it's still an even money proposition when you factor in my very little time I have available for reloading. Having said that... I AM working my way through my 5.56mm brass... about 5K cases. It's all sized, all the primer pockets are cut, and I'm twirling that trimmer handle at the moment... as I have time. 200 cases here, 300 cases there... it all adds up. Other, more important, reloading tasks interrupt the process, and that's fine... I just set them aside for the moment. I have an 8#er of H335 just for the 5.56mm... and that will load about 2250 rounds, or about half my brass stash. Once the H335 is gone, I hope to move on to TAC for the 5.56mm... and another 8#er of that will load the other half of the 5K cases I have. I have plenty of bullets.

 

[Charlie Martinez]

Reloading 5.56/.223 is a PITA

I was afraid of that and the reason why I started this thread. I too felt the smallness of it all is where the difference lies.

 

[AJC1]

I was afraid of that and the reason why I started this thread. I too felt the smallness of it all is where the difference lies.

Using an rcbs matchmaster die sure makes it easier and faster... I made 500 rounds in a few days. It flies after brass prep.

 

[1KPerDay]

I was afraid of that and the reason why I started this thread. I too felt the smallness of it all is where the difference lies.

Well you may like it just fine, like most people in this thread appear to. You could always sell the dies and components easily if it doesn't suit you. Or save them until you get desperate enough. I haven't gotten there yet.