Reloading .223 and 5.56

[Abstract]

Ive never reloaded before and have zero knowledge on the topic. I want to reload all of my .223 ans 5.56 brass and wanna know a little bit about some important things I need to know about doing so. I wanna do 55gr. Just wanna do bulk style ammo that will run through all my AR qith varying barrel lengths and twists. Nothing special or hot. Just standard ammo I can take to the range and use to dispatch a bad guy if needed. I tried to use the hodgson( I think is what its called) webaite to get aome morw information but had a hard time navigating it and knowing exactly what I was looking at. Some things I wanna know is a good fair priced powder for my needs and how much to ise on each casing. I did read that cc 400 primers would work well. Is that correct?

All these will be being shot from an AR.

 

[gifbohane]

Where to start...... First you ought to know that you picked a very BAD time to try to get into reloading. Components to reload are rare to non-existent.

Maybe buy Hornady's handbook (about $30) read it once or twice. There are hundred of decisions you will have to make thereafter.

There are few threads on here about getting into reloading.

Others will probably jump in with answers and this could be a long thread.

 

[gudaki]

Don't put the cart before the horse, there is a lot of reading and research that precedes the actual loading process. Be safe above everything else.

 

[RockRat64]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HH08L1A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_ZS1BA01BPJADJNJXAK0V

This is a good book to start with. It will go over the basics. It will list which powders they have data for and you can go from there and see what you can find. Why do you want to reload?

 

[rdnktrkr]

I like the Lee reloading manual also, the front section explains reloading in simple terms and the back section has reloading charts. PLEASE get a good manual AND use it, don't try to get all your info from the web. I have several different manuals and still look around for different versions to compare loads. The problem you will run into at this time is finding components in stock at reasonable prices. When I started I used a single stage but I suggested a turret press to a friend and started him out using it as a single stage.

 

[AJC1]

Start by tracking availability and price of primers. If you cant get them or think they are to expensive your at a full stop. Ammunition is becoming available again and prices are going down.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Ive never reloaded before and have zero knowledge on the topic. I want to reload all of my .223 ans 5.56 brass and wanna know a little bit about some important things I need to know about doing so. I wanna do 55gr. Just wanna do bulk style ammo that will run through all my AR qith varying barrel lengths and twists. Nothing special or hot. Just standard ammo I can take to the range and use to dispatch a bad guy if needed. I tried to use the hodgson( I think is what its called) webaite to get aome morw information but had a hard time navigating it and knowing exactly what I was looking at. Some things I wanna know is a good fair priced powder for my needs and how much to ise on each casing. I did read that cc 400 primers would work well. Is that correct?

All these will be being shot from an AR.

Keep saving your brass, and buy components as you find them. Pick a press, progressive if you want fast, single stage if you want to slow down. Then load dummy rounds without primers and powder. Have fun!

 

[Slamfire]

Full length resize with a small base die. For ammunition to be used in multiple rifles, size the case as closely as possible to factory dimensions and that requires small base dies. Use RCBS water soluble or Imperial sizing wax as lubes. Use case gauges to set up your dies





You will never get the proper base to shoulder lengths if you follow the typical die instructions that say, "screw the die to the shell holder plus a quarter turn".

Trim case to minimum trim length. Trim each firing. Bevel the inside of the case mouth, and remove the flash from the outside. Cut the crimps out of military brass, various ways to do this. Clean the pocket out. Prime with the least sensitive primer for a gas gun, I recommend CCI #41's . The 41's are CCI's military primer, these primers are less sensitive than the standard commercial. Federals are the most sensitive primer and there are more slamfires with Federals than any other brand.

Prime by hand, and if the primers are not below the case head on seating, ream the pockets to depth, or figure out if a crimp is causing problems. The primer must be below the case head for gas guns.

As for powders, normally I would say buy Varget, but I never used bullets less than 68 grains. I do know IMR 3031 and H4895 work great with light bullets in the 223, and H4895 works great with the heavier. Load mid range for multiple guns. Different chambers, different barrels will blow primers. I had to cut my loads for my Krieger barrels by 1.5 to 2 grains from the Wilson and Douglas barrel loads.

Seat the bullet to the cannelure. If there is no cannelure, don't seat the bullet out longer than magazine length!. With an AR15, there is not a lot of flexibility in seating the bullet long. I think I set my bullets to 2.25 plus or minus, and forgot about it. Never ever try to seat to the lands. If you do, someday, for some reason, you will have to extract an unfired round, and the bullet will stay in the throat, and you will have a lot of powder in the action.There is no need to crimp a bullet, case neck tension ought to suffice in keeping the bullet in place.

Works for me.

 

[stormshrike]

The Practical Guide to Reloading Ammunition: Learn the easy way to reload your own rifle and pistol cartridges (Practical Guides)

^ Another starting guide to the reloading process. Covers the basics.

Like the others posters are saying, read, read, read. Lots of good manuals out there. You can find a lot of data online from powder manufacturers and bullet manufacturers, but understand the process first.

Once you are ready to load some rounds for real, determine which bullets & powders you can find and cross reference with available data. Purchasing an exact bullet/powder combination for which you have data is a good way to start; that's better than purchasing components and then trying to find data that matches. (Granted we're not in ideal times for finding components.)

Also, I know tons of people learned reloading with bottleneck rifle rounds, bit IMHO if you can start with straight wall pistol cartridges, those have a few less steps to worry about.

Read, read, read. Make some dummy rounds, then read, read, read some more. Ask questions. Then read some more.

 

[Bassfishing54]

All of the above make vary valid points and there should be lots of replies on this one, with tons of great input. Start with the reloading manuals and read. Then read them again. There are several out there Lee, Lyman, etc. that are excellent resources to have available. With 223 and 556 ammunition being fairly available currently, I would purchase ammo of a few different gr weights and save the brass. This will allow you to shoot and help you determine which projectile fits your needs for plinking, hunting, etc. As components become available you will have already done your research and have a better feel for what powder and projectile you need to be acquiring. With reloading components hit or miss for purchase currently, you are better of doing your due diligence and research at this time and acquire components as they become available. Be safe!

 

[twarr1]

Your first purchase should be a reloading manual. Don’t try to learn your basics from the Internet.
THR is an excellent resource for questions. There are a lot of knowledgeable people willing to help and the moderators keep things on topic so you don’t have the “my way/method/belief/gun/theory is the best and everything else sux” spitting matches. We’re all here to learn, share and sometimes entertain.
…But start with a good reloading manual. I personally like Lee’s 1st and 2nd edition.

 

[Charlie98]

Pick a press, progressive if you want fast, single stage if you want to slow down.

Although I know there are differing points of view on this... but I disagree. For a new reloader, and particularly a noob starting with a cartridge like 5.56mm, a single-stage press is the way to go. It's not like straight-wall pistol cartridges that require little, if any, case prep before loading. There will always be a place on the bench... and a purpose... for a single-stage press, even if it's case prep prior to loading.

OP, I would recommend the Hornady reloading manual, it has 'service rifle' loads that will work for what you want, along with basic information you will need to learn. If you have looked at the Hodgdon data online and are confused about what you are seeing... as AJC puts it... you need to come to a full stop and do some research before proceeding any further.

 

[BBarn]

Start by studying a reloading manual, one with step by step instruction. If you don't want to buy one, you can download a good free one from Western Powders at:

www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/

(copy and paste into browser address window)

 

[Mark_Mark]

Although I know there are differing points of view on this... but I disagree. For a new reloader, and particularly a noob starting with a cartridge like 5.56mm, a single-stage press is the way to go. It's not like straight-wall pistol cartridges that require little, if any, case prep before loading. There will always be a place on the bench... and a purpose... for a single-stage press, even if it's case prep prior to loading.

OP, I would recommend the Hornady reloading manual, it has 'service rifle' loads that will work for what you want, along with basic information you will need to learn. If you have looked at the Hodgdon data online and are confused about what you are seeing... as AJC puts it... you need to come to a full stop and do some research before proceeding any further.

I agree, I only know a few reloader that started on a progressive. I think OP want to churn out as much bulk .223 that will feed in his AR. I say go progressive in that case, get everything fine tune, lock it down, and crank it out.

 

[Mark_Mark]

OP… also, it’s not going to be cheap to reload your own ammo. You’re looking a $1,000 min for new quality equipment and components.

 

[murf]

welcome to thr. start with reading a reloading manual as stated above. ask a lot of questions.

luck,

murf

 

[Abstract]

After my dad bought a press we started saving brass but it was always pretty cheap to just buy ammo so we did that but always kept brass cause one day we may just reload. Now though I havent found any ammo except maube tula thats cheaper than some of the prices of the reloading compents ive found. And since I dont have to factor in buying a press when looming at coat of buying versus reloading I figured why not. Have a couple thousand rounds of brass of many calibers laying around. And wanna eventually reload my .300 blackout brass.

 

[Abstract]

I figured it could being its a very extensive topic and I'm at the entrance of it. Ive found some stuff in stock that some other resources say I could use for .223 but a ton of out of stock stuff

 

[gifbohane]

OP… You’re looking a $1,000 min for new quality equipment and components.

Hey Mark--

That statement alone could get us three pages of "lively debate" here.

 

[Abstract]

Ive never reloaded before and have zero knowledge on the topic. I want to reload all of my .223 ans 5.56 brass and wanna know a little bit about some important things I need to know about doing so. I wanna do 55gr. Just wanna do bulk style ammo that will run through all my AR qith varying barrel lengths and twists. Nothing special or hot. Just standard ammo I can take to the range and use to dispatch a bad guy if needed. I tried to use the hodgson( I think is what its called) webaite to get aome morw information but had a hard time navigating it and knowing exactly what I was looking at. Some things I wanna know is a good fair priced powder for my needs and how much to ise on each casing. I did read that cc 400 primers would work well. Is that correct?

All these will be being shot from an AR.

Also wanna add my fatber has a new single stage dillon that he never got around to using. Wanted to finally put it to some good use

 

[Mark_Mark]

Also wanna add my fatber has a new single stage dillon that he never got around to using. Wanted to finally put it to some good use

Dillion makes a single stage?

here a cheap and fast way to load .223. but you should probably takes everyones advice and learn what Reloading is and stuff. Watch a bunch of reloading videos if you don’t know how to read. And don’t drink and reload

 

[entropy]

Hey, my Dad is a little overweight also, but no need for insults here......

Load those 55 gr. with a load that comes out to @3100 fps, you'll have what you want. An M193 clone load.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Hey, my Dad is a little overweight also, but no need for insults here......

Load those 55 gr. with a load that comes out to @3100 fps, you'll have what you want. An M193 clone load.

I have the same Big Bone health conditions

 

[Mark_Mark]

After my dad bought a press we started saving brass but it was always pretty cheap to just buy ammo so we did that but always kept brass cause one day we may just reload. Now though I havent found any ammo except maube tula thats cheaper than some of the prices of the reloading compents ive found. And since I dont have to factor in buying a press when looming at coat of buying versus reloading I figured why not. Have a couple thousand rounds of brass of many calibers laying around. And wanna eventually reload my .300 blackout brass.

Father Son Project !!!! that’s a memory I hope to have!

You got any specific questions you have on your mind?? Their is NO dumb question, except the ones you don’t ask.

 

[HOWARD J]

Go on UTUBE & watch the many reloading videos for 223---have fun !