Reloading .223 and 5.56

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Once you have your manual and have read it front to back several time, try to locate someone local to mentor you. Your learning curve will be a lot faster.

I see no problem with starting with a AP , since most all can be used as a single stage press. All you do is insert 1 die and feed 1 piece of brass at a time. As you get more comfortable with the process add dies, still running 1 piece of brass. Then progress to full AP once your comfortable and everything is adjusted as it needs be. You will have a few tweaks to make once all stations are full.

Like said this is not a really good time to get in due to availability of primer, and powder. Things are come back but it will probably be close to another year before every thing starts leveling out.
 
Everyone starts somewhere, it's a bad time, price/ availability wise, to start but if not today then when? Also I'd have love to learned reloading with my dad, so go for it now while you can. As far as consumables you're right you want small rifle primer, brass (which you already saved), you can get bulk 55gr bullets still, and as far powder Hodgon has AA2230 in stock.

As pointed out you want a reload manual, get the small base dies, you'll need the press get a kit that has the measure, hand primer/press primer, and powder throw, calipers, shell holder, small primer pocket reamer and lube. That's the bare min you'll need. As you go on you'll ended up with tumblers, trimmers, deburers and ton of other accessories.

There is a lot if info out there and good resources with people to willing to share knowledge.
 
Blue68f100 said:
Once you have your manual and have read it front to back several time, try to locate someone local to mentor you. Your learning curve will be a lot faster.

I see no problem with starting with a AP , since most all can be used as a single stage press. All you do is insert 1 die and feed 1 piece of brass at a time. As you get more comfortable with the process add dies, still running 1 piece of brass. Then progress to full AP once your comfortable and everything is adjusted as it needs be. You will have a few tweaks to make once all stations are full.

Like said this is not a really good time to get in due to availability of primer, and powder. Things are come back but it will probably be close to another year before every thing starts leveling out.
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I’m not going to lie, I didn’t read any manual before reloading, just youtube videos, and cranking handles till something good came out

some of those manual are hard to understand if your not a reloader
 
Ferris said:
Everyone starts somewhere, it's a bad time, price/ availability wise, to start but if not today then when? Also I'd have love to learned reloading with my dad, so go for it now while you can. As far as consumables you're right you want small rifle primer, brass (which you already saved), you can get bulk 55gr bullets still, and as far powder Hodgon has AA2230 in stock.

As pointed out you want a reload manual, get the small base dies, you'll need the press get a kit that has the measure, hand primer/press primer, and powder throw, calipers, shell holder, small primer pocket reamer and lube. That's the bare min you'll need. As you go on you'll ended up with tumblers, trimmers, deburers and ton of other accessories.

There is a lot if info out there and good resources with people to willing to share knowledge.
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I’m with you, some of the fun is hunter for equipment and components. Then learning to do with what you have.
 
Mark_Mark said:
I’m with you, some of the fun is hunter for equipment and components. Then learning to do with what you have.
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LOL The hunt is definitely part of the fun, I stumbled on small pistol on powder valley a few weeks ago it was like striking gold and I felt like a little kid on Christmas when they were delivered. If one is really desperate and willing to over pay gun broker has anything you need. IF I were starting I'd just bite the bullet and consider it an entry fee.
 
FWIW TAC is my go to propellant with 223 and 55 grain bullets. Accurate with a reasonable charge and fairly forgiving with temperature ranges. Also as far as 55 grain FMJ bullets the cheaper they are, less accurate they fly as a general rule. So keep that in mind when looking for deals when you start to make accurate ammo. We know you will do this eventually----everyone eventally does LOL.
 
Did you get a reloading manual yet?? Did you buy 2 or 3 manuals to get a better grasp on the science? What are your thoughts now? Do you have any specific questions?
 
I use Hodgdon H335 to load my .223 ammo. Other powders to consider are Ramshot TAC, Accurate 2230, Alliant Power Pro 1200-R and Reloader 10X. There are others but those are the most popular.

I prefer CCI#41, CCI-450, Remington 7 1/2 primers or Federal Gold Metal .205 primers.

The 55gr bullet you are going to use is a good choice for an AR rifle. A 62gr bullet is also a good choice. Either can be used with a barrel with a 1:9 twist. With heaved bullets you should have a 1:7 twist.

I hope this helps you a little. Read the manuals like said above then come back and ask questions.
 
As AJC1 said, finding Small Rifle primers will be the hardest part. After that, go to the online sales sites (Midsouth shooters, Midway, Grafs) and find the items you want. If out of stock, click that you want to be notified when the item comes into stock. All reloading items seem to be coming and going (except primers) and in a few weeks an item should be back in stock.

There are a ton of videos on Youtube that should give you a good idea, along with a good manual, of what you need.
 
entropy said:
Load those 55 gr. with a load that comes out to @3100 fps, you'll have what you want. An M193 clone load.
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Although that is a noble end goal, a load at M193 velocities is right up there at the top of most loading data. I wouldn't suggest to any new reloader to use a velocity standard as their indicator of a good... or safe... load. For that matter, if it's just blasting ammos, he wouldn't likely need all that velocity, anyway.

Mark_Mark said:
some of those manual are hard to understand if your not a reloader
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Again... that's one of the reasons why I recommend a single-stage press to a new reloader. I'm a hands on kind of guy... I can read stuff until I'm blue in the face, but until I actually lay hands on something and work with it, it doesn't really make sense. Having a single-stage will allow a new reloader to learn and work through the entire process of handloading, without the complexity (and sometimes frustration) of a progressive. Just my .02 worth.

Further, I would agree that much of what you read in a comprehensive reloading manual may or may not apply to what you are intending to do... depending on the level at which you intend to reload at.

Ferris said:
but if not today then when?
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No, I agree... but with the understanding that the days of walking out of a store (or waiting for the Brown Truck to arrive) with a complete kit to start loading... are largely over, for now, anyway. This is where a reloading 'grocery list' can come in handy... to make sure you are getting the things you need, and not wasting time and money on things you don't.
 
Do not be a n a hurry. Not the n any part of this ( except a manual or two). I started with a Lee anniversary kit. It had most of what I needed to begin. I then discovered Midway and bought the remainder of what I needed. it served me well for several years.
Your first step will be case sorting and prep.
You can buy affordable hand tools for this to get started.
Learn to look brass over and spot defects.
I spent a good part of last winter just sorting and prepping brass.
 
.223/5.56 is a fun cartridge to load. It does require more work and attention to detail as would a handgun caliber. Read about the history of the round and like others have said, watch many videos. Must have items for reloading the round would be, reloading press, dies set (full length sizing die, a must), powder, bullets, primers, cases, case gauge (a must), case trimmer, pocket reamer or swage for crimped/staked primer pockets, sizing lube, calipers, powder scale, loading trays, chamfer tool. there's more but I can't think of them now..
 
Abstract said:
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. Jus
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I've been reloading for almost 43 years, started with a mec 600 jr doing 20 ga shotgun shells, graduated to 12 ga, then on to rifle/pistol cartridges.i still have my first single stage press, an rcbs special 2, it is used a lot.

Abstract said:
Nothing special or hot. Just standard ammo I can take to the range and use to dispatch a bad guy if needed. I tried t
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55 gr fmjbt's are cheaper than most bullets you'll find, bit not the best for accuracy or dispatching anything. A softpoint OT hollow point is better for that task, more accurate and expand better. I just did a load work for a 62 gr hpbt, haven't tested it yet.

Abstract said:
read that cc 400 primers would work well. Is that correct?
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Those will work as will Winchester small rifle or cci #41.

I've shot bullets from 50 gr to 69 HR in both 1:9 and 1:7 twist rifle all seem to be accurate enough for most purposes.

I just recently ordered ramshot tac, but have relied on 3 other powders over the last several years in my 223, 556 rounds, imr 4895, h4895 and blc2. Gotten good results with all of them.
I use my camper/debur tool to team primer pockets, takes a long time, but works especially if you are just starting out.
 

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Russian .223 is a hard round to load for. They probably should be banned . lol
 
Jeeeeez, you guys have spent too much time in your gun room... wanna learn how to reload and see if its how you want to go forward instead of buying factory... buy the Lee Loader 223 wack a mole!!! It tells you what powder, primer, bullet weight and grams of powder to get a good reload and send it thru the barrel to target. It also teaches you respect for the ingredients.
All you guys want to send a beginner to College before he has been to Grade school. It becomes confusing reading those books before you understand how it works all together...then increase your knowledge as you understand how it all works together.
Prior to readily available books, progressive presses, single stage presses, and all this STUFF to make it easy or quicker...Wack a Mole Lee Loaderers were what was available for us uneducated back woods city dwellers to load ammo we couldn't afford or find.
I still remember grampa taking me to the hardware store and getting a scoop of rifle powder, and scoop of pistol power, which also covered the "shotgun" so we could go shooting varmints or food....
Paul
 
I gotta agree, everyone should learn how to do everything on a single-srage before they get fancy. Learn how to spot, isolate and solve issues one at a time before all of the processes are combined and you can't tell what's wrong.

The cheapskate gene I got from my father reveals itself when I buy gear, and it has led to my upgrading incrementally and learning a lot of lessons the hard way. Currently running a Lee Auto-lock Breech Press progressive, and fidgeting and arguing with it has led me to size and de-cap separately, because that force and resistance has been the cause of pretty much every problem I have had. (Or more accurately, I have my juvenile range slaves do it.) And yes, life would probably be easier if I just get a Dillon.
 
deadeye dick said:
Mark, If you're not a reloader why read a manual?
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when I first read the Nosler Manual that came with my Rock Chucker kit. I was completely confused, I could not get pass the 3 pages, I understood the charts really well, because I have lab background. I had to watch YT videos and get advice from my long time reloader brother. Also, I’m not really good at reading, didn’t do good at school, and I tried really hard too. But, if I read it now, I would understand 1/2 of it.
 
Paul R Zartman said:
Jeeeeez, you guys have spent too much time in your gun room... wanna learn how to reload and see if its how you want to go forward instead of buying factory... buy the Lee Loader 223 wack a mole!!! It tells you what powder, primer, bullet weight and grams of powder to get a good reload and send it thru the barrel to target. It also teaches you respect for the ingredients.
All you guys want to send a beginner to College before he has been to Grade school. It becomes confusing reading those books before you understand how it works all together...then increase your knowledge as you understand how it all works together.
Prior to readily available books, progressive presses, single stage presses, and all this STUFF to make it easy or quicker...Wack a Mole Lee Loaderers were what was available for us uneducated back woods city dwellers to load ammo we couldn't afford or find.
I still remember grampa taking me to the hardware store and getting a scoop of rifle powder, and scoop of pistol power, which also covered the "shotgun" so we could go shooting varmints or food....
Paul
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The problem with the Lee Loader is it only neck sizes rifle brass. You need full length sizing to reliability chamber ammo in a semi auto. However it will work OK in a bolt rifle for a few reloads before the brass needs to be full length resized.
 
FROGO207 said:
The problem with the Lee Loader is it only neck sizes rifle brass. You need full length sizing to reliability chamber ammo in a semi auto. However it will work OK in a bolt rifle for a few reloads before the brass needs to be full length resized.
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Yes, for most semi auto rifle cartridges, it would be wise to add a "wack a mole" full length sizer...
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...to your tool options, but your still learning the basics with the Lee loader and "Lyman sizer" to help you make that decision on weather or not you want to reload or buy new ammo.
My point is to start very basic and learn, then "if" you like it, educate yourself further with better books and equipment. Seems simple, like going to school.
 
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