The 223:is it worth reloading

Would you reload the 223 rem.

  • Yes.

    Votes: 207 96.3%
  • No.

    Votes: 8 3.7%

  • Total voters
    215
  • Poll closed .
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Muzzlelover

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Oct 29, 2012
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Do you all think it's worth the time and effort to reload the 223 rem.with how cheap factory ammo is?I mean unless you want a specific bullet and load,there's pretty much every bullet and velocity combo out there.So do you think YOU would reload?(I proabably wouldn't since I don't have a 223 die set)
 
I don't think factory ammo is exactly cheap anymore. 1000 rounds of 55 grain PMC is now going for over $400 here in IL.

I favor different bullet weights than that, so handloading is the best option. I do have some factory ammo, but the handloads are much more accurate.

I voted yes.
 
I currently load low volumes of .223 for about $0.20/round.

Now that is cheaper than even Tula or Wolf.
 
I load 1000 roads of 55gr ammo for about $240. So, yes to me it's worth it. It's more laborious prepping the brass, but I do it during my downtime.
 
Blasting ammo is fairly inexpensive, but hunting ammo goes for more than $20 per box of 20.
 
It is for me. I bought components in bulk and am still loading 223 for $110 per 1,000. It's not blasting ammo either, it's accurate.
 
Just got into it . Did all the case prep,got the 55gn bullets,got some h335and now all I need is some primers and I'll be all set. .



Latesvak
 
Absolutely worth it - more accurate ammo, considerably lesser cost, all the brass you can scrounge, flexibility to make rounds for different purposes in whatever quantity you want. Brass preparation is time consuming but it's a hobby, so the time spent is one the reasons to reload.
 
Yes and yes. For the rifles I and the other 2 guys I shoot/hunt with, it is more advantagous for me/us to reload .223 Rem.. We buy 3-4000 brass, 5 cases of primers, and 3-8 lb jugs of powder, and 1000 each of 4 weights of bullets all at the same time from the same LGS owner. We get a discount for volume, split evenly 3 ways and we shoot year round.
 
Yes, very worth it. Sure, you can get blasting ammo inexpensively enough, but I can reload 69gr match bullets for the same price. You've just gone from "should all be on target" to called Xs at 300 yards. And you can reload 55gr FMJs for less.
 
Absolutely would. I love the accuracy a lot more with my reloads than I do with factory. Plus all the brass I have, and a large majority of it is LC, I picked up myself from the range for free, and I currently have 3000+ cases...enough to last me awhile. So the only cost I have in my .223 rounds is powder, primer and bullets. So I am definitely saving money, but well I just love reloading as well. Gives me time to relax plus make accurate ammo for my rifle.
 
I woulda been on the fence on this a few months ago. I reloaded it, but I didn't feel like it was strictly worthwhile. This put me in a bit of a dilema, since I have a lot of 223 brass, and I didn't want to stop picking up my cases. I tentatively decided to try casting 223.

I held out for awhile, feeling like cast bullets probably wouldn't work well in a 223 autoloader. My 223 mold was the last mold I bought. But it's my first mold to break the 1k barrier. I've shot over 1200 cast 223 bullets in about 2 months.

The rifle bullets, in particular, made casting well worth the initial investment for me. Gas checked bullets seem to be very easy to get right. It's a wonder to me why cast rifle bullets are not as readily available from component suppliers (at reasonable prices) as pistol bullets.
 
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I like to reload so why wouldn't I. Besides, my reloads are less expensive and more accurate.
 
Using 55gr M193 bullets from Widener's, 25.0gr H335, once fired brass and CCI primers I can load 20 rounds for only $4.12. If I use a CCI#41 primer which I usually do the price is $4.20/20 rounds. The cheapest .223 ammo on the discount shelves will usually cost you at least twice that price.

Switch the powder to WC844 and the price drops to $3.10/20 rounds, that's good right there! ($154.95/1000 rounds!!!)

I guess that's a yes for me...
 
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I've already got the dies and components...but have not started reloading for it yet. I think .223 will be the 4th cartridge I learn to reload. I am starting with .45 auto, will try out 9mm too and then jump to .308 win.

The reason I think it is worthwhile to reload is I did the math and even with regular-priced (non-bulk) components, a box of 20 can be produced for $4.65 and can get down to near $4 per box if I scour sales ads or order in bulk.

The cheapest brass-cased ammo I have seen lately is $7 a box. I just bought 1000 for about .32 per round to start stocking up on brass. Sometimes the cheapest stores have is $8 a box. I can find steel-cased for $5 occasionally, but it is getting rarer, and more often than not, even that is $6 a box usually. And I just like shooting brass better. Something satisfying about the jingle jangle as they hit the floor.

So, say $3 savings per box, that's $7 or $8 savings per 50. Not quite the great margin of reloading .45 auto (I have figured a savings of at least $10 per box versus factory) but still pretty good.
 
When I was buying .223 ammo for $2.79 a box it wasn't worth it.I remember buying Russian 9mm and .223 for $69.00 per 1,000 at Centerfire Systems. Now, I reload both 9mm and .223.
 
You want cheap, cast your own bullets too. Don't believe the myth about the gas port/tube plugging up.
 
Well, +1 on casting yer own. And a direct gas (AR system) might be a different sorta animal. But I hafta say my gas piston rifle does plug the heck up. I built a custom wrench to pull the plug out. It can seize in there pretty darn tight after a couple hundred rounds. And if not cleaned every couple hundred, the piston will eventually seize, preventing return to full battery. Once out, the lead flakes right off, though.

Maybe it's time for me to buy my first AR. :)
 
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I just recently picked up a couple Colt ARs, and while I can get Tula 20 boxs of steel case for $5 at wally world, it isn't very satisfying.

I am rounding up components now. Have powder, primers, bullets, and dies on the way.
I have a couple cases of factory ammo to shoot for brass, or I might grab some if I can find it cheap(range pick up is not an option, everyone around here reloads or knows a friend who does.).
 
No. Besides not saving any money, it will cause you to gain weight, your feet to stink, and your cows will dry up; You might even develop a nasty boil in a personal area.

Why take the chance?

Just leave your brass at the range for me to pick up.

OK THX BAI.
 
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