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Posted: 6/3/2010 7:47:46 PM EDT
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First off I apologize in advance if I am posting this question in the wrong forum, but I was wondering if anyone "rolls their own" in terms of reloading their own loads for the E4? I ask because I want to get into reloading, but obviously don't have any experience. I have started reading a reloading book (Lyman 49th ed) and I have been talking to experienced guys I meet out at the range, plus I have been reading and watching videos on the net. I have started to purchase equipment, but before I buy too much stuff I wanted to get some help. I decided to reload for a couple of reasons. First and most importantly I want to improve my accuracy. That is the main reason. One of the times I was out at the range a guy who loads his own for his AR-15 let me and a friend of mine try some of his rounds and for all 5 shots of his ammo gave me less than a 1/2" groups and I was unable to reproduce this with the ammo I was shooting (of course this was still at 50 yards). Second is to eventually save myself some $ on ammo by reusing my brass-some people say this is true and some say that you really never save on ammo because you will always be buying new tools and gadgets to improve your loading (can become quite fun and addictive from what I have been told).The third reason is that I am also curious to see if it will maybe allow me to keep using that MSAR optic that I got with my E4. So far I haven't had much luck with it past 50 yards in terms of accuracy (see my other post). I have been using various factory ammo from as cheap as wolf and bear to stuff like Federal and American Tactical. If anyone can shed some light on this for me or help steer me in the right direction I would appreciate it.
Thanks, Mav |
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It sounds to me like you're headed in the right direction. You've got a pretty comprehensive manual and you've elicited the help of local shooters. I'd suggest maybe getting something like ABC's of Reloading or one of the newer Speer manuals since both books might contain a topic not covered in your Lyman manual or maybe they will cover a subject in a little better detail.
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Here are a couple of things to consider as well. I have been reloading my IPSC loads for years, and I too and starting to compile the items to load .223.
I already have a Dillon 650 progressive press. So I really only need the items to convert to a new caliber. In what I have read (especially on the brianenos forums) To load .223 on a 650 it is best to have (2) tool-heads (1) for prep of brass, and the other (1) for loading. When I add up everything (for the conversion only) dies, tool-heads, case feed plates, swager, trimmer, "quick-change" head, etc it will run close to $600 When loading military brass you will either need to purchase "processed" brass that has already had the crimp rolled away, or swage them yourself. If you are loading for semi-automatic rifle you will likely want to go the prgressive route just because a single stage press will be very time consuming when you have to do each step one at a time, when a progressive can do 4-5 of these steps at the same time. With the cost of ammo right now, you will be able to recoup your equipment cost and most likely fairly quickly. However, will you "save" money in reloading? Yes and no. Will you be able to create more accurate then factory loads for a less money per round....Definately. Will you spend just as much money on components as you would on factory ammo.....yes but you will have 2-3x more ammo to shoot than before. |
| Get a progressive press, don't buy cheap bullets heads. When I first started out reloading, I wasn't impressed with the accuracy I was getting. Thats because I purchased cheap bulk bullets from a korean company. Stick with (hornady) well known companies when buying supplies. Also the msar isn't going to get the same accuracy as a AR-15, thats been my experience so far. |
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After speaking to many people about reloading, their advice was since I was new to start out with a single stage press-more specifically the RCBS Rock Chucker. Using a single stage press helps one learn all the steps in making a round. Once comfortable and knowledgeable with single stage press, I can always upgrade to a progressive press down the road. I just got a really nice deal off eBay for a new RCBS rock chucker supreme kit which includes most of the items you need (press, scale, powder measure, hand priming tool, Speer reloading manual, chamfer/deburring tool, neck cleaner, reloading block, funnel, and some other odds and ends). I think the only other items I need are the .223 dies, .223 shell holder, case neck trimmer, manual bullet puller, and a caliper. And of course primers, powder and bullets. :D
What I would like to know is what Dies do people use/recommend? I have read the reviews on Lee dies and for the money they seem to be the best deal. Others say Lee suck and to get the more expensive RCBS or other ones from hornady, redding, etc. |
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I don't like the idea of starting with single stage presses. Do it right the first time. Progressive. Just take your time. Reload one round at a time to start if that makes you feel better. Dillon 550 FTW.
I reload and I shot about 300 of my reloads through my STG556 yesterday. There were 0 stoppages. |
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I don't like the idea of starting with single stage presses. Do it right the first time. Progressive. Just take your time. Reload one round at a time to start if that makes you feel better. Dillon 550 FTW.
I've been reloading since 1983. I've got two Lee Turret presses and two Dillons. For a beginner, the Lee Classic Turret Press is hard to beat. You can start out using it slowly right out of the box and then add various options over the years to make it more and more automatic. If you need to load for a large rifle caliber like 30/06, etc, it will handle that easily. I haven't checked lately but grafs.com used to have the lowest prices for the Lee press. Plus they give you a dealer discount if you have a C&R. Lee Turret Press review Gregg |
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Quoted:
Aside from 5-6 rds of Wolf just to see if it would cycle, my AUG A3 has had nothing but my reloads through it. About 1,500 rds so far. Dillon XL650, range brass, Hornady 55g FMJ w/c, WC844 prop, CCI400 primer, and elbow grease. Where you getting your 844? |
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Guys;
Thanks for all your great responses. I appreciate your advice on going progressive, but I got a really good deal on a single stage set, so for now that is the route I am going. Can you guys give me some recommendations or tell me what you guys use for the following below: Dies (what brand, kind) Manual Case Trimmer Also, what bullets, powder, and primers do you guys use? I have saved all my brass from factory loads I previously fired so I am good there. Thanks, Mav |
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Here are my steps for reloading .223. I use two tool heads on my 550 for this. You will have to figure out how you want to do this with a single stage. All dies and equipment are from Dillon. They are 5 miles from my house.
After tumbling.... Toolhead one: Stage 1. Size/prime (if primer does not easily go in, case gets tossed in a separate box for swaging with a Dillon swaging tool). I like CCI primers, but just use what you can find. Stage 2. blank Stage 3: Dillon Case trimmer Stage 4: blank Debur case mouth manually before toolhead two, then tumble Toolhead two" Stage 1: Size again. No decapping pin Stage 2: Powder- Varget or H322 are what I use. Stage 3: Seating- I use bulk 55gr bullets. Berry's has decent deals on them. Stage 4: Crimp Tumble again. Yes, I tumble live rounds as long as they aren't hollow points. Picking media out of bullets sucks. Run all rounds through a case gauge. |
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Quoted:
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Aside from 5-6 rds of Wolf just to see if it would cycle, my AUG A3 has had nothing but my reloads through it. About 1,500 rds so far. Dillon XL650, range brass, Hornady 55g FMJ w/c, WC844 prop, CCI400 primer, and elbow grease. Where you getting your 844? I stocked up on it a few years ago. I only have like 16# left. 
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Here's my XL650 set up:
Case Prep Head 1-Lee Universal Decapper 2-empty 3-RT1200B 4-empty 5-Hornady FL sizer set back so that just the button massages the inside of the neck to bump it back out and remove the trimming burr. Tumble Decrimp if necessary Loading Head 1-Dillon FL sizer 2-Prime/Charge 3-Powder Check 4-Seat 5-Crimp This way the brass can be prepped in bulk and then have all the lube tumbled off of it. Going into the loading process, it's dry and the Dillon trim die and size die are the same dimensions, so it goes through smoothly. The main reason I run it through the FL sizer on the loading head is to just make sure there's no burrs left, and to kick any tumbling media out of the flash hole. I've loaded many thousands of rounds with this process and it's a breeze. |
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Ok-I have decided to purchase the LEE .223 die set with shell holder. I met a guy at my local range that offered to sell me a 5# container of reloder 15 powder for $95 to use towards my reloading. I looked online at midwayusa.com and that looks like a real good price considering I wont have to pay shipping or that hazmat fee if I get it from him. What do you guys think? He also offered me his old RCBS manual case trimmer for $10. I know its manual-but I thought for starting out it a manual trimmer would be fine until I get my feet wet with some experience and then I get can get something better. I will still need to get some primers and bullets. From the other local shooters I spoke with they said it doesn't really matter which brand of primer I go with-most are pretty good. But what bullets should I get? I saw that a person in this thread said he uses bulk 55gr bullets, but he didn't say what kind. I was looking at Hornady (don't remember which ones) and sierra matchkings. I am not sure what grain bullet I should start out with. I was looking for pretty good accuracy at 100 yards so one person told me to skip 55gr and go for at least 62 grain-65-67 would be even better if I could afford it. My plan was to buy the powder and trimmer from that guy, then buy the die set, shell holder, 100 bullets (to start out with), a box of 1000 primers (probably cci or winchester), a caliper, and a bullet puller. I think I have everything else I need. What you guys think?
Thanks Mav |
| For lower volume reloading 1K per year or so the single stage press will work. I recommend you buy the Hornady reloading manual, get the Lee case length gage (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=107333) , Lee ball trimmer (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=136199 ) , caliper (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=604242) , at some point a case length gage (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=456614 ) and find a friend who know how to use the equipment. |
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