[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Anyone reloading .223? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 3/1/2010 5:01:12 PM EDT
| Anyone on here reloading .223 ammo, if so what press are you using, thinking about getting a progressive press but don't know much about reloading. All i know is if me and my g/f keep shooting every weekend i need to find a way to save a little money, even if it's only a few dollars, plus i just would like to load my own ammo. |
| anyone use a lee-loadmaster, or is it just better to wait and get a dillon, don't have a lot to put in it right now, but know i don't wanna get a single stage press for my .223, maybe for a bolt gun, but i'd spend all week loading and only be able shoot a couple hours. Like i said, i don't know a whole lot about reloading as in how much time it takes after i learn the process better. Know the processes but never done it. How many can you load with your single stage in an hour? |
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i reload on the cheap ole lee. only thing is ya cant get what ya need locally and your at the whim of the internet of finding what ya need. Ive been out of powder since december.. anybody got some h335 laying around  Off the top of my head I know three places in the CSRA that have powder, primers and bullets, possibly two more but haven't checked with them. Brandon, start with a turret press untill you get use to loading and understand what is going on then move up to a progressive. But books on the subject and read them before you load the first round. If you are that intrested you can come hang out in war room while I load some. |
| Lee single stage anniversary kit is $81.99 at Midway USA right now. I'm about to order one I'm just looking for a Midway code before I pull the trigger. With all the dies (carbide = no lube needed) and stuff for 9mm plus calipers and bullet puller I'm looking at $166 shipped. All I'll need after this is a tumbler (good one for $54 at Harbor Freight) and components to start loading. |
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Lee single stage anniversary kit is $81.99 at Midway USA right now. I'm about to order one I'm just looking for a Midway code before I pull the trigger. With all the dies (carbide = no lube needed) and stuff for 9mm plus calipers and bullet puller I'm looking at $166 shipped. All I'll need after this is a tumbler (good one for $54 at Harbor Freight) and components to start loading. loading 9mm on a single stage is going to suck. it will be good to learn the process, but it is going to get old after the first 100 rounds or so. i have a loadmaster for pistol calibers...i can run about 350 rounds an hour, taking my time on it. pistol ammo is just used too quickly to try to single stage load it, IMHO. -matt |
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I reload about 900-1100 an hour on my 650 with the casefeeder. That assumes all 15 primer tubes are loaded. I usually load 1500 rounds in about an hour and a half. Brass prep is the booger. I will prep several thousand cases prior to loading. I trim with a Dillon RT1200 in a separate toolhead on my 650. And chamfer and deburr with an RCBS Case Prep Center. That right there is where the time is spent.
If you want to buy pre prepped brass.....buy from Scharch.com at $98/1000 Cost comes out to be .16 a round in brass I pick up. Thats $160/1000 I use Hodgden Benchmark Powder at 25.5 grains that I purchase in 8# jugs for $130 I use Hornady 55 grain FMJBT bullets purchased 6000 at a time for $405 I bought CCI small rifle primers for $130 per flat of 5000 And a little note on carbide dies and rifle brass.......you MUST always lube or they will stick in the die. Dillon case lube is recommended. Pistol brass you can get away without lube.....but not rifle cases. |
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Lee single stage anniversary kit is $81.99 at Midway USA right now. I'm about to order one I'm just looking for a Midway code before I pull the trigger. With all the dies (carbide = no lube needed) and stuff for 9mm plus calipers and bullet puller I'm looking at $166 shipped. All I'll need after this is a tumbler (good one for $54 at Harbor Freight) and components to start loading. loading 9mm on a single stage is going to suck. it will be good to learn the process, but it is going to get old after the first 100 rounds or so. i have a loadmaster for pistol calibers...i can run about 350 rounds an hour, taking my time on it. pistol ammo is just used too quickly to try to single stage load it, IMHO. -matt I load 9mm on a single stage and it sucks. But I work in batches ........ I will size and deprime for a day or so ....... then I will bell all those that I did before, then I will prime everything, then I will sit and throw powcder and seat a bullet about 100 at a time or so. |
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loading 9mm on a single stage is going to suck. it will be good to learn the process, but it is going to get old after the first 100 rounds or so. i have a loadmaster for pistol calibers...i can run about 350 rounds an hour, taking my time on it. pistol ammo is just used too quickly to try to single stage load it, IMHO. -matt Yeah, pistol on a single stage sucks, been there done that. Put the pistol and .223 dies away untill I get around to buying a turret press. I use two different single stage presses for my .308 loading. |
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Aiken- Gunrack, Carolina Star gun club Augusta- Pinetukey gun club These are places I know have components in stock and normally have good quanities in stock. There are places in Edgefield and Burke county also. None of these places are going to be as cheap as Powder Valley or Midway, but unless you order in quanity to eat up the hazmat charge you aren't saving money anyways. Bullets are high but I buy large quanities of bullets mail order and get better deals.
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please do tell the places to get reloading supplies from in the CSRA the only place i know of is Magnum products in granitville and he was pretty high on powder. |
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Lee single stage anniversary kit is $81.99 at Midway USA right now. I'm about to order one I'm just looking for a Midway code before I pull the trigger. With all the dies (carbide = no lube needed) and stuff for 9mm plus calipers and bullet puller I'm looking at $166 shipped. All I'll need after this is a tumbler (good one for $54 at Harbor Freight) and components to start loading. loading 9mm on a single stage is going to suck. it will be good to learn the process, but it is going to get old after the first 100 rounds or so. i have a loadmaster for pistol calibers...i can run about 350 rounds an hour, taking my time on it. pistol ammo is just used too quickly to try to single stage load it, IMHO. -matt This will at least get me in the door fairly cheap. I normally don't use more than 50 rounds of 9mm in a trip to the range. If/when I decide to load serious quantities I'll spring for a Dillon 550 or 650. I looked at the Lee progressives and they have too many poor reviews. The Lee single stage will last and will still be useful even if I upgrade later. |
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agreed that the lee can be a bit cranky, but it is all in setting it up and making sure everything is properly adjusted. i've probably loaded 10-12k rounds on mine over the last few years, and had a minimum of breakdowns. the primer system is the most prone to failure (stupid plastic parts!) but again, most mistakes that eat primer parts can be avoided with proper set up and not trying to bang out 600 rounds/hr.
i have never loaded rifle calibers on it. -matt |
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Chris, i'll take you up on that one day that's good for you, what do you guys think about the lee pro 1000 kit, i like the price on it atleast.
Lee Pro 1000 at midway here's a link to the loader. |
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noticed the same thing earlier, People that know....cause i don't, if i bought something like this, or this one, what else would i need to start reloading .223 using non prepped ammo. And i do plan on buying a book, but trying to decide on major components i need to get before i spend my "gun stash" on more ammo or another rifle. |
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that is a pretty nice package. you'd need .223 dies and components, a scale, a case trimmer, a tumbler and calipers and you'd be pretty close. thanks, have a tumbler and i think 8 calipers, dunno, someone "borrowed" a bunch of stuff out of one of my machinist boxes at work, that was about 3 months ago, guess they needed it more than me, bad thing is, whoever stole the stuff will probably never know how to use it. |
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Quoted: I load many a thousand on a Dillon 650 with casefeeder. Yup - I use a Giraud in addition to that. I shoot my rifles more than pistols and it allows me to load for $120/k. Used to be $80/k before ammo prices shot up. Brass is everywhere and I load it until it cracks, starts showing signs of CHS, or can't hold a primer. No problems yet after doing it for years. |
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I swear by the Lee turrett press for pistol and 223. used two for the past 9 yrs. a little finicky to set up, best to have someone assist who has "been there".
buy spare turrets so you can set and forget your dies. ALWAYS lube rifle cases. hell a few spays now and then on pistol thru carbide doesnt hurt either. lee will rehab/rework your entire setup for 1/2 the cost of new. Case prep is the pain. I started buying pre prepped 223. get the RCBS case prep station if you want to do it fr scratch. I just couldnt justify the time (hours) in case prep. |
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Lee single stage anniversary kit is $81.99 at Midway USA right now. I'm about to order one I'm just looking for a Midway code before I pull the trigger. With all the dies (carbide = no lube needed) and stuff for 9mm plus calipers and bullet puller I'm looking at $166 shipped. All I'll need after this is a tumbler (good one for $54 at Harbor Freight) and components to start loading. loading 9mm on a single stage is going to suck. it will be good to learn the process, but it is going to get old after the first 100 rounds or so. i have a loadmaster for pistol calibers...i can run about 350 rounds an hour, taking my time on it. pistol ammo is just used too quickly to try to single stage load it, IMHO. -matt 350 9mm an hour in a single stage, hmmmm, wonder, do you have a Hustler magazine holder next to the press to inspire that super fast wrist action???? 
Oh shiite, I'm getting a visual and it makes me want to poke out my minds eye, got a sharp stick handy. 
I load 9mm on a single stage and it sucks. But I work in batches ........ I will size and deprime for a day or so ....... then I will bell all those that I did before, then I will prime everything, then I will sit and throw powcder and seat a bullet about 100 at a time or so. |
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Lee single stage anniversary kit is $81.99 at Midway USA right now. I'm about to order one I'm just looking for a Midway code before I pull the trigger. With all the dies (carbide = no lube needed) and stuff for 9mm plus calipers and bullet puller I'm looking at $166 shipped. All I'll need after this is a tumbler (good one for $54 at Harbor Freight) and components to start loading. loading 9mm on a single stage is going to suck. it will be good to learn the process, but it is going to get old after the first 100 rounds or so. i have a loadmaster for pistol calibers...i can run about 350 rounds an hour, taking my time on it. pistol ammo is just used too quickly to try to single stage load it, IMHO. -matt I load 9mm on a single stage and it sucks. But I work in batches ........ I will size and deprime for a day or so ....... then I will bell all those that I did before, then I will prime everything, then I will sit and throw powcder and seat a bullet about 100 at a time or so. 350 9mm an hour in a single stage, hmmmm, wonder, do you have a Hustler magazine holder next to the press to inspire that super fast wrist action????
Oh shiite, I'm getting a visual and it makes me want to poke out my minds eye, got a sharp stick handy.
reading comprehension is obviously not your strong suite. i said i can load 350 rounds an hour on a loadmaster, which is a fully progressive press. 
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meh, if i got industrious, i could probably make one too. i have a small wire welder and a drill press...just need the materials. i thought his just looked really nice, and it is obviously already set up for the LM.
i actually just bolted a piece of 10 gauge plate down to my bench top, driled it, and through bolted the press to it. it has worked well for about 6 years now. -matt |
| Well after he pm'd me back about throwing in the .223 dies i decided i wanted it, and just got back to the house to pm him and he just commited to sell it to someone to someone on another forum, told him if it doesn't go through to let me know. Now i gotta find another one, damn, few minutes too late is my life story. |
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I'm gonna say that whatever you end up with, you should start with a good single stage press. I still have three and I find them useful for numerous tasks that I don't want to fire up the progressive for.
but more importantly, you pay attention to and learn things on a single stage that you don't with a progressive. things that be very important later... |
| Thanks for all the advice, i don't mind learning on a single stage press, my neigbor has a lee single stage that he hasn't used in years that i was told i could use for a while if i want to, the main reason i'm wanting to start reloading is for my .223 since my g/f has started shooting i'm using twice the ammo without twice the income and when here lately i'm going through around 600-1000 rounds a weekend of .223 the turret style loader will be what i'm gonna need. i will probably buy a single stage loader later when i'm able to set me up a good long range rifle. |
| Ok, got my my lee turret press and reloading supplies in today, realize i left out a few things, didn't realize i needed the double disk kit for the auto-disk powder measure to load .223 and forgot to get a rifle charging die anyway, and i forgot to get the factory crimp die for .223. Anyone else using a turret loader for .223? |
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hey coop: 2nd that on the lee FCD in AR 15's. set for med-lite crimp. watch out for the dbl disk kits.....5-1.0 gn variation depending on powder type...almost better to use a loading block. enuf lube is the key. good luck. i ahoot for $.20-.22 cent 223 vs $.35 from AIM, but the case prep is a time consuming task. get that rcbs case prep station to debur/clean ppockets.
happy shooting |
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Talk to bushjockey about a guy he is sending his cases to for brass prep. He says it comes back sized, punched, trimmed, primer pockets uniformed and ready to have a primer shoved in it, powder thrown and a bullet set.
Paying to have that done seems outrageous until you sit down and hand trim 100 cases and then deburr and chamfer, then uniform primer pockets and flash holes. Brass prep is the most time consuming factor in non straight walled cases. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
| Well i went by magnum products, about 20 min from augusta in SC, got a few things, his prices on powder were about the same as online, win 748 and tac was $25 per/lb, and about $170 for the 8lb, a little high on the 8lb but still cheaper than paying for shipping/and fee's on powder shipping, plus he is close to me and has a large selection in stock, varget,h335,rl15 and plenty more i can't remember, a little high on primers, i think $4 per 100 small rifle winchester, 55gr hornady bullets were $12 per 100 or $55 for 500, and plenty of equipment. Gotta run back over there tis afternoon and get a vibratory cleaner from him, and he had my factory crimp die i was looking for, now i'm just lacking the double disk kit and the rifle charging die, or i might just get the perfect powder measure from him. |