I don’t shoot my AR nearly enough- one of the main reason issue ammo cost.
Would be interested in investing in a basic .223 reloading set up.
Was curious as to what others are using or started out with.
Printable View
I don’t shoot my AR nearly enough- one of the main reason issue ammo cost.
Would be interested in investing in a basic .223 reloading set up.
Was curious as to what others are using or started out with.
Single stage or progressive is the big choice. IMO you will never wish you didn't have a nice single stage press, so starting out with one would be good. A simple as possible is you need:
- A Press
- Dies
- Powder Measure
- Scale
Lee is a good way to start, most think RCBS and Hornady are a little better. Most of the manufacturers offer bundled setups, but you can probably build it around specific components.
It really is fun and not that hard.
ETA: Just to give you an idea:
https://www.amazon.com/LEE-PRECISION...sion+reloading
https://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Ars...eloading&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision...sion+reloading
I’d go progressive if you’re feeding an AR for carbine classes. Dillon 550 or 650.
Turret if precision. The following is a suggestion, a balance of speed and precision. You can always go single stage for precision and/or to get your feet wet.
https://www.amazon.com/Redding-Reloa...eloading+press
I found a used Dillon 550 that I have set up for 223 reloading. I am loading 77 gr Nosler OTMs. If was shooting generic brass case 55 FMJ, I could not justify the cost of the reloading tools, components, or my time. Case prep is a pain for rifle.
Definitely wondering if the juice is worth the squeeze. Would I shoot more rifle if I had more rounds? Right now- I don’t buy them because they are expensive (not historically I’m sure, just more than I can afford). So I just don’t shoot AR much.Quote:
Originally Posted by ranger
However- if reloading- shooting more AR and possibly grabbing an AK may make sense...???!!!
IMHO - If you aren't shooting a lot of 223, just buy it. I have a Mark 7/1050, 9mm and 223 conversions, an RT1200, and mostly stick to 9mm which I can load for well under $0.10 ea.Quote:
Originally Posted by holmes168
Small Rifle Primer - $0.03 +/-
Powder - $0.08 +/- (Usually about 25gr of a rifle powder per round)
55gr Blaster Bullet - $0.06 +/-
Processed brass (buy or make) +
So... $0.017+/-, + brass + a lot of labor + required equipment + labor-saving equipment
Factor in the cost of buying processed brass for starters or the price of unprocessed brass and plan carefully for brass prep:
- Brass QC - depending on your source you may have a % of cases that need manual repair (dinged case necks) or that need to get tossed
- Lube, Size, Clean lube.... a drag
- An automated trimmer setup - I have tried hand-trimming, and drill-powered trimming (L.E.Wilson), and frankly it stunk in volume.
- Crimped primer pockets? - Hand swaging, even with a Dillon SuperSwage 600 gets old fast
If you don't have a multi-stage auto-indexing press, case feeder and bullet feeder, add more time.
If you are reloading 9mm time-efficiently and cost-effectively, a reliable but budget AR-9/PCC will get you a lot of < 100 yard practice for cheap and just buy the 223.