First time reloader. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[SuperGrover]

Loaded my first batch of .223 rounds this weekend. Working up the load, so starting with 5 rounds with 23 grains of H335 on 55grn bullets, all the way up to 25 grains. Testing them tonight at On Target.

I'm excited, and scared at the same time. Is that normal?

[waveslayer]

It's normal. I run 25 of H335 for plinking rounds. Have fun and enjoy the loud enclosed area at On Target

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[acoop101]

I do not know any one that didn't fire their first reloads from behind cover. The intimidation of putting read information into real life is definitely real.

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[kcheung2]

If you checked & double checked you should be fine. You'll probably find the best load to be in the 24.5 to 25.5 range.

[santacruzgunner]

Make a dummy round with no primer or powder to same specs and verify that it will chamber with no problems other than that your recipe is good, you should be fine.

[SuperGrover]

I do not know any one that didn't fire their first reloads from behind cover. The intimidation of putting read information into real life is definitely real.

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LOL! Trust me, the thought has occurred to me. Now I'm wondering if I had the scale set to grams vs grains. ;-)

[SuperGrover]

Make a dummy round with no primer or powder to same specs and verify that it will chamber with no problems other than that your recipe is good, you should be fine.

I didn't try that, but I did measure the COAL. Right at 2.2". I never thought about case length before. Of course, I pulled out a 5.56 commercial round, and a .223 commercial round. Damn, but the 5.56 was significantly longer...crimped right at the cannelure.

[divingin]

LOL! Trust me, the thought has occurred to me. Now I'm wondering if I had the scale set to grams vs grains. ;-)

Not an issue. 25 grams wouldn't even come close to fitting in the case.

Have you tried dropping your cases into your chamber? They should drop in easily with a thunk as the shoulder seats. (Make sure to disable the rifle first - takedown pin and break if an AR, remove bolt if a bolt action.) Helps to avoid disappointment and embarrassment when your ammo won't chamber after you've told everyone you're trying your first reloads.

[Fastattack]

Make a dummy round with no primer or powder to same specs and verify that it will chamber with no problems other than that your recipe is good, you should be fine.

Good advise. I screwed-up my first 100 rnds of .223 and that resulted in the gun failing to go into battery. A simple adjustment to my setup fixed that. I had to pull them apart and then I bought a case gauge. Money well spent, I do say.

[SuperGrover]

Not an issue. 25 grams wouldn't even come close to fitting in the case.

Well, that's a relief.

Have you tried dropping your cases into your chamber? They should drop in easily with a thunk as the shoulder seats. (Make sure to disable the rifle first - takedown pin and break if an AR, remove bolt if a bolt action.) Helps to avoid disappointment and embarrassment when your ammo won't chamber after you've told everyone you're trying your first reloads.

Hmm...I didn't try that first. I've got a tight schedule tonight, so I'll go full YOLO on that piece of advice. I ran the rounds through a FL re-sizer and trimmed them to spec.

[SuperGrover]

Everything worked just like it was supposed to. Shooting 24.7 gn seems to be the sweet spot for me. I was shooting iron sights only at 25 yards, so I was happy to get a 1.5" group using my range bag as a rest.

Turned around and loaded another 50 rounds.

[tylenol9999]

Congrats. It was pretty exciting when I fired my first set of reloads some years ago. I find myself looking at new guns just so I do have something new to reload for? Is that bad?


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[SuperGrover]

Thanks, tylenol9999. This was using the brass I bought from you!

[santacruzgunner]

Everything worked just like it was supposed to. Shooting 24.7 gn seems to be the sweet spot for me. I was shooting iron sights only at 25 yards, so I was happy to get a 1.5" group using my range bag as a rest.

Turned around and loaded another 50 rounds.

Right on man, the addiction has begun. Just stay with in the guidelines and keep reading

[AGGRO]

No turning back now May as well set aside that bonus for gear.