proper powder for 223 reload

[nedro]

The only thing I'm an expert at is pulling bullets I did wrong. Both collet and kinetic.


Learn from my mistakes, read the book and take your time.

I was not commenting on your post. I was referring to the "Blame game" posts.

I'm on your side.
Reading a manual is a must. Recipes come later.

[NOTABIKER]

I took a Amercan eagle 223 apart and poured the powder in my Lee loader dip cup , it filled the cup.I measured the case length & total length loaded. Both were in speck. I made sure the primer was at least flush or slightly inside the case. I will shoot this in my savage 223 bolt rifle. I made up 50 rounds and it was fun. I am a plinker so perfection is not my goal, safety yes. After i get proper reloading equipment i will re load for my mini 14 .I think the lee loader starter kit is perfect to see if re loading is somebody's cup of tea or not. I have maybe 150 bucks total investment to find out if i want to do this. I have a life time supply of my other calibers, I am only going to re load 223, maybe 45 acp later.

[nedro]

Oh look, he's peeking his head down the rabbit hole.
Look out, it's hard to climb back out of it.

Just messing around. It's an addiction.

[RookieShooter]

OP, try to attend one of the reloading workshop in your area or get someone with some experience to walk you through the process. I was lucky enough to have a buddy to show me otherwise I wouldn't have no idea where to start.

[Divernhunter]

Just remember the powder the factory loads use is powder you cannot get. There is NO comparison between the two that you can use in reloading.

[nedro]

Just remember the powder the factory loads use is powder you cannot get. There is NO comparison between the two that you can use in reloading.

This is true.
But I had a situation where Rem 6.8SPC would not cycle in my gun.
So I pulled 180 bullets and reworked the rounds with the factory powder. I used Accurate 2200 for the remainder of the cartridges and all was good.
The damned rouge rounds I made were some of the more accurate loads ever in 6.8. But so were the rounds with 2200. the bullets where a cavity back 115 grain factory Rem.
So in this case, getting the factory bullets would be more valuable than the factory powder.

[NOTABIKER]

Just remember the powder the factory loads use is powder you cannot get. There is NO comparison between the two that you can use in reloading.

Thanks the american Eagle is stick powder and the 748 is ball powder

[Lucky Scott]

Go to OC Reload and talk with Brian. His shop is off the 57 and Katella. You should have talked to me, I would have helped you out.
1. Get a good lyman manual or ask me to look in mine.
2. Get a scale. I just sold a good one for $45.00
3. Get advice from someone like Brian at OC Reload, not some counter guy.

I am going to PM you my phone number, hopefully I can help you out.

[scarheavy]

Go to OC Reload and talk with Brian. His shop is off the 57 and Katella. You should have talked to me, I would have helped you out.
1. Get a good lyman manual or ask me to look in mine.
2. Get a scale. I just sold a good one for $45.00
3. Get advice from someone like Brian at OC Reload, not some counter guy.

I am going to PM you my phone number, hopefully I can help you out.

Can you pm your number too.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Air]

Varget is a great 223 powder.

[Socalman]

Can not be said enough. Read the first 1/2 of the manual before you go to the recipes/load data. There is so much to know that you don't even know what to ask.

I like the Lyman's manual, others like other manuals and most of us have several manuals.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN RELOADING! READ THE MANUAL, READ THE RECIPE FOR WHAT YOU ARE RELOADING!

[JackEllis]

OP...

I'm also pretty new at reloading. The first thing I did was a LOT of homework. I have two reloading manuals, I've read a lot of the posts in this thread and on other forums, and many people here have been extremely generous with their time helping me out.

I was so nervous the first time I shot one of my hand loads I just about wet my pants, even though I had help from a good friend.

Take your time, follow the advice you've been given, and don't take shortcuts. None of us really wants to read or hear about reloaders who put themselves in the hospital.

[maxfam]

https://www.wwpowder.com/PDF/Burn%20Rates%20-%202015-2016.pdf

https://www.accuratepowder.com/products/burn-rates/

bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2016/.../updated-hodgdon-and-imr-relative-burn-rate-ch

These charts will point you in the direction for choosing powders. By comparing different reloading manuals you will find a group of powders in a narrow "Burn Rate" that are acceptable for a cartridge or group of cartridges, like .223 and .308. ALWAYS use a load as listed in the manual, best way to keep your eyes and fingers. Good luck.

[hanover67]

You have gotten some good advice from this thread so far. I've never used a Lee Loader setup. I started shooting Highpower matches in 1983 and I couldn't buy match ammo then, so I started reloading (.30-06). I bought a Hornady reloading kit: press, powder measure, scale and a die set, plus a lyman reloading manual. I also read a lot about match shooting. As time passed, I began reloading for a lot of different calibers and switched to a .308 for matches. I still use that Hornady equipment today, 43 years later. Factory match ammo is available now, but at $1.50 a round I'll keep reloading.

You mentioned that you have plenty of ammo for your other guns. I found reloading to be a great "hobby." I enjoy it - even started casting my own bullets.

Assuming you want to give the Lee Loader a try, I would get a powder scale and a reloading manual as others have recommended. It is important not to exceed the powder charges the manual lists.