Who else has quit loading .223, & why?

[ar15barrels]

2 seconds per round adds 34 minutes to the time it takes to load 1000 rounds.

Exactly.
Not much time at all for 100% confidence.

[Sailormilan2]

If the ammo was DQ'd for not being sized properly, was the sizing die bottomed out? ALL of the .223 ammo I use has been reloaded from range brass. I've yet to have a problem with ammo that won't chamber, if it's been properly sized and trimmed, and that's with multiple home built ARs, and one factory bolt .223/5.56.
I use a Hornady LNL Auto Projecter press. My dies are a mix of old(very old) RCBS, Hornady, Lee, and one Redding(.223 Remington). However, every case gets run through a Dillon Sizer/Trim die for a 2nd sizing and trimming for consistency. Then, the cases are tumble cleaned. The worst part is picking the tumbling media out of the primer pockets. Crimped cases get their pockets swaged using a Dillon Swager. Pockets only need to be done once. I hand prime everything.
The only brass that really seems to need a second sizing is USGI 7.62NATO brass, some of which is fired in machine guns, and those cases can really need a second sizing to get them down to the proper size. Brass will spring back after sizing, and if it starts out way oversize, it may spring back to a size too large after the first sizing. That's one reason that all of my brass goes through a second sizing. Though the only brass that really needs that is the USGI 7.62NATO brass I mentioned.

[ar15barrels]

The worst part is picking the tumbling media out of the primer pockets.

So don?t pick the media out of the primer pockets anymore.

When you setup your progressive press to load the processed cases with the media still in the primer pockets, install a decap-only die in the press where the sizing die would usually go.
The press is setup to catch spent primers and that same catcher will catch the media that gets knocked out of your flash holes or primer pockets by the decapping pin.

[JoyfulJoker]

Just loaded 800. I did not use any pins. Just cleaned with soap and water for 2 hours, dried, lubed , size deprime. Used a primer pocket gauge and a neck gauge and trimmed what needed to be trimmed. Another 2 hours in the RCBS roto tumbler with some lemi shine. Looked good, but some of the primer pockets were still funky. Baked to dry in the oven. . Huge PIA.

[TFA777]

I just discovered what proper lube does. Using a rcbs lube pad and resizing 223 is as easy as pistol brass now.

But of a hassle for range brass, cos I only lube 10 at a time but wow the difference from the Frankford arsenal spray lube I've been using so far...

Why did I not know this earlier!

[golfish]

Just loaded 800. I did not use any pins. Just cleaned with soap and water for 2 hours, dried, lubed , size deprime. Used a primer pocket gauge and a neck gauge and trimmed what needed to be trimmed. Another 2 hours in the RCBS roto tumbler with some lemi shine. Looked good, but some of the primer pockets were still funky. Baked to dry in the oven. . Huge PIA.

That's where the SS pins and chips come in.

If you want really clean brass with no water deposit do a final rinse in RO/DI water or Distilled water. I have a Reef Aquarium so I'm flush with RO/DI water.

It's a lot of work reloading. If I'm going to take all that time to do it I might as well make the brass as clean as I can.

[Tripplet918]

^^^I can dry mine on a drop cloth. Takes a day or two.

I also have an old dehydrator I picked up at a garage sale. Will dry a few hundred in about 30 mins.

The oven is over kill. I clean a thousands over a Saturday morning, and store them in bins for loading. I have about 10 thou ready for trimming.

Case prep for rifle cartridges is a PITA. I split it into stages of cleaning/swaging, trimming/sizing and loading which are usually months apart.