Thinking about reloading .223

[JoeyxNapalm]

Hey everyone, I am thinking about reloading .223 for plinking and I was wondering if it is cheaper in the long run to do this or just stick to buying my ammo from the store. My local gun dealer currently sells ammo for right around $40 for 100 rounds of .223 55gr. That works out to about .40 cents per round. If I were to get into reloading how much would I be looking at paying per round if I want to shoot the same load. I don't want to go with the cheapest ammunition but I definitely don't need the higher end stuff. Your input would be appreciated guys and gals, thank you.

Also, I've been looking at the Lee Loadmaster. Do any of you have any input on that? Is it worth the money? Or should I go something a little more higher end?

Thanks!

[joelogic]

I reload .223 for $0.14 a piece after the press has been paid for. You make the call. But most people will tell you reloading isnt all about saving money. Its for personal satisfaction and custom tailoring your load.

[SuperSet]

It depends on how much you shoot. If you shoot more than 200 rounds/month, I'd recommend a nice reloader.

For Hornady 55gr FMUBT, I spend about $.20 per round and 69gr SMK, it's about $.28 per round. It can be cheaper but I hate brass prep so I pay someone else to do the brass prep - $30/1K.

[halon101]

if you buy bulk bullets you can get them for 14c each. maybe 9c worth of powder per round. and a 3c primer. you probably have plenty of brass.
you save money. but not time. what it your time worth?
i personally have over 5 gallons of 223 brass i intend to reload but just keep shooting factory.

[halon101]

It depends on how much you shoot. If you shoot more than 200 rounds/month, I'd recommend a nice reloader.

For Hornady 55gr FMUBT, I spend about $.20 per round and 69gr SMK, it's about $.28 per round. It can be cheaper but I hate brass prep so I pay someone else to do the brass prep - $30/1K.

would you pm me with who you hire for brass prep. maybe i CAN start reloading 223!

[SuperSet]

Matt at Bulletheads.com. He's local in Ontario and does an awesome job!
Here's the email: sales@bulletheads.com

[LexLuther]

.14 each is right for cheap stuff, I would get a good reloader, you will use it for a lifetime, and for other calibers. For .223 $.14 per round is enjoyable to shoot. $.40 each for .223 would make my butt pucker and rob the fun from the shooting...

[JoeyxNapalm]

So with all that being said it seems like reloading is worth the time. My buddy and I also just want to do it because it looks like fun and it will give us something else to do with our free time. Any suggestions on a good press for the money? What's the most "bang for the buck", pun intended, out there right now?

Also, on some videos i've seen with the brass prep some people clean the primer pocket and some don't. How important is that to do?

Any tips on reloading would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

[bohoki]

its a tough call if you like wolf or other steel cased russian fodder

i cant beat that stuff for price

i consider myself frugal and think i am reloading the cheapest a person can using the cheapest convienient tools

i use the lee rgb dies and have loaded at least 4k so far

i used the lee trimmer for 3k of them then i got the possum hollow trimmer with power adapter and it made the last batch really easy

i buy primers at a gunshow for like $23 per k but then you have to add admission to that


i got a great deal on tac when midway had a super special for $13 a pound and a group buy on some 55 fmj here at like $70 per k

my stuff is cleaner burning at least

ps i lube my cases with dollar tree generic vasaline

[Cowboy T]

Here's a video tutorial from RaymondMillbrae. He's reloading .223.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=313431

And sure, the Load-Master press is just fine for this (Load-Masters will do .30-06). If you do go with this press, check out www.loadmastervideos.com for lots of helpful tips and advice.

[Argonaut]

It takes small fingers to handle those little bullets (Child labor anyone?).............but reloading is cheeper and you can get better ammo

[Full Clip]

I don't have a fancy progressive press, so reloading plinker ammo is barely worth my time, but it's absolutely worth reloading with superior components, like SMK and Nosler Custom Competition bullets (which is what I mostly reload).

[killshot44]

You won't save money handloading. You WILL learn to make ammunition that shoots the best out of your rifle(s).

Sadly, then you'll start chasing accuracy so you'll use better components, try different powders, then you'll buy a better Upper, then a Bolt-gun and then the trip down the rabbit-hole will be complete.
Kidding...

It is more enjoyable to shoot accurately. And most people enjoy the whole hobby aspect of handloading. The initial investment can be high - but most items resell very well here if you don't get into it and they can last a lifetime if you do.

I used the list of Good Stuff Randall left us http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=158086 and use a Lee Classic Cast Turret press like a few fellas here and would recommend it.

[Mrskylinetou]

I hand load with a single stage press, prep all the brass one at a time with a RCBS trim mate and i can go from range floor dirty to primed and ready, 500 rounds in like 5 hours. Thats with TV, eating, drinking beer, phone call, ect. Im not really going for speed but one day u can easy crank out 5, 6,7 800 rounds in a day. Do it with a progressive, u can get 1,2,3000 in a day.


I load for accuracy, checking every round at every single little step. I tumble my brass all day and my tolerances are +/-.004. I also use hornady auto charger instead of a powder dumper. U get the point. Im paying .275 per round making match quality ammo.

Match ammo from hornady 17.50 for a box of 20. This is 55g vmax, same stuff im loading.

me: .275 per round
Hornady .875 per round
total investment in loading gear $875
reasonable investment $650



I really need to stop staying up late and putting waaaaay to much thought into, well everything.

[Quinc]

Hey everyone, I am thinking about reloading .223 for plinking and I was wondering if it is cheaper in the long run to do this or just stick to buying my ammo from the store. My local gun dealer currently sells ammo for right around $40 for 100 rounds of .223 55gr. That works out to about .40 cents per round. If I were to get into reloading how much would I be looking at paying per round if I want to shoot the same load. I don't want to go with the cheapest ammunition but I definitely don't need the higher end stuff. Your input would be appreciated guys and gals, thank you.

Also, I've been looking at the Lee Loadmaster. Do any of you have any input on that? Is it worth the money? Or should I go something a little more higher end?

Thanks!

You can get .223 55gr shipped to your door online for less then .30 cents a round, and 62gr for around .32 cents


Has anyone done the math to see how many thousands of rounds you would have to reload until you started saving money? Plinking rounds.