Too Much Trouble?

[Dadbo]

Please bear with my ignorance as it may be getting me into trouble. Just bought a new Daniel Defense (9 more days in jail). I want to reload to save some bucks to shoot more. I do have a Dillon 450 I used to reload .357. .44 mag, etc, handgun reloads only.

Today I went back to the store to get 500 round of ammo for the rifle and giving me some brass to start with. Was sold 5.56 not .223 as they were out. I was informed the would be reloadable. Now I see there is a difference in pressures, case thickness and thus capacity, etc.

Can I use the 5.56 brass with .223 dies and use reload data for .223 to shoot at .223 levels and velocities? See about exchanging the ammo? What say you?

Thanks for any response, guys. I really appreciate your time with my learning!

Tom

[ElvenSoul]

Allways trust your Bible!

[kurac]

I have only seen .223 data in reloading manuals so if you stick with that, you can use the 5.56 brass and your .223 dies and components and you will be more than safe.

[twoforme2]

Yes, you will be fine.

[XDRoX]

223 dies are fine. I've never seen 556 dies. I don't think there's a difference in outer dimensions. But I quit loading 223 because it's so cheap. For plinking rounds it's just not worth my time. For precision rounds it's worth while but I only plink.

Loading rifle ain't like pistol, it's a hassle.

[BSlacker]

Resize full length and be sure to watch your over all length as the neck could be longer and don't load to the max. Do you have a chamber gauge? You should be fine.

[Dadbo]

Thanks everyone for your input! I feel more comfortable now and will sneak up on a final load. Only if I can truly save by doing this. I will check component pricing now to see. I can't imagine you can't save enough to make it worth it. But like some have said, maybe not.

I really appreciate all your time!

[XDRoX]

Thanks everyone for your input! I feel more comfortable now and will sneak up on a final load. Only if I can truly save by doing this. I will check component pricing now to see. I can't imagine you can't save enough to make it worth it. But like some have said, maybe not.

I really appreciate all your time!

I was loading it for 21 cents a round and you can by quality brass factory ammo for 25cents a round. Being that rifle is such a hassle to trim and all that junk I just figured I'd buy instead of reload.

[grant22]

First, reloading rifle is a commitment. If you are cool with that, then proceed, sir. There's a lot of case prep work involved. They take time.

WPA steel cased 223: 22-25 cents ea
PMC brass cased 223: 32-36 cents ea

My reloads (plinker): 20 cents ea first reload, 15 cents after
My reloads (precision-ish): 30 cents ea first, 25 cents after

[smalltime]

Your factory 5.56 brass probably has crimped primer pockets which will need to be removed before you can prime. Dillon super swage or RCBS primer pocket swager can take care of that.

[grant22]

I was loading it for 21 cents a round and you can by quality brass factory ammo for 25cents a round. Being that rifle is such a hassle to trim and all that junk I just figured I'd buy instead of reload.

Chris, did you make a deal with the devil? Where the heck are you getting brass 223 for that?

For that price, I'm in.

[Dadbo]

After reading about Grant22's unfortunate mishap with primer detonations, maybe at my age I should find the factory brass ones at .25 ea.. I am thankful he did not suffer anything catastrophic!

I will now reload with much greater respect and an eye on safety.

[TygerAR]

Don't mean to hi-jack the thread but 7.62 x 51 NATO will also work with .308 dies, right? And no issues in a .308 gun? I'm thinking of getting some Federal Lake City XM80C rounds and saving the brass.

[appagohm]

+1 for more hassle then it's worth.

[bruceflinch]

I was loading it for 21 cents a round and you can by quality brass factory ammo for 25cents a round. Being that rifle is such a hassle to trim and all that junk I just figured I'd buy instead of reload.

+1 for more hassle then it's worth.

You guys must have a life, if you don't have time to reload rifle....