Well, after much research, time, and money, I reloaded my first 20 rounds of 223 this weekend. I was really pleased with the results. My buddy (who is an experienced reloader) guided me through the process. It was a satisfying experience. He's VERY meticulous, which makes for a good teacher.

I loaded 52 gr Sierra Matchking with 27 grains of CFE223. I didn't use my AR. I used a single shot heavy barrel 223 that I've had for 25+ years. Its a SOLID rifle. Not super accurate, but accurate enough for this pupose.

They grouped well for a first timer. The ultimate goal is to produce some nice match ammo for my AR. Baby steps...

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Welcome to the club and nice going.

You have found a hobby that will make you smile and maybe cry.....
There are may hours at the loading table in front of you.
Stay safe.

Congratulations.

You're well on your way.

I don't have an AR but do have a Handi-Rifle in .223. Don't discount it as just so-so accuracy wise as you are now reloading and can tailor the ammo to this particular gun. My Handi likes a "lighter" bullet because it has a 1-12" twist and doesn't stabilize 60+ gr bullets as well as 50 gr. bullets. My "range is only about 80-85 yards and I can get 1" groups easily with and some 7/8" groups on a good day...

I have always used 21.5 grains of IMR 4198 with 50-55 grain bullets for the .223. I have a heavy-barreled Savage 112V single shot and in it, that load never shoots 5-shot groups worse than 3/4 MOA, usually closer to 1/2 MOA (100 yards). And powder lasts longer. Many bench rest .223 shooters prefer IMR 4198.

You have started down the slipper slope of saving money vs making the World's most accurate ammunition. Good luck.

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S&WHF 366

It saves you so much money that you keep buying more loading equipment. Been there done that, and still doing it. But, it is very relaxing and an enjoyable activity.

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Certified NRA rifle instructor

Great shooting. Circled group looks MOA. You have done very well for sure. Careful case prep and finding a good load combo is always rewarding.
Jim

You ALL know better than me, that this isn't a cost saving venture. My wife originally thought it was to save money. I explained to her that I just wasn't getting the consistency from the ammo I have. Match grade ammo is SO expensive, I thought this was a better alternative. Plus, I believe I'll enjoy the attention to detail and experimentation aspect of it.

It's not a bad rifle. I'll never get rid of it. The trigger is pretty heavy. With a better trigger, I could tighten up that group.

I just thought for my first rounds this would be a far safer alternative to one of my AR's. I wanted to get practice with a full case resizing die. I'll work my way to the small base resizing for my AR's.

Thanks... those were my first 6 shots aiming at the large middle target. I was zeroed with Hornady 53 grain VMax Superformance. The rest of the holes in the target were me adjusting the optic.

One of the accuracy tips for a Handy rifle is to put a rubber 1/2' diameter O-ring between the forend and the barrel (run the mounting screw through it).

I have had 15 to 20 223's over the years, and currently have 3. The one thing people have a hard time doing in a quest for "good" ammo is paying money to buy the best dies possible. I have seen some nice groups from Lee dies, but the real top of the line stuff is very expensive!

My current best set is a Redding Competition set. I usually buy a Body die, a collet neck size die W/micrometer depth adjustment, a micrometer adjustable seating die and a dedicated shell holder. Some of the other guys I know use a different combination of these dies, but they all use Redding! Except one guy uses the L.E.Wilson arbor press dies w/ neck sizing collets. (these are what many bench rest shooters use, primarily because the are field portable)

Next problem is finding a bullet you gun or guns like, the buy a bunch! Once I find a bullet I buy several hundred (and on the Win FMJ's 21,000).

Not all primers and powders "like" each other, so when a specific primer brand is listed, odds are that will get the best results. The exception is the component companies will only use their own brand, and Lyman always used to use Remington 7 1/2 on all 223 loads! (that is a hot load primer! it needs very high pressure to be consistent.)

I have an older load (Lyman 45th edition) for WW748, CCI Small Magnum primer and Winchester 55 grain FMJ,BT bullets. All of my components were from the 1980's and primers aren't the same formula after 1998! The bullets were surplus because the Army went to a different loading! This ammo shoots 1/8 to 1/4 inch groups from 2 different Cooper 21's and 1/4 to 1/3 inch groups from my AR-15 A3 Bushmaster (from the 90's). After 30 years in storage these are still good!

This load and these guns are very good to the 500 yard area. (I won't hesitate to take a ground hog or coyote at 650 with this load!) But if you plan on shooting on out from 600 to 1000 yards, things are very different. I have a Savage Single shot target rifle that will get 3" at 1000. But the ammo is radically different! (but still plane old 223!)

most importantly, HAVE FUN!

Ivan

If you are cheap and poor like me you can save money by getting set up to do the work you need without buying every new gadget.

Two more factors are how much you shoot and what you shoot.

reloading .38's and .357s as well as rifle cartridges (including 7.7 mm Japanese) will save money.

Loading up 9mm and the like won't save a lot of money but you can shoot a lot more than if you were buying factory ammo.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Congratulations of getting into the world of reloading for your rifles. I just got myself a new-to-me sporterized 1903-A3 Springfield last time in from the rig and shot my first reloads before coming back to work. I look forward to doing some more reloading and shooting it in the next 2 weeks. I picked up some large rifle primers today so that I wouldn't have to make a 50 mile round trip to get some when I get back home from the rig. And I have some Nosler 168 grain ballistic tip and 168 grain custom competition bullets waiting for me at the house for loading it too that I ordered while here at the rig. Monmouth USA had some pretty good pricing on them, so I ordered them.

There are so many things to consider for "tight group" reloading - bullet weight uniformity, case neck thickness uniformity, powder weight uniformity, case length uniformity, etc. One item often not mentioned is finding the correct loaded cartridge OAL for each different bullet (i.e., the optimum bullet jump distance to the rifling).

I once read a very interesting article on building the best reloads for tight groups in bench rest shooting, and one point it made strongly was that the two most significant factors within the shooter's control (but not the only factors) are uniform case length and finding the best OAL for each bullet. I have found that to be true. And that is the advice I follow. Also, as I have only one .223 rifle (bolt action). I neck size only. That way, there is always an absolutely perfect fit of the cartridge in the chamber with NO excess headspace. I use only a Hornady .22 neck sizing die for all my .223 loading. I don't worry too much about case headstamps as it doesn't seem to make much difference, so I don't bother to sort cases by headstamp any longer. And I always trim all fired cases to the same length.

Welcome in the gang.You'll find it is a nice way to spend time concentrating on what you're doing and not about the job,or the end of the month,or brother in law's next visit,or...
BTW,don't sell that Handi Rifle short on accuracy;mine used(sold it) to shoot on par and on some days better than my Remington Sendero.
Qc