223 rem. RELOAD suggestions

[bearfoot]

haven't reloaded for 50+ yrs. still have a RCBS single stroke press, a 505 scale, trickler. i have the dies. need some info/ suggestions on type of Power. Primers- name/ style. Bullets. suggested brass caseings. i have shot Federal 55 gr. ball boatails for years, with accuracy. thanks for your suggestions ahead of time.

 

[rockquarry]

Far too many choices. Best bet is get a current Lyman paper handloading manual as a minimum reference source. More books are better. Read, avoid YouTube experts and data from Internet forums.

You already have good basic equipment. Good luck-

 

[Phish]

Depending on what you have available in your area will dictate what powders to use. I use Varget and RL10x as these are my favorite powders but H335 is great too if you want to load a bit faster as it is ball powder. There are a lot of good powders out there. Bullets are subjective but for plinking which ever is cheapest but I use Hornady VMaxes the most when I am hunting critters. Primers should be small rifle variety and makes no difference what brand and I go for the cheapest ones.
Good luck and have fun.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Since you did well with the 55 gr bullets in the past,
see if you can find some and even a flat base might be just as accurate
if shooting under 200 yards?

A manual will help you out if you have to find a new powder,

With the 55 gr bullet I have used;

BLC-2, w748, Varmit, 4895. 4064, 4320, 4350, H380, H414 & SR4759.

Good luck in your search.

 

[brucev]

Get some 52 gr. Speer bullets and load them up over a moderate starting load of WW-748. Increase the charge as pressure signs and on target results dictate. I used this in a wonderful Ruger No. 1V in .223 Rem. to produce many many multiple .50 inch CTC groups fired off the top of my portable benchrest (Mazda GLC car) with professional grade sandbags (cut off pants legs w/ dirt shoveled up from next to the car. Got similar excellent results w/ BLC-2. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[smithra_66]

haven't reloaded for 50+ yrs. still have a RCBS single stroke press, a 505 scale, trickler. i have the dies. need some info/ suggestions on type of Power. Primers- name/ style. Bullets. suggested brass caseings. i have shot Federal 55 gr. ball boatails for years, with accuracy. thanks for your suggestions ahead of time.

For an AR-15 or a bolt gun? For accuracy on the bench, for varmint shooting? Etc. etc.

 

[Tu_S]

The process really hasn't really changed in the last 50 years, where some of us are using the same tools. You can even use your old reloading manuals as many of the powders are still in production.

 

[Imissedagain]

We use 4198 and 3031 with the 55gr bullets used
with a 1:12 twist.

Single Stage press.

 

[WR Moore]

If you're happy with FMJ ball type loads, Hornady bulk 55 gr FMJBTs are usually available at reasonable cost. Dunno if it's true with current prices but 4i98 gave good accuracy at the then lowest cost. The Hodgon version gave me slightly better SDs. Any small rifle primer will do.

 

[rockquarry]

If you're happy with FMJ ball type loads, Hornady bulk 55 gr FMJBTs are usually available at reasonable cost. Dunno if it's true with current prices but 4i98 gave good accuracy at the then lowest cost. The Hodgon version gave me slightly better SDs. Any small rifle primer will do.

I've never had a problem using regular CCI-400s in .223s whether for ARs or bolt-action rifles. However, CCI-450s or Remington 7 1/2s are usually recommended, especially if you load warm.

55 gr. bulk FMJs are popular because they're the cheapest bullets available. If you have an interest in better than average accuracy, go with something other than FMJ bullets.

 

[67tempest]

I've always used 748 when loading .223/5.56.

 

[DWalt]

A load popular with bench rest shooters is 50 to 55 grain bullets and 20-22 grains of IMR 4198. But you may have to fine tune the exact load for best performance in your rifle. You also need to experiment to find the best performing overall loaded cartridge length.

 

[9mmPatriot]

After running out of H335 I decided to try something different.
Shooters World AR Plus has worked well with both 55Gr FMJBT and 62 FMJBT.


Muzzle velocity is neck and neck with H335 and surprising clean.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

All I use is WW748 in all my .223 loading with 55 gr. bullets

 

[BC38]

Depending on what you have available in your area will dictate what powders to use. I use Varget and RL10x as these are my favorite powders but H335 is great too if you want to load a bit faster as it is ball powder. There are a lot of good powders out there. Bullets are subjective but for plinking which ever is cheapest...
Primers should be small rifle variety and makes no difference what brand and I go for the cheapest ones.
Good luck and have fun.

Ditto all of that. Though I haven't tried Varget...

 

[Krogen]

Varget is my favorite in .223, but with heavier bullets; 69 gr and up. The .223 with Varget and Berger's 80 gr VLD or 80.5 gr Fullbore will fly nicely to 500 yd targets. At shorter ranges a 55 gr FMJBT and 335 would be my choice.

 

[4barrel]

Get some 52 gr. Speer bullets and load them up over a moderate starting load of WW-748. Increase the charge as pressure signs and on target results dictate. I used this in a wonderful Ruger No. 1V in .223 Rem. to produce many many multiple .50 inch CTC groups fired off the top of my portable benchrest (Mazda GLC car) with professional grade sandbags (cut off pants legs w/ dirt shoveled up from next to the car. Got similar excellent results w/ BLC-2. Sincerely. bruce.

Same with me. 748 and Varget will do the same groups with 52-55 hollow points and spitzers. I use Sierra and Hornady mostly. I like to show out with my Browning A bolt. I sold my DCM Bushmaster when I met a guy that wanted it more than me. I usually do one grain less than max.

 

[Forrest r]

Hard to beat +/- 25.5gr of bl-c2 using mixed brass, any primer & bullets in the 55gr to 62gr weight range.

I will sort brass into 2 piles, commercial and nato.

Making "blammo" ammo with that combo listed above has easily produced moa reloads in several different gas guns and bolt actions.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

For 1:12 & 1:10 twist barrels I really like 50 or 55 grain Poly tipped bullets. It seems cost and accuracy go hand in hand. Hornady V-Max, Nosler Ballistic Tip, Sierra Blitzking, and Combined Technolgies Ballistic Tip. That's cheapest to most expensive AND least to most accurate. WW748, BLc-(2), H322 & H355 are all very accurate in both bolt and AR's with a powder drop. IMR-3031 and Varget are probably more accurate in most rifles but are extruded and will need to be weighed to get that better accuracy!

For 1:9 Twist bolt guns 77gr Berger and 75 gr V-Max over Varget! Rem 7 1/2 Primer. Assembled a little long to touch the lands, I get 3" to 5" at 1000 yard. Lee FCD crimped.

Ivan

 

[Phish]

Another great powder is IMR 8208. Been working with it lately and the accuracy is phenomenal that I recently put 5 rds in .3" @100yd with Savage 10.
I picked up 8 lb of Varget but have an eye out for the IMR 8208.
I use the IMR 8208 and 748 for 308 PRS with great results so these powders will do well for many cartridges.