Reloading for rifle.

[Magload]

Well just about the time I have this handgun reloading figured out I bought a MP 15 556. While waiting for everything I need to show up I been reading loading manuals and the internet stuff.

Is this rifle reloading as hard as they make it out to be. I want good loads that will shoot sub MOA groups off a bench rest but darn they are measuring stuff that as a handgun reloader I don't worry about. The distance the bullet jumps. or touches. or jams the rifling. How much you bump the shoulder. I am surprised my pistol loads hit the backstop let alone the target.

Is this all mote because I am shooting a AR and not a bolt action?

Everything will be here Friday and I am just going to start with loads that match factory loads I have. I have once fired, in my gun, brass. I am just waiting on Dillion. Takes over a week to get anything from them. Don

 

[novalty]

A quality trimmer will be a good investment. I probably make rifle reloading a lot more harder than it needs to be. I believe you can get good groups with an AR from a bench. Pick an available powder and start you ladder loads according to your data source.

 

[arjay]

There's a little more to loading bottle neck cartridges than straight wall,but it's not hard.Trim to length and chamfer the inside of the neck,223s are easy to crumple.

 

[Nevada Ed]

You can't get too fancy with auto ammo..........
it needs to feed correctly and different length ammo may mess things up. Most auto ammo is crimped and therefore has a set OAL with the bullet used.

"Smooth" bullets may be used but one needs to know what OAL will work and enough neck tension to hold the bullet in place.

Have fun.

 

[Magload]

A quality trimmer will be a good investment. I probably make rifle reloading a lot more harder than it needs to be. I believe you can get good groups with an AR from a bench. Pick an available powder and start you ladder loads according to your data source.

My reloading shelf is starting to look like a Hornady store room. I now have 3 ways to mic a case and 4 to check head space. I have a 550 tool head just for 223 dies and also it's own auto powder drop for pinking loads. Match grade loads will be loaded single stage on the 550 and powder loads will be dispersed with a ChargeMaster 1500. Don

 

[kbm6893]

I've been hesitating on rifle reloading too. I do 38 and 9MM now. On an auto trimmed, can you set the machine to stop trimming at the exact measurement? I watch some YouTube videos and it's not clear. I don't want to break out the calipers for every case.

 

[Magload]

+1;

only seal snow or swamp ammo...........
then put in a zip-lok baggy in bad conditions out in the field.

No need to waste the sealer until taking ammo into the field, here in Nevada.

Ed you just never know when the next 3 gun stage is going to have you rise up out of the swamp or surf to shoot.

 

[M29since14]

You can make rifle handloading as difficult and time consuming as you like, and you can speed it up a lot by spending money. It's a matter of what you want to accomplish and how impatient you are.

If you shoot for fun and pay no attention to your marksmanship almost any safe ammo will do. If you shoot competitively or are particular about your results, then I always think about what an old skeet shooter who was very good at his game once told me, "The last thing you want to have to think about is your ammunition."

Making the best rifle ammunition you can is not easy. If you're serious about "sub-MOA" groups you had better be prepared to put in the time and effort, if you want to do it consistently. I've noticed over many years lots of guys handload for their handguns and shotguns but only a few seem to really know what they are doing with their rifle ammo.

 

[mikld]

Start easy! Full length size. Check case length (I use Lyman case trimming tool, similar to the Lee trimmer). Remove burrs from case mouth, inside and out. Make sure primers are below flush. Seat bullets to the bullet manufacturer's spec., and give that a try.

Start the accuracy search with powder types and powder charges. Start with starting loads and go up as necessary, keeping note of every change in groups (change only one thing at a time). Change the bullet weight, keeping note of results, and I'd try different seating depths in relation to the lands near the last...

 

[Nevada Ed]

post 7;

I messed up that was for another thread, sorry.

I wondered why it did not post !! ??

 

[Magload]

post 7;

I messed up that was for another thread, sorry.

I noticed that later Ed but it did kind of fit in with all this stuff that can be done reloading rifle ammo. There is a lot of swamp water and surf here in Florida and a very high humidity. Don

 

[Skeetr57]

Sub MOA groups with a semi automatic rifle will probably depend more on the rifle than the ammo. The rifle will have to be tweaked to get that kind of accuracy. Pick a good accurate recommended load and use that until you have got the rifle accuracy dialed in, then work on the load until maximum accuracy is obtained. I would assume that full length resizing of cases will be required, and possibly with a base sizing die. This is more for reliability than accuracy, since semi automatic guns don't have the power to chamber slightly oversize cases that bolt actions do.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Well heck while we are at it................

Would you think that "Rain-x" for the car windshields would work on ammo ?

Just kidding.
Really, don't try it.

Just a light bulb flickering inside this old guys head....
and amusing myself.

 

[tomf52]

Well heck while we are at it................

Would you think that "Rain-x" for the car windshields would work on ammo ?

Just kidding.
Really, don't try it.

Just a light bulb flickering inside this old guys head....
and amusing myself.

I don't know if it will work on bullets but it is about the best dry fly floatant around!

 

[novalty]

Knowing your barrels twist rate and picking a known weight bullet will help in getting you the results you are looking for. Have heard Varget is a good powder for heavier grain .22 cal. bullets. In my very limited experience, I've been happy with Benchmark with the lighter 55gr. FMJBT.

 

[SMSgt]

Reloading for rifles, or semi-auto rifles included, isn't harder than handgun reloading--just different. Do it, you'll enjoy it.

 

[Geo. T.]

Not so hard!

Many of the steps you have read about are for loading ammo for bolt action rifle. In the AR platform you will need to full length size and overall length is determined by what the magazine will feed. So here are the things I would lean towards!

Get Quality dies I like Redding but there are others as good.

Select a powder that will meter thru a measure and that has a burn rate that is for the 223 / 5.56. W748 , BLC2 , H335 ,X-terminator Accurate LT-32 to name a few.

If your going for accuracy the cases need to be the same heads stamp. The same lot is even better. I have found that commercial cases are more accurate than Mil-Spec cases. In a semi auto don't try to make the cases last forever. I usually limit it to 4 reloads per case.

Bullet quality is a real key to smaller groups. The cheap FMJ bullets that are sold in bulk will not shoot near as well as the bulk buy hunting bullets that are available. Match bullets will do even better. I seldom reload FMJ's partly because bulk ammo is available loaded with these. The price is down right now.

The primers are important but at times I find myself using what is available. When I can get them I use CCI 41's or their small rifle magnum.

Others have mentioned the firearm quality as a key issue. True but quality ammo at least gives you a fighting chance of good groups. Working on the shooter will help as well. Quality rests and bags are necessary to wring the best out of the rifle , shooter and ammo combination!

Good luck on your quest it will be a fun journey! Geo. T.

 

[Magload]

Sub MOA groups with a semi automatic rifle will probably depend more on the rifle than the ammo. The rifle will have to be tweaked to get that kind of accuracy. Pick a good accurate recommended load and use that until you have got the rifle accuracy dialed in, then work on the load until maximum accuracy is obtained. I would assume that full length resizing of cases will be required, and possibly with a base sizing die. This is more for reliability than accuracy, since semi automatic guns don't have the power to chamber slightly oversize cases that bolt actions do.

Thanks Tom I am planning a trigger job first and then a match grade barrel if needed. I will probably pick up a .223 rem bolt action next for really good groups. Don

 

[Magload]

Well heck while we are at it................

Would you think that "Rain-x" for the car windshields would work on ammo ?

Just kidding.
Really, don't try it.

Just a light bulb flickering inside this old guys head....
and amusing myself.

Heck my mind don't flicked very often any more. Don

 

[Magload]

Knowing your barrels twist rate and picking a known weight bullet will help in getting you the results you are looking for. Have heard Varget is a good powder for heavier grain .22 cal. bullets. In my very limited experience, I've been happy with Benchmark with the lighter 55gr. FMJBT.

The my MOE has a 1 to 8 and I am starting with 55gr V-Max but wondering if I should go higher with my next order and maybe match bullets. I have a pound each of Varget, IMR 4198, and CFE 223. I am starting with the CFE 223 as I am a big fan of CFE Pistol. 26.0gr and working up to 27.8 in .3 steps. Don