Frank46
US Veteran
OK, what I would like to do is offer a few tips to the men and women who for the first time are reloading the 223/5.56mm cartridges.
1. Read any and all loading data books that you can get your hands on. This will give you a better understanding about what reloading really is.
2. Plan ahead as far as what type reloading equipment you will be getting. Single stage press or progressive press.
3. You will need a powder measure that will be compatable with your progressive press.
4. Electronic scale, this you will be using to calibrate the powder measure mounted on the progressive press. If shooting cast bullets, it also can be used to check for any weight variations in the cast bullets
5. Decrimping military brass primer pockets. Most here will agree the Dillon is the best, fastest, and easyiest to get set up.
6. Case neck chamfer tool. for removing burrs and sharp edges from the case necks to prevent bullets hanging up while loading.
7. The deburring should be done after cases have been sized.
8. After you have calibrated the powder measure to throw the proper charge of powder check every tenth one on the electronic scale. Screws and adjustments have been known to loosen.
9. Do not have a radio, television, ear phones on and shut off your cell phone. You want as few distractions as possible.
10. Maintain a steady pace while your reloading. Just because your progressive tells you that it is possible to load 800 rounds in an hour there is no go reason to try and do so. Mistakes can happen and you might be so engrossed in reaching the magic 800 number that you might miss the mistake.
11.Anytime you are called away from reloading stop what you are doing and write down what you are doing. This is a little note to yourself in case you got distracted while away.
12. Load your cartridges in groups of twenty. Lets say you started with 21 grains 748 55 grain bullet weight. Load the next group at 21.5 grains 748, next twenty 22.0 grains 748, next group at 22.5 grains 748, and the next at 23 grains 748.
13. Put these 100 rounds carefully into one of the MTM 100 round carrying boxes and inside the box a label which will tell you which level or grain charge you started at. Or if you wish you can get pressure sensitive labels at Office depot and write the info on them and put the label inside the box.
The deal here is to keep accurate records of your loading procedures, load data, and how well they shoot.
14. For years I have been using stenographic pads for all my loading data, chronograph data, group sizes, how many times the cases have been fired, wether the cases have been neck sized or full length resized. and one other thing how many rounds have been shot through that particular barrel. This is all good info. Should a barrel go south you know too the round how many times its been shot. Anyone feel free to chime in as to how they feel about a reloading primer feel free to do so. Fact, after all my pistol or revolver cases have been tumbled and inspected they are then primed. One less step messing with the handle on the press. This is wether or not its a progressive or single stage. I use both. Modorators, if you think this is not in the best interest of the reloading forum, you have my permission to move it where you want it or delete altogether. Thanks, Frank
1. Read any and all loading data books that you can get your hands on. This will give you a better understanding about what reloading really is.
2. Plan ahead as far as what type reloading equipment you will be getting. Single stage press or progressive press.
3. You will need a powder measure that will be compatable with your progressive press.
4. Electronic scale, this you will be using to calibrate the powder measure mounted on the progressive press. If shooting cast bullets, it also can be used to check for any weight variations in the cast bullets
5. Decrimping military brass primer pockets. Most here will agree the Dillon is the best, fastest, and easyiest to get set up.
6. Case neck chamfer tool. for removing burrs and sharp edges from the case necks to prevent bullets hanging up while loading.
7. The deburring should be done after cases have been sized.
8. After you have calibrated the powder measure to throw the proper charge of powder check every tenth one on the electronic scale. Screws and adjustments have been known to loosen.
9. Do not have a radio, television, ear phones on and shut off your cell phone. You want as few distractions as possible.
10. Maintain a steady pace while your reloading. Just because your progressive tells you that it is possible to load 800 rounds in an hour there is no go reason to try and do so. Mistakes can happen and you might be so engrossed in reaching the magic 800 number that you might miss the mistake.
11.Anytime you are called away from reloading stop what you are doing and write down what you are doing. This is a little note to yourself in case you got distracted while away.
12. Load your cartridges in groups of twenty. Lets say you started with 21 grains 748 55 grain bullet weight. Load the next group at 21.5 grains 748, next twenty 22.0 grains 748, next group at 22.5 grains 748, and the next at 23 grains 748.
13. Put these 100 rounds carefully into one of the MTM 100 round carrying boxes and inside the box a label which will tell you which level or grain charge you started at. Or if you wish you can get pressure sensitive labels at Office depot and write the info on them and put the label inside the box.
The deal here is to keep accurate records of your loading procedures, load data, and how well they shoot.
14. For years I have been using stenographic pads for all my loading data, chronograph data, group sizes, how many times the cases have been fired, wether the cases have been neck sized or full length resized. and one other thing how many rounds have been shot through that particular barrel. This is all good info. Should a barrel go south you know too the round how many times its been shot. Anyone feel free to chime in as to how they feel about a reloading primer feel free to do so. Fact, after all my pistol or revolver cases have been tumbled and inspected they are then primed. One less step messing with the handle on the press. This is wether or not its a progressive or single stage. I use both. Modorators, if you think this is not in the best interest of the reloading forum, you have my permission to move it where you want it or delete altogether. Thanks, Frank
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