I’m wasting time loading 223

jmccracken1214

jmccracken1214

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I’ve got a crap ton of brass... and have loaded up some 55gr using butters stuff. Threw together a random load and couldn’t miss a steel plate at 470 with it... that got my excited, come home and total up the cost for 1000 rounds.

Bullets $50
Primers $32
4 lb powder $124
We are just shy of 21 cent a round, not to mention the crazy time spent depriming, cleaning, lubing, sizing, re priming.... trimming when needed.....

I can get 1000 steel case for $180... or cheap brass roughly 260...

I haven’t shot any steel 223 at that distance but have shot Tula 308 out of a psa10 and had no problem smacking the same plate.

looks like it may be time to throw up some 223 loading supplies in the bst :/
 
I started shooting at Butner a hundred years ago after getting to know some good folks on Sniper Country. Didn't know anything about reloading. The first matches I shot with those guys I was using Black Hills and Federal GM match 175's. I couldn't get out of the 180's scoring. There were 8 of us and we always got side by side targets. A couple of these guys were high 190's shooters consistently. They kept trying to get me to reload so I could get some decent scores. One made a believer out of me during a practice. He'd been running x's and 10's with a couple 9's the entire session. I was still in the 9's and 8's with a 7 thrown in there. He took some of my factory stuff and shot 5 shots and he dropped into the same 8's and 9's. He just turned around and had that look on his face like I told you so. I started reloading the next year and regularly stayed high 180's low to mid 190's with some high 190's thrown in on good days. I actually chrono'd some BH 175's with a 105 spread.

I kinda look at reloading as a way to eek out the most I can of a round. When I do my dope I zero on accurate reloads and then follow-up with dope from a couple different factory/surplus rounds just in case, usually PMC 55's and RORG 62's. Same for 308's.

Heck, I don't have anything but time now so its something to do when there ain't much else to do.
 
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This is why I haven’t loaded anything in almost a year, but this is also why I’ve been stashing components.

I try to buy primers at $20/k. (Sales, rebates, cash back sites, discounted gift cards)
I only buy powder below $20/lb, actually at about $13/lb for .223 by buying bulk powder.
Therefore I’m able to load .223 for under 12c/rd.
 
It's funny, I’d feel a little overwhelmed stocking more than 15 or 20 cases of 223, but it feels perfectly normal to have components for more than that. I am liking bulk surplus powder, but i guess lots of people do because the price keeps going up.
 
I'm retired and dont sleep much so reloading 223 is a way to pass the time. Case prep is a PITA and takes a lot of time. I've logged 10K rnds on my 650 and have probably chewed up 4 full length resizing dies. Having said all that, I dont think I'm going to load Go Bang ammo anymore on junk brass and blem bullets. I love shooting tight groups too much. Loaded some 69 and 77 grain SMK with Sierra accuracy load data and shot 5 shots groups against Federal Gold Medal Match 69 and 77 ammo. My loads shot 1/4" tighter groups than the factory stuff out of 20" S&W Performance Center AR.
 
ncav8tor said:
“Need” is a subjective thang...


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I’m just saying, if I shoot 100rds every week from my current stock it would be many years before I needed any more.
There’s guy on here that have a lot more than me.
 
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Majicmike said:
I’m just saying, if I shoot 100rds every week from my current stock it would be many years before I needed any more.
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Ya might be able to make a little folding money if the wrong politician gets elected in the next election and supply drys up again. Just sayin...


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I can load 1000 Speer 75gr Gold Dots for $450 and those are loaded the way I want to 5.56 pressures.

If I buy 1000 rounds Speer 75gr Gold Dots, it’ll be around $600 and those are factory loaded to .223 pressures.

$150/1000 cheaper and I have loads that will perform the way I want them to.
 
I shoot 500yd plates at @Panteao with my 10.5” AR and 55gr loads. My longer guns shoot them further it’s just hard to hear impacts with that light of a bullet that far out

You said it was a “random” load then surprisingly had accuracy issues? I don’t understand the surprise here.

Even though my 55gr FMJ loads are not match rounds, I still test them for accuracy to see what works best.
 
Geezer said:
I can agree on this. I have more than I'll be able to shoot in my lifetime. And, a good deal is still hard to pass up.
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BatteryOaksBilly said:
This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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Plus you can always leave the leftovers to a friend in your will.

And if you guys need any friends to leave it to I am always available. ;)
 
Don't sell your reloading stuff unless it might be duplicate equipment.
Remember the ammo and component shortage from a few short years ago.
 
bondjamesbond said:
Don't sell your reloading stuff unless it might be duplicate equipment.
Remember the ammo and component shortage from a few short years ago.
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I was just getting started in reloading when that shortage occurred. During that time, I bought whatever powder I could find, tested them to figure out what worked well for me, and am now in the process of using up some powders and buying the ones I like. I hope to have enough to last for several years, but I don’t usually load up more than 500 rounds of any one caliber. Components (and factory ammo) are easier to sell or trade than are personal reloads.
 
Since the shortage I've stayed with the rule of 3's. Three loads with three different powders, bullets and primers that will shoot less than 1 moa. Takes work and time but it is achievable especially with 223, 308 and 300mag.
 
I agree with others; the joy of reloading is going beyond factory performance for factory prices.

I've got a load that sends a 147 gr HST at 1100 FPS that I can load for about 16 cents each.
 
Toprudder said:
I was just getting started in reloading when that shortage occurred. During that time, I bought whatever powder I could find, tested them to figure out what worked well for me, and am now in the process of using up some powders and buying the ones I like. I hope to have enough to last for several years, but I don’t usually load up more than 500 rounds of any one caliber. Components (and factory ammo) are easier to sell or trade than are personal reloads.
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Like you, I’d JUST started reloading at the time. I scrounged components, tested and tested what I could and my habits now still reflect those early ones...

I have the bulk ammo I store just in case and the ammo I load to shoot. The ammo I load specifically to shoot on the range or hunting or whatever is a much better quality but my bulk ammo isn’t junk by any means
 
11B CIB said:
Like you, I’d JUST started reloading at the time. I scrounged components, tested and tested what I could and my habits now still reflect those early ones...

I have the bulk ammo I store just in case and the ammo I load to shoot. The ammo I load specifically to shoot on the range or hunting or whatever is a much better quality but my bulk ammo isn’t junk by any means
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I still have the pound of Blue Dot I picked up back in early 2013. Turns out it was a poor choice for 9x19. :rolleyes:
 
Each of us have different shooting habits, different needs, and different motivations. Some of us go for eeking out the last tiny minute of angle advantage in a load. Some of us just like to hear the bang. I am somewhere in the middle where I am happy with minute of man at 100 yards.

That said, if you are reloading for the ulta accuracy, then the price per round is secondary. If you are reloading for the bang, then price per round is the absolute goal. Personally, I have only pistol reloading dies and materials, and haven't loaded in a while. That said, I wont be selling any of my stuff because as mentioned tides change, prices fluctuate, and availability alters based on the political climate. I find that my "minute of man" and "Just go bang bang" ammo is cheaper to buy and stock already loaded.
 
zuerjoha said:
I still have the pound of Blue Dot I picked up back in early 2013. Turns out it was a poor choice for 9x19. :rolleyes:
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Blue Dots niche in the market is getting the most velocity from a non magnum load. You can load some high velocity 9mm, 45acp, 40, 10mm, etc.
 
I was just reloading some 223 today.

For all of my 'precision' work I run my handloads. Some of my rifles have never seen a factory loaded round. I like controlling everything about the ammo and seeing what works, it's not about the cost per se, but my quality is better and the price is lower. Can't beat that win-win.

Pistol and 'things that go bang', well that's why I shoot steel case 9mm and 223. Good enough, and my time is currently more valuable doing other things than reloading. If the politicians change that, then maybe I get back to handloading 9mm. Let's hope those days are a ways off though.
 
Jayne said:
I was just reloading some 223 today.

For all of my 'precision' work I run my handloads. Some of my rifles have never seen a factory loaded round. I like controlling everything about the ammo and seeing what works, it's not about the cost per se, but my quality is better and the price is lower. Can't beat that win-win.

Pistol and 'things that go bang', well that's why I shoot steel case 9mm and 223. Good enough, and my time is currently more valuable doing other things than reloading. If the politicians change that, then maybe I get back to handloading 9mm. Let's hope those days are a ways off though.
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That’s where I’m at, and what my post is about. I load all my precision stuff, even 223... but plinking 223 ain’t worth loading, at this current time. Waste of time and money
 
Jabroni said:
I only load plinking loads for 223 any more. 90% of the time Im just banging away in steel anyway. Its a bit therapeutic to reload.
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Absolutely therapeutic to reload! Sometimes, I just need to get eff away from everyone and everything, except my thoughts and the task at hand. My time is worth a lot and this exercise is worth the trade-off for my peace of mind.


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