How I Reload .223

As my precision shooting friends tell me, when the expander comes out of the case through the neck it pulls on the neck slightly changing the shoulder angle. The less it pulls (lube) the less it affects the case geometry.
 
Interesting idea. Why is that?

"Your press forces the expander ball back through the neck to increase the inside diameter. Unfortunately, it can also stretch your case at the shoulder and increase your case run-out. It's easy to make the best of this situation by lubricating the inside of your case necks before resizing."


How to lube inside your case necks ...
http://www.larrywillis.com/inside%20neck%20lubrication.html


inside case neck lube (Google Search)
https://www.google.com/#q=inside+case+neck+lube

Bottom line, if you have seen the Star Wars Movies with the Ewoks and don't want your brass to scream in pain you lube the inside of the necks.

ewok_zpsxokn8tiw.jpg
 
Good informative video. Thanks for posting.

Melnibonean lubing the inside of the case necks is pretty standard procedure something that I personally do but to each their own. Whatever works and if it ain't broke.
 
As my precision shooting friends tell me, when the expander comes out of the case through the neck it pulls on the neck slightly changing the shoulder angle. The less it pulls (lube) the less it affects the case geometry.

If you have Redding dies you can buy the carbide button to stop this. No need to lube the neck with them.

Cheers!!
 
What is your cost per round ? I'm trying to decide if I'll get into the loading game.


I've been loading some quality hunting ammo for my VZ58 in 5.56 at just a tick under 40 cents a round. Less than half the price of factory hunting ammo is worth it in my books. Looking to get into some bulk loading with FMJ for the M4 so there I'd be looking at a max of 35 cents per cartridge. Won't really save any dough will just be able to shoot more on the same budget.
 
"...jeez, trying to make a video here..." Cracked me up :)

hey, whats your overall length on those? I trim to the same length and use 55grn (hornady fmj) and varget too.

as for cost, its pretty cheap.

cases are free, or next to it. projectiles are about 15c each. primers are 3-5c each. powder is roughly 15c a round($40 a lb, 27grn a shot, 260 shots per lb). that comes out to 35c per round. not as cheap as the first crate of Norinco, but cheaper than any other .223. if you load 25grn of powder and buy your primers in larger boxes, I am sure it would drop by a couple of cents as well. Maybe get it down to 30c a round? for custom made, tailored to your rifle? not too shabby.
 
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.27/round for me using range brass, but I'm counting the price of the components I bought 4 years ago that I haven't started on (W748 @~$30/lb, 1000 Hornady 55gr FMJ @ $110, CCI SR @~$30/1000). Norc ammo was too cheap and too plentiful to spend much time reloading, but I'm down to my last 2 cases so I have a feeling I'll be starting up again soon
 
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