New To Reloading, Tips for a .223 Hornady round?

NathanR

NathanR

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Hey. I've recently purchased a mini-14 and a Lee Deluxe Reloading Kit. I've also got the newest Hornady hand loading manual.

I plan on trying my hand at making my own ammo after reading the threads on here from people who seem to be hooked on hand-loading. My twist rate in the mini is 1:9 RH and I am picking a bullet off the chart at random to see where's a good spot to start. SO I am thinking of loading some 53g Hornady V-max up but I am unsure what I should be looking for in terms of primer/ powder. Anyone have some input they would like to share?
 
Primers, any small rifle primer, Winchester work fine

Powder- Benchmark, H335, Win 748, H322 IMR 4895, plus quite a few others that are in your manual.
Have you got a caliper to measure your loaded round? FS
 
The caliper is my next investment. I have been looking into the youtube how to videos to give me some more visual aid in the process. I'm a long way from reloading anything yet. I gotta spend some time with my manual.


Thanks for the powder advice.
Fassteel said:
Primers, any small rifle primer, Winchester work fine

Powder- Benchmark, H335, Win 748, H322 IMR 4895, plus quite a few others that are in your manual.
Have you got a caliper to measure your loaded round? FS
Click to expand...
 
Get yourself 2 more reloading manuals. Us the lowest Max among them when you are still starting and learning - and even then, always start low and work slowly towards Max.

Regarding "Max" - research and learn all the signs of what to look for to know when you are reaching Maximum pressures. Find web pages that show good pictures of the subtle differences as your approach max and show you what primers look like as they start to flatten prmers, dislodge primers, or punch holes in them.

Also learn about measuring yoru cases to check for pressure as well.

Get a good feel for your gun with a known (factory) load so you ahve a baseline to compare it with when you start loading - changes in sound (or both the round firing and the sound of the mechanism working), feel of the gun as it shoots, etc.. On occasion in a semi, you can "feel" when the gun is working differently just before your cases will start showing pressure signs.

I've always preferred IMR powders for my guns.

Don't have my books available to tell you what my loads are in my .223

Welcome to your newest addiction :D
 
Thank you IMagius.

Like I was saying actual reloading is a ways away. It scares the hell outta me and I plan on reading everything I can get my hands on before I take a stab at it. Thank you for the pointers though I will look into finding signs of excess pressure. I do not weanna damage the gun or myself (but mainly the gun)..
 
The one book you REALLY need to get and read twice before you start, is "The ABC's of Reloading". I twill take a lot fo the "scary" factor out of reloading - and also leave you with enough of a knowledge base to know when to question things, and what questions to ask.

Don't let reloading scare you - it is a very simple process that is only as complicated a you want to make it.

Shoot, inspect, deprime, clean, resize, measure, inset primer, look, add powder, verify, seat bullet, measure. Repeat.
 
I agree with IMagius the ABC's is an excellent book to start with, I started a year ago like yourself from scratch and that book helped alot. Another tid bit is to always cross reference load data you read online with manuals as mistakes are often posted that may get you into trouble. It seems like a no brainer but worth a mention none the less.
 
IMagius said:
The one book you REALLY need to get and read twice before you start, is "The ABC's of Reloading". I twill take a lot fo the "scary" factor out of reloading - and also leave you with enough of a knowledge base to know when to question things, and what questions to ask.

Don't let reloading scare you - it is a very simple process that is only as complicated a you want to make it.

Shoot, inspect, deprime, clean, resize, measure, inset primer, look, add powder, verify, seat bullet, measure. Repeat.
Click to expand...

x3
My first book b4 anything with hand loading which quite a few years ago was the abc's of hand loading by Bill Chevalier! Great source for info on data, process, making bullets, chrony! just as the other 2 lads had said.
also always remember to AlWAYS full length resize yer brass with that semi auto action every time. Or you will have alot of fun with cartridge feeding an extraction! Any OTHER action you full length it if its new. Or new to your an/or new to your gun but fired. Then you can just neck size.
+ with that 9 twist you (should not always) be able to handle up 2 69 gr bullets like a few listed Hornady .22cal 68gr BTHP Nosler .22cal 69gr BTHP Custom comp Sierra king 69gr BTHP and anything else lighter under the sun will stabilize.
 
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