.223/5.56 cost savings?

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TheArmyMan204

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Hey guys, I already reload for a couple different .30 calibers but looking at .223 now, mostly for cost savings. I'm curious though, since .223 is a realitivly cheap round to begin with (around .50/round) is it really worth it? Or should I wait until I get a progressive press and start putting out enough volume

To clarify I'm mostly plinking with 55gr FMJ in a tavor but i don't like norinco or it's accuracy, just the price. It groups American eagle pretty nicely.
 
Right now, I'm shooting surplus ammo until my stash runs out. It'll cost me about 28cents (before taxes)per round. It costs me 27cents per round of surplus ammo but the time required to size/trim/tumble and reload them right now isn't worth it for plinking stuff. When my stash dries out I'll reevaluate the price. That said, for cranking out bulk ammo, a progressive is worth it's weight in gold.

I think I'll pick up a WFT trimmer 'cause sitting down with a bucket full of brass to manually trim ain't no fun!
 
Well the math would go like this. Most loads in a 223 would be around 25 grains of powder since there are 7000 grains in a pound that would work out to 280 rounds per pound. If powder is 42 dollars a pound 15 cents for powder. Primers are around 40 dollars as thousand so four cents a shell. I would think you would get fmj for 15 cents a piece so 34 cents a reload plus brass.
 
farmboy - those numbers are pretty close, tho I did score a 6000ct box of 55 gr fmj which lowered my cost to about 11 cents per so 31 ish per round plus brass.

Current prices on Norc surplus (non corrosive) are between 31-35 cents per round, while supplies last. For plinking, it's just not gonna save any money. I do reload .223 for what I'll call accurate plinking, mainly for consistency and to be able to make the custom load that works well for the specific gun(s).
 
Hmmm thanks guys, that's what I figured. I knew the norinco would be around the same pice as reloading but it is super inaccurate in my tavor compared to american eagle which is about .50 cents a round

I guess I'm a bit of a prepper so I like to have a nice stash of "good" ammo that I use for everything. Don't really like having multiple brands with different POI.

Anyway, I guess I'll buy a couple more cases of norinco while I can, save up for a progressive set up, the start cranking out my cheap but consistent 55gr. Thanks again!
 
If you're loading for cost savings, you might be disappointed at the end of the day, but if you're loading to make a better round or shoot more for the same money you can get some realistic results. That said, If you just want to go Bang with your semi-auto at the steel target range its better to buy bulk.

I personally don't reload for small bullets or stuff that can be easily purchased. Time is valuable too, I load for hard to find cases but some friends have very good results from reloading 223 for precision shooting. However, I can buy precision rounds that shoot just as good.

One of the loads I use is the Hornady Steel Match in 75gr HP. Very accurate in my free floating barrel and only sixty cents per shot. It was cheaper yet when I picked up a thousand rounds. Its easier to buy than to reload for dozens of different bullets IMO
 
The last I saw a thousand round can of American Eagle it was hovering above 450$ - so around $500 tax in.
1000 55 gr. FMJ bullets is around $125
1000 primers at around $40
Powder at around 23gr. Per @ 3.3 lbs at $40/lb is around $130

Assume range once-fired brass is free and that adds up to around $300 per thousand.

Done properly, even your bulk handloads should shoot better than bulk factory made ammo, as you can control such attributes as powder quantity, run-out, OAL, quality of primers, powder and bullets used.
changing a component as simple as the bullet can have dramatic effect on how well the ammo performs, with not much added to the bottom line.

That is assuming the handloader doesn't buy in bulk, or squirrel away for a rainy day (which we all do).
As an example, I'm still loading with primers I paid $25 per thousand, and the bulk surplus powder I'd use for FMJ rounds was $17 a pound.
When I have $500 to spend on gun stuff, it is more likely I'm going to be buying ~20 lbs of powder over a thousand rounds of factory. But who knows, when that great deal comes along for factory, I might just jump on that too. Having the option of going either or is worth it.
 
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OP,
You already have the press and tools, you just need the dies etc.
I shot a bunch of Winchester and remington factory stuff when I first got my ar's and kept all the brass. I also have shot a couple cases of Norc ammo through them. I keep that brass and reload that stuff as well.
I work out my reloading cost using hornady 55gr fmj to be around .30 The norc costs around .33 or so.
My next purchase well be bulk fmj rounds to lower my cost to about .22 a round

It takes time to reload but that is part of the hobby to me. I get a lot of satisfaction seeing trays of completed rounds. I also have settled on one recipe for my reloads using a still relatively available powder so I'm not having to chance my zero every range trip. Also since a box of AE cost me 65 plus tax for 100 at the gouging local shop in victoria, I'll stick to enjoying my reloads.
 
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