.223 newb reloading question

Lastgun said:
Fast twist barrel and high velocity light weight varmint bullets can spin apart on exit of muzzle...Believe me it happens.
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yes.

I went through 4 barrels in 22-250Ackley About 3400fps with the Sierra 80. As soon as the barrel got a bit worn the bullets would fly apart, about 50 yards from the muzzle. Just a puff of gray, and the bullet was dust.
 
Next time see if you can source some 68, 69, 75, 77 or 80 gr bullets. They will shoot well and not drift nearly as much as the light bullets. I used to shoot 80s at 1000 yards. groups slightly better than a 308 with 155s.
 
skid dog said:
Just started reloading a month ago and I have only done a few .308 rounds. Today I tried a few .223s and I’ve set the FL dies exactly like the videos and instruction say, I size and de-prime and check my length and it’s right on and go to try the bullet tip in the brass and it won’t sit in it?? WTF am I doing wrong??
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The bullets have to go in base-first, if you’re seating it tip first it’s backwards.
 
just having some fun said:
Before you get too far into your reloading for 223

what bullet weight are you using
and
What is your barrel twist ?

if they are 50g and your barrel twist is 8 -7.5 or 9 ..... you are not going to have any fun
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I shoot 50 and 52 gr bullets out of my 16.5” long, 9” twist barrel with fantastic accuracy. Why do you think a fast twist barrel would be problematic?

The only time I could see it being an issue is if you’re trying to push lightweight, thin jacketed varmint bullets at high velocity. They would likely come apart shortly after exiting the barrel.
 
If they're flat base, they're reluctant to sit on the case mouth before getting stuffed into the case. You have to hold them with your fingers until they start into the seating die. Pain in the azz with little bullets and big fingers. Both my 223 and 32 Special are the same with flat base bullets.
 
First off, you’ve been told correctly, just hang on to that sucker until you start it in the case mouth and your good to go. When you chamfer you just need to clean up the case mouth not much more. You’ll find that you always need to hold onto flat bases to start em. Secondly, my last 8 twist shot 50-55 grains lights out. I could stack one on top of the other until the barrel got too hot. So you’ll likely be just fine with the range of bullets you’ve got. You may want to look into heavier bullets once you get to 1000 yards lol, but for all else you’ll be good! Try to find some Varget!
 
meatsticks said:
First off, you’ve been told correctly, just hang on to that sucker until you start it in the case mouth and your good to go. When you chamfer you just need to clean up the case mouth not much more. You’ll find that you always need to hold onto flat bases to start em. Secondly, my last 8 twist shot 50-55 grains lights out. I could stack one on top of the other until the barrel got too hot. So you’ll likely be just fine with the range of bullets you’ve got. You may want to look into heavier bullets once you get to 1000 yards lol, but for all else you’ll be good! Try to find some Varget!
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thank you very much. I would like to eventually go 500-1000 yds but i need practice at short yardage first.
 
skid dog said:
thank you very much. I would like to eventually go 500-1000 yds but i need practice at short yardage first.
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Yes, get the basics of shooting and loading sorted out before you start moving back.

At 300 yards you will find that the 55 gr bullet moves a lot with the wind. At 300, the 68 or 69 gr match bullet would do much better. Beyond 300, you really want the long bullet. I used to use the 80 Sierra match bullet all the way from 300 to 1000 yards.

At 1000 (out of a 223) it had a little less wind drift than a 308. The only downside with the 223 is that the markers sometimes can't find that little bullet hole.
 
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