AR15's...reloads or factory?

BC Bigbore

BC Bigbore

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So what is your preference? I find that factory .223 ammo is cheap enough by the 1000rd lot, that I don't even handload for my .223's. Besides, I'd have to get a progressive press to keep up to the volumes I can blast away ;) :D How about you?
 
I'm very careful of using non-cannelured-non-crimped rounds because I don't want my AR to go ka-blewie. Winchester 55gr .223 fills that need nicely.
 
For the bulk blasting away stuff, can't beat the cheap factory stuff....not even worth loading for.
For the best accuracy out of your AR, reloading is the way to go as the match ammo prices make me soil my pantaloons.....:)
 
I use exactly the same bullet as kirill with 25.5gr. of win. 748. AND I use a single stage press:redface: . I do about 400 in a session. I shoot 500 rounds of .223 a month and the rest of the time I put my DPMS .22lr upper on and blow off another 1000 rounds of .22's.:dancingbanana:

BTW kirill, where are you getting winchester 55gr FMJ? I thought they wern't being shipped to Canada anymore. I had to switch to Hornady bullets from Ammomart or whatever their new name is.
 
Mr AR15 said:
I use exactly the same bullet as kirill with 25.5gr. of win. 748. AND I use a single stage press:redface: . I do about 400 in a session. I shoot 500 rounds of .223 a month and the rest of the time I put my DPMS .22lr upper on and blow off another 1000 rounds of .22's.:dancingbanana:

BTW kirill, where are you getting winchester 55gr FMJ? I thought they wern't being shipped to Canada anymore. I had to switch to Hornady bullets from Ammomart or whatever their new name is.
Click to expand...


55gr FMJ in 5.56 is banned from export out of USA. 55gr FMJ .223 is a-ok and is imported by various gun stores and dealers. Wolverine supplies and Armseast should have some in stock, although the shortage may have caught up with them.

Since you reload, do you crimp the bullet into the case? If not, are you afraid of the bullet falling into the case and causing a kB??
 
I reload for my Bushmaster 24 inches Varmitter. No problem with the right amount of crimp, good die set on premium varmint bullet. ( Redding Comp dies set - SB sizer ). For general plinking and fast and furious shooting with my AR15 SBR 7.5 inches, I use a Lee factory crimp die in the canelure of 55 gr FMJ bullets. Cases are trimmed to 1.750 and verified at each loading.
As a general rule, my best loads are almost always ending about 1 -1.5 grain below max with most suitable powders.
 
I was wondering about the 'crimp thing' as well. Anyone here shooting the heavy bullets (69,77, or 80 grain)? What do you do about crimp if there is no cannelure?
The sierra manual suggests that, rather than crimp, using the Redding dies and going with a smaller interior bushing so the neck sizing is tighter. Does anyone know what size of bushing that would be?
 
I've recently started loading up .223 on my Dillon 550. I can turn out a few hundred in an hour at a reasonable pace.

26.0gn of Varget below a 62 grain SS109 projectile, in mixed brass.

NS
 
Quality reloads can be had if you have a good source of cheap brass, bullets and powder. (read: Higginsons) I do it all on a single stage press as well. 1. resize 2.trim using the lee tool and a power drill 3.deburr/chamfer 4.clean 5.prime 6.powder 7. seat bullet and 8.lee factory crip die 9. optional quick run in the cleaner (yeah I know, my #### is going to fall off and I will accidently mame or blind the person beside me.) Parts 1-4 can be done while watching Full metal jacket.
 
depends on what your twist is- i've got a 1/7 NATO and it's supposed to be 62 grains or better- i've never seen anything other than the 50-60 grain stuff loaded at wsl or russels- so you have to roll your own- using 55 grains i get about 4 inch groups at 100- go to 70's and she drops to 1 inch or better if i do my part
 
I use 24gr Reloader 15 with the SS109 projetiles in mixed brass for plinking, 2 & 3 gun competitions... I use new brass for precision shooting.

about $230.00 per 1000 rounds loaded.
 
BCGuy,

For gas gun, the die to use is the Redding small base full length resizer with neck bushing. The bushing to be chosen is about .002 smaller than the measurement of the brass case thickness at the neck multiplied X 2 + bullet diameter (.224). Check Redding web site if my explication are not clear enough. You can also measure the dimension of a factory round at the neck and down to .002 smaller. This is less accurate since the thickness of brass varies from brand to brand. Neck must be cleaned inside to make sure the bullet is in contact with brass not with carbon, cleaning media dust or case lube. After bullet seating, then taper crimp with - .001 at the case mouth.

Using the Lee factory crimp on non-canelured bullet will work but will damage the bullet and accuracy will suffer. Since 70 to 80 grain VLC bullet are usually match bullet, you want to avoid than. Sufficient tension is obtained with a Redding bushing die and taper crimp for that application. 80 grains VLC bullet are single loaded in the gun since they are too long in the .223 cases for feeding from the mag.

With care, you can make good, safe reload that beat Match ammo from the big name, at a much lower price.
 
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