Cost Savings / Wortwhile ? Reloading .223

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Just bought a new AR. Shot 60 rounds like it was nothing. Since I have a Dillion 550 for 9mm, just wondering if it was cost effective to reload .223.

How are .223 cartridges? Do they need to be trimmed, measured often? Or are they a strong round?
 
IMO, pretty much everything is worth reloading... at the worst you get much better ammo for a similar cost.

For 223 a case is ~500 right now

1000 bullets - 150
1000 primers - 35
Brass - lasts a long time in 223 so this should be negligible
Powder... probably 4 pounds or so per 1k so this can add up with prices as they are right now, but even if 40 a pound is 160.

Looking at 350ish assuming you use range brass or your own leftovers. Probably take you 2000 rounds or so to recoup your costs assuming you get a 223 conversion for your 550. But, you have a tuned load that probably shoots better and is cleaner in your gun.
 
rommelrommel said:
...But, you have a tuned load that probably shoots better and is cleaner in your gun.
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What he said. :) Most of us reload because the ammo is just so much better. Cost savings is negligible depending on how much reloading supplies you buy. But you do end up being able to shoot more. :p
 
first reload of about 300 ...approx.$230 if you buy brass. After you have a supply ..it drops to about$185 per 300. According to the the published prices of factory ammo..it could cost you upwards of $375 for 300 bullets. By reloading the ammo can be tailored to your gun , giving you much better performance. Plus if you get more guns, you alrady have the equipment to reload less the dies.
 
Plus, if you have a fast twist barrel, it's A LOT easier to find heavy component bullets, than loaded ammunition. Considering the premium prices they charge to heavy or match grade loaded ammunition, you'll be shooting way better stuff, for less $$$.
 
I consider my 223 reloads only comparable to the $35.00 a box match grade ammo, not the $11-$12 a box plinking ammo. And I can't afford to spend $35 plus taxes a box on 223 ammo. The 55 gr cheap ammo doesn't shoot consistently in my 1 in 8 twist barrel and is frustrating to shoot for that reason.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
I consider my 223 reloads only comparable to the $35.00 a box match grade ammo, not the $11-$12 a box plinking ammo. And I can't afford to spend $35 plus taxes a box on 223 ammo. The 55 gr cheap ammo doesn't shoot consistently in my 1 in 8 twist barrel and is frustrating to shoot for that reason.
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So in your case, you save far more per round.

Be aware, that while you save more per round, you do end up shooting far more too. So it all balances out to the same amount of money spent. :)
 
Jarlath said:
Be aware, that while you save more per round, you do end up shooting far more too. So it all balances out to the same amount of money spent. :)
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And hopefully, because you are able to shoot more rounds downrange, you become a better than average shooter.

When 55 gr. fmj bullets were $9 per 100 I grabbed 3, 000 of them, and I got a deal on primers @ $1.80 per hundred and grabbed 5, 000 of those from a reloader friend: at the same time an 8 pounder of WW 748 was discovered at WSS which worked out to about $21.50 per pound. I am able to shoot a lot through my AR for the next little while. If you are always looking for deals like that, you will be able to shoot cheaply and frequently.

It also pays to go in with friends on powder, bullets, etc., when they are offered in bulk. Check out Higginson's site for powders, etc.
 
I've always reloaded for pistol, my .308 bolt gun and my .223 bolt gun, but never for my AR... I always fed it factory ammo.

Once the price of factory .223 started to climb above $400/case I started loading for the AR as well. I'll likely never buy factory again.

There are three problems with run of the mill factory .223.

1. Cost
2. Availability
3. Accuracy

I find factory amm expensive (when you can find) it and my reloads perform better.
 
ok i reload .223 for both a bolt savage and a AR15 im doing about 250rounds for about 120$ using barns varmint gernades using the dillon is fine for a bolt gun but not for a AR the AR extracts when the case is still hot so it streches it so not only do you have to resize but you have to trim every case every time its fired this reduces your case life and makes it so the dillon is not as effective i found the best way is to use a single stage resize trim then you can use the dillon or just keep with the single stage and a powder measuer i can get about 200 rounds an hour in a single stage when i get in to rithum
 
chev_ranger said:
ok i reload .223 for both a bolt savage and a AR15 im doing about 250rounds for about 120$ using barns varmint gernades using the dillon is fine for a bolt gun but not for a AR the AR extracts when the case is still hot so it streches it so not only do you have to resize but you have to trim every case every time its fired this reduces your case life and makes it so the dillon is not as effective
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I don't have to trim every time I reload .223 cases that were shot in an AR. I measure after each reloading and when they get to the maximum length I trim which is usually between 3 and 4 re-sizings. I have a 3 way trimmer head for .223 cases from RCBS which cuts down trimming/deburring/chamfering time hugely.

The most expensive component in reloading is the brass and I can't believe the people who throw it away at the range. If I see a guy shooting .223 (or .308) at the range I always ask if he is a reloader. Usually the answer is no (not always) and they let me have their once fired brass.

There is an RCMP constable here who is practising for a police shooting comp. I met him a few times at the range and he usually leaves 2-3 boxes of once fired 9mm cases. I have two plastic buckets of the stuff at the moment and that is making reloading for the 9mm ridiculously cheap.
Especially in light of the fact that one of the 9mm boxes of ammo had a $28.68 price tag on it for 50!
 
I'm usually the naysayer in the group when it comes to threads like this. This time I'm not saying nay. The price of .223 has gone wacky vs its component prices and when you can save $0.25 cents (minimum) per round for a round eating AR then reload and save by all means. As stated above, a couple of thousand rounds would pay for a decent setup. Three thousand rounds will near as damn cover the cost of a Hornady AP with case feeder, especially since they'll give you a thousand more bullets for buying one. Whatever make or type of press you decide to buy, you might just want to secure the "hard to get" components before you buy it. The best press in the world is no good at all without bullets, powder and primers.

One more thing, get an inexpensive primer pocket reamer or swager. If you're going to reload .223 you may as well be prepared to handle the military brass from the get go.
 
I recently faced this decision and decided to buy bulk .223 for matches and what not. It ran me at $500 / 1000 rounds, plus tax and shipping.

I have the reloading gear, just need powders and primers for reload .223, which I will probably do if I get into SR or long range shooting.
 
Handloading offers you the ability to load any bullet you want. From 40gr varmint blasters to 80gr LR spears and everything in between.

If you shoot a semi, the best part is tailoring the ammo to work your recoil system the best. When done properly, the fired brass should show no more stretching then from a bolt rifle. If your cases need trimming every firing, you need to adjust your load cause you are also doing some increased wear and tear on the rifle.

Until supplies dry up, I can offer some great prices on ARMCOR 62gr FMJ bullets. Sold a whack of them with many happy reports. Makes for a very inexpensive plinking bullet.

From there, you can move to whatever floats your boat.

Watching an HK SL8 shoot around MOA at 1000yds with 75gr Amax handloads or pushing some 80gr Amax/Bergers to a mile makes anytime spent making your own bullets worthwhile.

Jerry
 
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