Handloading .223

[ragu123]

Im going to start handloading for my Robarms XCR in .223.... so what do you guy use/recommend?
Also someone told me when reloading for a semi a small base die should always be used..... is this true?


thanks
Jay

 

[mlehtovaara]

3 words - lee factory crimp

 

[rollie100]

Im going to start handloading for my Robarms XCR in .223.... so what do you guy use/recommend?
Also someone told me when reloading for a semi a small base die should always be used..... is this true?


thanks
Jay

yeah i was told that too, but im doing just fine with a regular lee pacesetter die set, so far zero issues (in the AR that is)... and yeah a lee FCD is definetly nice to have.

 

[damndirtyape]

I use Dillon dies in 223, they're not small base and work fine in my AR.

 

[Farlsincharge]

I use a Redding FL die and have never had a need for a small base die. I think that needing to use one is very rare. Lee FCD set to just barely crimp (this is more to satisfy my ocd than anything).

 

[falconmst]

Dillon here as well, works in Bushmaster AR

 

[Antoine22]

Dillon here as well, works in Bushmaster AR

Same die, same AR, same result.

 

[falconmst]

Same die, same AR, same result.

amazing how that works

 

[sunray]

"...a small base die should..." All semi's require full length resizing every time(crimping is not absolutely required). Either an SB or regular FL die will do. You will see some people insisting upon SB and saying FL dies don't work though. It's nonsense. Millions of rounds of .223 were loaded long before SB dies came along.
You need to watch the case lengths too. Other than that loading for a semi is no different than any other rifle.

 

[saskcop]

I don't use a small base die for my semi auto, but I do crimp. I think it is a good idea to prevent bullet setback. I have heard conflicting opinions on that though.

 

[c3pppo]

You will likely want to give Dillon about a hundred bucks for their Super Swage tool. You need to get rid of the primer crimp you'll find in a lot of the brass and the Dillon tool is a painless way to do that.

Also, if you get a 7.62x39 barrel for your XCR, you'll find when reloading the 7.62 brass that some of it will require the swaging tool.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

I use a full length lee die to resize, and I do put some crimp on it as well with the lee crimp die.

 

[ragu123]

Thanks for the input but.... what do you guys use for powder and primers

thanks again

 

[mlehtovaara]

I just started using H335 for my first loads and am having good results. Super fine grains that meter really well. Apparently it was designed for .223. It has tons of data available and I'd pretty easy to find!

 

[Antoine22]

H335 is a great powder. The surplus WC735 from Higginson is even better.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

Varget, Benchmark and 4895 all work well for me. As of recent I'm loading with Varget, availability was an issue last summer.

 

[rollie100]

Thanks for the input but.... what do you guys use for powder and primers

thanks again

for my AR's CCI#400 primers have always been fine, powder... accurate 2230 or imr 3031, but im not picky on powder...

 

[mlehtovaara]

I'm thinking about IMR 3031 as well it seems to make a decent powder for any rifle!

 

[Syracuse Steve]

...223 handloads for "Black Rifles"...

...the best powder is Ramshot X-Terminator (this won the Swiss milspec tests)...and always use CCI #41 milspec primers to prevent slam-fires......the Lee "factory crimp" die is always the right way to go.....small base resizing will depend on your personal rifle's chamber, but never a bad idea......periodically inspect your fired brass casings for trouble signs...........

 

[Scanner_66]

I just use my case mouth chamfering tool to swage primer pockets