How many of you AR shooters also reload?

snipersyn

snipersyn

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Asking out of curiosity...
I'm finding I am shooting the AR a lot more and debating whether reloading (specifically the 223 Rem cartridge) is a viable option.
From my worksheet, it seems I can reload 223 for around $0.30/rd using my own brass (reloading equipment not counted).

99% of the time I shoot my AR at the action range of my shooting range, 15 to 25 yards.
 
I shoot enough through my AR15 that I bought a Dillon Super 1050 and haven't looked back. The thing paid for itself after the first 18 months.

Milsurp brass (cleaned/polished) from Henry Nierychlo/Budget (see banner above), CCI small rifle primers, surplus WC735 from Higginson by the 8lb jug, and either SS109 or standard 55gr tips I get in bulk from wherever has the best deal at the moment.

-M
 
There have been a lot of sales lately. At reliable many of us were able to pick up American Eagle 223 tactical at 28 cents a round. Most walked away with 2000 rounds. So in that case there's no point in reloading unless it's for ultimate accuracy. The best part is you can use the brass later for reloading and focus on reloading for your 308 AR rifles.
 
Hey, I will buy inexpensive, decent .223 when possible, but otherwise, I pick up once fired brass from whichever site sponsor that has a deal, buy WC735 in bulk and buy bulk bullets. Reloading is a pain for me as I use a Rockchucker, but it is much cheaper and I am getting excellent performance from my handloads.
 
I was thinking of picking some of that WC735 up,

what kind of loads are you guys using with it?
Particularly interested in FMJ loads and velocity info

I heard it burns about 5% faster than H335 which I do use would I have to knock my loads down a couple of grains and still get comparable velocity?
 
diananike said:
I was thinking of picking some of that WC735 up,

what kind of loads are you guys using with it?
Particularly interested in FMJ loads and velocity info

I heard it burns about 5% faster than H335 which I do use would I have to knock my loads down a couple of grains and still get comparable velocity?
Click to expand...

IIRC, with 62gn SS109 projos in IVI brass with CCI small rifle primers, I'm loading 26.1gn of WC735 and it's a great load.

Be sure to verify that load as safe in your rifle though. I haven't checked the powder weight in a while, since I'm in brass processing mode right now after loading several thousand of those loads for this last season. I don't have my notes in front of me, and would need to check them to set up again.

26.1gn rings a bell though.

ETA:

TM 43 - 0001 - 27 has all the info you need on loading 5.56 rounds with WC844, and 735 is a pretty close substitute. I used my 735 like it was 844 initially (and that's where the 26.1gn came from) and it's a safe load in MY rifle. YMMV.

-M
 
Cool thanks for the info I didn't realize it was so close to WC844, lots of milspec loads for that powder.
I was using H335 but started to get open groups and the odd pierced primer at 26gr so had to knock it back to 25.5gr
Tell you the truth I'm in a brass processing mode too, after I just picked up 1000 Lake city cases.
Kind of interested in ordering up 7lbs of 735 to load some of these bad boys up.

Looking more for a 55gr M193 clone load for it, as those are the bullets I've been getting lately, at least until I can find some cheap SS109s.
I was using H335 but started to get open groups and the odd pierced primer at 26gr so had to knock it back to 25.5gr
Hoping I might be able to get a tighter M193 out of WC735, it'll definitely be cheaper.
 
Gotta reload for two reasons...
1. It costs less to reload quality ammo than to buy it.
2. When I need 500 rounds sometimes you can't find 500 rounds at retail.
 
snipersyn said:
Asking out of curiosity...
I'm finding I am shooting the AR a lot more and debating whether reloading (specifically the 223 Rem cartridge) is a viable option.
From my worksheet, it seems I can reload 223 for around $0.30/rd using my own brass (reloading equipment not counted).

99% of the time I shoot my AR at the action range of my shooting range, 15 to 25 yards.
Click to expand...
If 99% of your shooting is at less than 25 m, then life is really easy reloading for your AR. Even the cheapest 55 gr FMJ (Lake City/Federal, Armscor or Privy) from this site sponsors will do great. Often you can buy bulk brass cased ammo cheaper than you can reload but then you stock up in once fired brass anyway. At this short range accuracy is not an issue so any safe combination of primer and powder will do. I have been using Rem 71/2 BR primers for the past twenty years with complete success but CCI also makes nice hard cup primers as well. For general purpose powder with the 55 gr FMJ my standard load is 27 gr of W748. Ball powder meters great through a powder measure and even with a compressed load is still well below maximum SAAMI pressures.
 
I reload. Only for the Ar is CQB, so pin point accuracy at long range is not the issue.

I down load until action does not cycle then go up 2 gr. Result is ammo about 200 fps slower than factory (55 gr). Less recoil, so better for CQB.
 
I can load some pretty darned deadly and accurate .223 for about .30c a round, quite a bit better than White or Black box factory stuff.

My favorite loads right now are 26gr of Reloader 15 behind a Hornady 60gr SP (good cheap bullet)
And 25gr of H4895 behind a 65gr Sierra BTSP Gameking.

I agree it probably isn't necessary for the plinking I usually do, but as handloaders aren't we always trying to perfect the most wicked deadly ammo we can as cheap as we can possibly do so.
 
diananike said:
I can load some pretty darned deadly and accurate .223 for about .30c a round, quite a bit better than White or Black box factory stuff.

My favorite loads right now are 26gr of Reloader 15 behind a Hornady 60gr SP (good cheap bullet)
And 25gr of H4895 behind a 65gr Sierra BTSP Gameking.

I agree it probably isn't necessary for the plinking I usually do, but as handloaders aren't we always trying to perfect the most wicked deadly ammo we can as cheap as we can possibly do so.
Click to expand...


Sometimes quantity is the best quality.
 
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