Is reloading .223 really worth it?

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Shep546

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So, I just finished my first batch of reloads ever, close to 1,000 rounds of .223 remington.

I used spare brass I had, WC735 surplus powder, and 55g lake city FMJ from budget shooter with CCI primers.

Is it just me or is reloading bulk .223 pointless for saving money? With the amount of time spent sizing, trimming etc and reloading this brass the small amount of money I saved didn't really seem worth it?

Are their cheaper plinking loads out there? Or is reloading .223 best for getting tight groups?
 
Shep546 said:
So, I just finished my first batch of reloads ever, close to 1,000 rounds of .223 remington.

I used spare brass I had, WC735 surplus powder, and 55g lake city FMJ from budget shooter with CCI primers.

Is it just me or is reloading bulk .223 pointless for saving money? With the amount of time spent sizing, trimming etc and reloading this brass the small amount of money I saved didn't really seem worth it?

Are their cheaper plinking loads out there? Or is reloading .223 best for getting tight groups?
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Okay, which is it? Cheap plinking or tight groups? What do you want?
 
Shep546 said:
So, I just finished my first batch of reloads ever, close to 1,000 rounds of .223 remington.

I used spare brass I had, WC735 surplus powder, and 55g lake city FMJ from budget shooter with CCI primers.

Is it just me or is reloading bulk .223 pointless for saving money? With the amount of time spent sizing, trimming etc and reloading this brass the small amount of money I saved didn't really seem worth it?

Are their cheaper plinking loads out there? Or is reloading .223 best for getting tight groups?
Click to expand...

I've loaded quite a bit of .223 on my Hornady LnL, I have to ask does the bulk Lake City 55grners give you tight groups? They were 3 MOA bullets at best for me through different rifles.
 
Shep546 said:
So, I just finished my first batch of reloads ever, close to 1,000 rounds of .223 remington.

I used spare brass I had, WC735 surplus powder, and 55g lake city FMJ from budget shooter with CCI primers.

Is it just me or is reloading bulk .223 pointless for saving money? With the amount of time spent sizing, trimming etc and reloading this brass the small amount of money I saved didn't really seem worth it?

Are their cheaper plinking loads out there? Or is reloading .223 best for getting tight groups?
Click to expand...

This is why having this kind of kit is important. Twice through and you're done. Note I also reload other calibers aswell.

DSC03467.jpg
 
.223 is cheap now days but it used to be around 450 per thousand so reload other calibers for now, buy cheap factory 223 loads for plinking and save the brass
 
I can reload 1000 rounds of 223 for under $270 and the quality is similar if not better than the usuall stuff like American Eagle and PMC bronze. The best deal on bulk 223 ammo is $350 + tax + shipping (if your order). So unless your time is precious and money is no object, then you are better off buying your ammo.

personnally, I hate reloading 223 because there is some extra steps in the process. But when I reload, I make a huge batch 4,000 and more per session minimum.
 
If I wasn't reloading in my spare time I might be watching TV so if I can save a $100.00 on a thousand rounds that means I have an extra 100 bucks for something else. I am not scared of a little extra work.

Graydog
 
I don't mind reloading .223 because I reload with 62 gr match bullets (for Service Rifle) not the 55 gr FMJ bullets. I'm trying to approximate the ballistics of the M855 5.56 round because the rifle I use for Service Rifle has a 1:7 twist rate in the barrel (it's a Colt AR-15 Delta HBAR).

The cost of 62gr factory ammo is quite a bit higher than the 55gr stuff, so I DO save money (and have something to do on cold winter nights besides watching HNIC and drinking beer:p).

That said, I typically buy 1000 rnds of 55 gr at a time for practice and 3 Gun matches, then I reload that brass with the 62 gr match bullets.
 
I average .25 cents a bullet reloaded, average cost to buy is .50cents. yes case prep is a pain, currently looking for an illegal alien to live in my garage and prep brass for me.
 
OP, you just answered your own questions.

It also depends on your shooting styles.

If you're looking for the best accuracy for a particular rifle, hand loading is the way to go.

If you're just throwing a lot of rounds down range and aren't worried about taking a hair of a gnat's butt, then buy bulk of course. Most of it shoots pretty well.
 
bearhunter said:
OP, you just answered your own questions.

It also depends on your shooting styles.

If you're looking for the best accuracy for a particular rifle, hand loading is the way to go.

If you're just throwing a lot of rounds down range and aren't worried about taking a hair of a gnat's butt, then buy bulk of course. Most of it shoots pretty well.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. There is a place for both.
 
Bolt action definitely reload, semi auto, maybe not. I reload for everything though.
 
I'm curious how you guys are reloading so cheap... unless you live close to a good supplier and don't have to pay shipping?
 
Where are you getting your 62 grain 223 bullets?


shredder said:
I don't mind reloading .223 because I reload with 62 gr match bullets (for Service Rifle) not the 55 gr FMJ bullets. I'm trying to approximate the ballistics of the M855 5.56 round because the rifle I use for Service Rifle has a 1:7 twist rate in the barrel (it's a Colt AR-15 Delta HBAR).

The cost of 62gr factory ammo is quite a bit higher than the 55gr stuff, so I DO save money (and have something to do on cold winter nights besides watching HNIC and drinking beer:p).

That said, I typically buy 1000 rnds of 55 gr at a time for practice and 3 Gun matches, then I reload that brass with the 62 gr match bullets.
Click to expand...
 
I've been chewing on the same numbers lately. I've used 55 grain practice loads for these calculations - taxes included. My numbers based on 1000:

1000 1F cases $100 used 4 times = $0.025 each
Lake City 55 gr bullets 1000 $130 = $0.130 each
Primer $40/1000 = $0.040 each
Powder 25 gr H4895 @ $0.004 /grain = $0.100 each
For a total of $0.295 per round or $295.00 per 1000

OR

SFRC 1000 55gr AE @ 379+shp+tx = $446.29 = $0.446 each

Case trimming for me is the worst part of the job. I use the Lee cutter on a cordless drill. It seems the easiest to me that I'm aware of. I have an RCBS trimmer but it seems clumsier than the Lee drill bit one.

If there's a better way to trim brass I'd love the answer...
 
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