Loading for accuracy

[crankin]

This might not be the right forum for this but, i figure most of you do your own reloading and accuracy is what i am after i thought i might ask a question about it here.

I am planning on reloading for my Savage 10FP LE2A in .223 and i am limited for adequate space as well as I am not looking to spend a lot of money on reloading equipment. I recently saw that Lee makes a hand press reloading tool...it's nice and cheap and i figure it's a good way to start. Just wondering if the loads it can produce are good enough for accurate shooting or not? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[smak_daddy]

Accuracy with handloads comes down to 2 things:

1. Finding what load your rifle likes
2. Repeating that load as precisely as possible. (powder charge, OAL, brass prep, etc)

First determine what bullet weight to use, this depends on your rifle twist.

Then check some manuals and ask around for what powder people like for that bullet caliber combo.

Pick a brass manufacturer and stick with it. Different brass manufacturers can have different capacities. At best using different brands of brass will degrade accuracy, at worst you will get excessive pressure and you don't want that.

Most major primer manufacturers should work for you when beginning.

All my .223's love varget and RL-15. You can't go wrong with either of those powders in .223.

My 1/9 twist ar-15 loves 24.5 varget under a 69 grain smk bullet.

That press you mentioned should work fine for you. I have my press mounted on a black and decker work bench as I don't have room for a full bench.

Good luck and do your research!

 

[sunray]

Start by buying a loading manual and reading it. The Lyman book is a good one. It has more loads using more powders and bullet weights than any bullet or powder maker's book. Not that those books are bad. The Lyman book is just more versatile.
"...if the loads it can produce are good enough..." Yep. Lee-Loaders neck size only. That's ok as long as you're using the brass in one rifle only and it's once fired in that rifle. New brass needs to be full length resized, measured and trimmed to the same lengths before you use it. Once fired should be checked for length and trimmed if it needs it. The case lengths are given in your manual.
Pitch the scoops and use a scale. The scoops can vary the charge plus or minus a full grain. That's no good at all.
Then:
Beginning with the starting load from your manual, load 5 rounds only. Go up by half a grain of powder, loading 5 of each keeping them separate until you get to the max load in your manual.
Then go shooting. Shoot at 100 yards, for group only, slowly and deliberately off a bench.
Change targets between strings of 5 and allow time for the barrel to cool.
When you find the best group, load with that load and sight in.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Get yourself the Lee Anniversay kit with a set of Delux Lee collet dies in 223. That will be all you need for a very long time and will make match grade ammo.

In time, you will swap some of the brass handling tools as you find what works better for you. However, the setup is able to make a lifetimes worth of quality ammo and is a deal for pricing.

Welcome to a most rewarding part of the shooting hobby. There is a link in my sig below that will give you lots of tips to set up for max accuracy.
Jerry

PS, if you can read my post on this forum on my Stevens build up, you will also get lots of info on load on setting up your Savage and loading for it. As a rule, the 75gr Amax, varget, Win brass, CCi 450 or BR4 primers will get you shooting superb groups ONCE the rifle is bedded, etc.