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.223 AR-15 reloading

OK guys, I think I want to try my hand at reloading for an AR-15 type gun. I have no experience at all reloading for an auto except for a 45 ACP pistol. I am searching for good advice and pointers to help me get started with this endeavor. I am hoping someone will be able to get me going on the right page to start with and avoid any pitfalls that may exist. Thanks in advance for all comments and advice. Bill
 
Really not much different from what you have been loading other than lubing cases for sizing is necessary. Choose good quality components that match your intended purpose.
A bit more info on the rifle twist rate, barrel length and what you want to do with it will shed more light on things to look for and tips.
 
Thanks man. The rifle is a Rock River Arms A4 .223 with a stainless match grade 18 " barrel. Will mount a medium varible power scope and shoot slow fire from a bench at 500 and 600 yds. at 20 oz. pop bottles filled with water just like we do with our bolt guns I suppose. No repid fire sessions. Not into all that.
Thanks, Bill
 
Sounds like fun. Try working a load up to 26g Varget under a 60g Hornady V-Max and watch those bottles turn into a distant mist. Some barrels will shoot the 75 A-Max well. I am partial to varget for the heavier bullets in 223 and H4895 or H BLC-2 for the lighter bullets.
 
Thanks Pal, What about brass? Or is that a "no brainer" Lapua? I read about some brass that was available now from Guat. made on some equipment that was purchased from Olin. Cost about 50.00 for 500 pcs. Any thoughts? Tnanks, Bill
 
If you can afford lapua, that's great. I bought a 5 gallon bucket of mixed date code Lake City at a gun show a few years ago for $35.00 and a paper grocery bag of mixed IMI,Isreal, good stuff) and WCC,Olin, good stuff) for $20.00. All is military with crimped primers. I spent a couple weekends decapping, and in front of the drill press with a chamfer tool removing the crimps and deburring the inside of the flash hole. Then another couple weekends sorting for dates and weights. Then I realized I have a bunch of brass. Anyway the point is that there is still good useable brass out there without making a major investment. I also anneal all my brass so I really don't care that much if it is really once fired. Annealing puts it back to almost factory new condition. When I load for a purpose, I use only 1 brand of brass. Like for the 60 V-Max loads mentioned above I use LC 04 brass cause that is what I used when I worked that load.
I prefer Rem 7-1/2 and Fed 205m primers as they have a thicker cup that better resists piercing, but that is another subject.
 
i have the same rifle but in a 24" with a 36X BSA FC
been using 25.8 grains varget
remington brass
69 grain SMK's
federal small rifle magnum primers
never shot it at the ranges you mention,but at 100 im getting high .2 to low .3's with it....now if i can find a area with that distance close to me,i would experiment....
i use the redding FL die set only,no competition)
 
I guess I am just full of questions about this .223 reloading for AR-15. I am wanting to order my Redding Full Length bushing die but I need to know what size bushing to order for "no-turn" brass. From what little info I have found looks like maybe a .251 or .252. Does anybody have any suggestions? Thanks, Bill
 
636 said:
i have the same rifle but in a 24" with a 36X BSA FC
been using 25.8 grains varget
remington brass
69 grain SMK's
federal small rifle magnum primers
never shot it at the ranges you mention,but at 100 im getting high .2 to low .3's with it....now if i can find a area with that distance close to me,i would experiment....
i use the redding FL die set only,no competition)
Well, that is doing very well for you. All I have heard about these rifles are good. I can't wait to get mine and start working on breaking my barrel in. Bill
 
my trigger is ALOT different than the single stagers i have been using....took me awhile to get used to it....was not always that good till i got used to it....good luck and have fun with it
 
For 223 I use Hornady New Dimension dies. I have added a Hornady micrometer top for the seater die. I think they are just as good as some of the higher priced dies. Never saw a real need to get spendy for 223. I do use a Redding FL,non-bushing)for my 6mm WOA. Works just fine.
 
Does anybody have any info regarding manf. or suppliers of short magazines or even benchrest followers for shooting the AR-15 style guns from the bench. Rock River Arms A4 .223 is what I am looking for. Thanks, Bill
 
mc223 said:
http://cproductsllc.com/

These are good mags. Look at the 5 RD with the Magpul Gen II follower.
Yea Man, I checked those out. Looks like the trick for dependability. I might get a couple of them later but I think I will go with the Bob Sled for now. That one allows you to shoot single shot and that is what I will be doing more of than anything else. Thanks, Bill
 
Been working with the 223 recently to launch 75gr Amax at LR. All from bolt rifles though.

I found Benchmark to work better/as well as Varget. The big plus was the fine grains allows me to seat the 75gr Amax deep enough to fit in a standard rifle mag without compressing the powder. This OAL will work in any AR mag. Single feeding an AR would just rub me the wrong way.

If you decide to feed from the mag, I would suggest you go with the standard 4 to 5thou of neck tension. The last thing you need is a bullet driving back into the case - very exciting at launch.

I use the Lee collet neck sizing die,lots of neck tension) and reg seater. I also have a Redding body die to bump the shoulder when needed. Not sure if neck sizing will work for a gas gun so you may need a FL sizer of some sort. Just keep an eye on concentricity.

I use Win brass and CCI BR4 primers to shoot 1/4MOA. I think Win brass is all you will need in your AR.

I have no issue going to 1000yds with the Amax and they are quite fragile at closer range,not as good as a Vmax but will buck the wind much better).

Something to try...Need a true 9 twist to stabilize.

Jerry
 
Probably will just shoot from the bench single shot with the Bob Sled. For a while anyway. Got to work my way into this auto thing. First time around for me. I like the accuracy thing better than rapid fire. Has anyone had any experience with the new 6mmAR upper for these guns? Info on the web site sure looks good. Thanks, Bill
 
I have been using Lee dies to reload for my,many) AR-15's. I have tried Redding, Forster, RCBS dies also, and the Lee dies do just as well. Don't get too crazy on reloading methods for an AR. I use whatever brass I find lying on the ground @ the range and I buy new Winchester sometimes for long-range loads. I get a solid 1/2-3/4 moa from my AR's without any special brass prep or weight sorting brass or bullets. It is mostly in the combination of powder, amt of powder, primer and bullet that your specific rifle likes. I tried Match prepping brass and weighing the brass and bullets and powder for 10 rounds. I also grabbed mixed headstamped brass and put together 10 rounds with no weight sorting the brass or bullets and NO brass prep. I fired both batches of 10 rounds @ 200 yds and found NO difference in group size! Now..would the results be different @ 600 yards? Maybe. But if you are shooting @ short range...don't waste too much time on reloading if you have found a load that shoots sub moa 5 shot groups...just get out and practice.

Chris
 
Yea Chris, That is about the same I have been hearing from everybody. And the 1/2 moa will be fine at 100 yds. I don't intend to get really wrapped up in BR case prep. Just plan to handload pretty much normal. But, I would like to try that 6mmAR upper that Robert Whitley has on the market. I would like to find someone that has used one or is using one now just to confirm the accuracy thing. Thanks, Bill
 
I had the 6.5mm version of that cartridge.,6.5 Grendel) And it was a super accurate cartridge. If you don't mind dropping the $$$ on an upper and $.50 a piece for brass that gets beat up, you will like that cartridge I think. It has only a bit more recoil than a 223, but easily outperforms it @ long range. If you will only shoot it @ 200 yards or less...save your $$$. My 223 AR's will shoot just a well in the wind as the 6.5 Grendel.

Chris
 

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