You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
.223 reloading, cost effectiveness
- Thread starter rangermonroe
- Start date
Robert M Boren Sr
New member
To put it simple, yes it's worth it to reload 223's, and military brass is really fine. I just got done doing 2k of them. What helped me is getting the Dillon Precision's super swager for taking out the primer crimp, really made that job go quick.
I have a bunch of Blue Dot, and I have never seen it listed to load rifle rounds...how did you come across it to load rifle. You have my undivided attention! thanks in advance,
DougC
I learned about Blue Dot in .223 from Seafire of Accurate Reloading forums who learned about it from
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/bee.php"TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE"(Reprinted with permission from The Varmint Hunter Magazine, July 1999)
by James Calhoon
Or is it nobler to shoot a 223 as a Bee, could that be the answer?
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/tobee2.php
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/
Seafire has been shooting every caliber rifle you can imagine with Blue Dot and considering writing a book. Here someone copies one of his loads for the .243:
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/322102775
All I do is:
1) .223, 15 gr, 33 gr, 3500 fps
2) .223, 13 gr, 60 gr, 2500 fps.
The advantage of the Blue Dot load is that the barrel stays cool and unfouled. I can shoot 100 rounds per hour all day and still hit a 2" kill zone at 140 yards, with a benchrest and a 32X scope.
Ranger,
Never had a problem with crimped military brass thats boxer primed since I use a Super 1050 which swages the cases right after depriming it. Now with regards to the original question is it cost effective to reload caliber x it all depends since there are intangibles like what are you paying for storage space of the components/equipment and also what is cost per hour of your time. These are just a few of the factors that most individuals do not include in the determining the total cost of reloading. I myself do it for the satisfaction of knowing that I am creating a cartridge load combination that exceeds anything thats currently massed produced and I dont care what my costs are.
Never had a problem with crimped military brass thats boxer primed since I use a Super 1050 which swages the cases right after depriming it. Now with regards to the original question is it cost effective to reload caliber x it all depends since there are intangibles like what are you paying for storage space of the components/equipment and also what is cost per hour of your time. These are just a few of the factors that most individuals do not include in the determining the total cost of reloading. I myself do it for the satisfaction of knowing that I am creating a cartridge load combination that exceeds anything thats currently massed produced and I dont care what my costs are.
Frost and Edward,
I just measured some LC brass [Lake City US military]:
LC98....... 178.6 gr
FC 308.... 175.0 gr
----------------------
difference...2%
LC01......... 92.5 gr
FC 223 ......90.5 gr
----------------------
difference ....2.2%
If I load a .223 with 15 gr Blue Dot becuase pressure and velocity are erratic at 18 gr, that is a 20% safety factor.
I am not going to worry about 2.2%
I just measured some LC brass [Lake City US military]:
LC98....... 178.6 gr
FC 308.... 175.0 gr
----------------------
difference...2%
LC01......... 92.5 gr
FC 223 ......90.5 gr
----------------------
difference ....2.2%
If I load a .223 with 15 gr Blue Dot becuase pressure and velocity are erratic at 18 gr, that is a 20% safety factor.
I am not going to worry about 2.2%