first time loading .223
- Thread starter trigger45
- Start date
Suggest you separate brass if you will be shooting for accuracy. In addition to head stamp separation you may wish to uniform the flash hole, full length or neck size depending on semi-auto or bolt action, case length uniformity, and other factors that are explained in a good reloading manual. My reloading references include Sierra, Lyman, and Lee.
For general plinking or hunting at 100 yds or so there is no reason to separate brass by head stamp.
For general plinking or hunting at 100 yds or so there is no reason to separate brass by head stamp.
I started with Varget, and have stayed with Varget...
I had poor results with H335 in both our Mini-14 and Rem. 700 bolt...BUT, every rifle is different. There is no substitute for trial and error when doing load development.
It may be helpful if you post the specifics of the rifle. Make? barrel length? Twist?
Varget is temp stable (a big + here in FL), and also happens to be the top choice for the other two calibers I load ( .308 and 7.62 x 54R).
Military (5.56) brass may need the primer crimps removed prior to reloading.
I had poor results with H335 in both our Mini-14 and Rem. 700 bolt...BUT, every rifle is different. There is no substitute for trial and error when doing load development.
It may be helpful if you post the specifics of the rifle. Make? barrel length? Twist?
Varget is temp stable (a big + here in FL), and also happens to be the top choice for the other two calibers I load ( .308 and 7.62 x 54R).
Military (5.56) brass may need the primer crimps removed prior to reloading.
Some good suggestions here. I separate brass by head stamp only when working up a load. Once the load is worked up, I reload without regard to case.
I have found that many folks use hodgdon 335 as a great (almost as a universal) powder for the .223. I have been very happy with results from this powder. Of course, there are other suitable powders!
I have found that many folks use hodgdon 335 as a great (almost as a universal) powder for the .223. I have been very happy with results from this powder. Of course, there are other suitable powders!
4runnerman
New member
Tried H-335,Varget and others. Was told by someone.(Guy that shoots comp)
To try RL-15.Did and will never go back to H-335 or Varget again.Day and night difference in my gun. H-335 and Varget are great powders,don't get me wrong,but RL-15 kick butt on them in accuracy by a long shot.
60gn V-max
24 gns RL-15
Rem 7 1/2 bench primer
2.29 COL
Brass trimmed to 1.752
I second grumpa.For accuracy go through all the steps one by one. I cull my brass to 1 gn in weight. 93 and 94 gns seem to be the most common(no primer and trimmed weight)
To try RL-15.Did and will never go back to H-335 or Varget again.Day and night difference in my gun. H-335 and Varget are great powders,don't get me wrong,but RL-15 kick butt on them in accuracy by a long shot.
60gn V-max
24 gns RL-15
Rem 7 1/2 bench primer
2.29 COL
Brass trimmed to 1.752
I second grumpa.For accuracy go through all the steps one by one. I cull my brass to 1 gn in weight. 93 and 94 gns seem to be the most common(no primer and trimmed weight)
603Country
New member
H335 and Varget didn't work that well (Ok, but not great) in my Ruger Hawkeye. I finally settled on the Sierra 65 grain GK with 25.1 gr of AA2230 and CCI BR4 primers and Nosler cases. Nobody seems to talk much about AA2230, but it sure works for my Ruger. Somebody on this forum suggested the 65 grain Sierra for my 1 in 9 twist, and I owe them a beer (or 3 or 4).
I would weigh some samples of each headstamp sized and trimmed brass to see which ones are similar (similar weight and outer dimensions implying similar case capacity). When I did that I surprisingly found LC, PMC, Remington, and most other milsurp brass weighed I think around 90 gr, and Federal and IIRC, Fiocchi, were just over 100 gr.
I keep the 100 gr brass separate and download it by 0.5-1.0 gr depending on powder/bullet. And I keep my LC brass separate for accuracy loads. All the PMC, Rem, and milsurp gets bagged together for plinking.
I keep the 100 gr brass separate and download it by 0.5-1.0 gr depending on powder/bullet. And I keep my LC brass separate for accuracy loads. All the PMC, Rem, and milsurp gets bagged together for plinking.
Bamashooter
New member
I always buy bulk mixed headstamp once fired brass and seperate by headstamp. I go thru the whole prepping the case stages and weigh the cases if im making some rounds for accuracy. I have used IMR-4895,W748, and Tac. Now I only use Tac. I can get higher velocities with heavier bullets, its a very clean powder, and as far as I can tell ive shot very accurately using tac.
m&p45acp10+1
New member
I only seperate a few hundred pieces of brass by head stamp for testing new loads to keep everthing the same. I use the round robin method and then after that it is prety much any brass regardless of head stamp. Though I am not competition shooting either.
I like using H-335 with 55 grain bullets, and Varget, or RL-15 for the heavier bullets. I will end up testing a few other powders just for the heck of it eventualy.
I like using H-335 with 55 grain bullets, and Varget, or RL-15 for the heavier bullets. I will end up testing a few other powders just for the heck of it eventualy.
I see you guys talking about this is a great load or that... I see you sorting brass and doing some voodoo magic on your brass, but what kind of accuracy are you getting with that load after all that extra work?
Click here for my load data
In there you will see RL10x loaded to the same FPS range of my other powders and it does rank up there, with a 40 and a 50gr bullet. I see nobody mentioned 10x only RL-15, give 10x a try and I think you will be happy. After reviewing this thread and looking at my load data, I think I'm going to do some more experimenting with it myself.
Click here for my load data
In there you will see RL10x loaded to the same FPS range of my other powders and it does rank up there, with a 40 and a 50gr bullet. I see nobody mentioned 10x only RL-15, give 10x a try and I think you will be happy. After reviewing this thread and looking at my load data, I think I'm going to do some more experimenting with it myself.