Working on reloading 223.

bill3542 · 09-13-2023, 09:01 AM

I got 1/2 dozen different calibers I reload for but this year it's been 223. I did around 400 back in march and just finished another 250 that was free brass from a shooting range.

My son has around 400 he wants me to help him with but he really needs to do this himself.

Here's what where using. Midway bulk 55 grain FMJ and pointed soft point, CCI primers and AA Data 2200 powder. this stuff was purchased around 20 years back when it was cheap NOS overrun surplus powder.

bullets where 47 bucks a 1000.
primers around 2.50 a 100.
powder was 68 bucks for a 8 pound keg.

I'm 65 so where trying to get some stuff used up before I kick the bucket.

Sanders · 09-13-2023, 10:59 AM

I've been plugging away at the 1,000+ pieces of .223 brass I've saved up over the years. All range brass of various manufacturers, so it all gets cleaned, sized, trimmed and primer pockets swaged so they'll all be consistent. I got a few pounds of Varget from an estate sale I'm going to load up, and some home made hollow points that my brother-in-law swaged using .22LR brass for the jackets and lead wire for the center.

The bullets are remarkably consistent - not more than .4 gr. between any of them, with most of them right at 55 gr.

bill3542 · 09-13-2023, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanders

I've been plugging away at the 1,000+ pieces of .223 brass I've saved up over the years. All range brass of various manufacturers, so it all gets cleaned, sized, trimmed and primer pockets swaged so they'll all be consistent. I got a few pounds of Varget from an estate sale I'm going to load up, and some home made hollow points that my brother-in-law swaged using .22LR brass for the jackets and lead wire for the center.

The bullets are remarkably consistent - not more than .4 gr. between any of them, with most of them right at 55 gr.

Interesting to hear that someone does that... How do they group and are you using full power or reduced loads?

Sanders · 09-13-2023, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill3542

Interesting to hear that someone does that... How do they group and are you using full power or reduced loads?

I haven't put them on paper yet, but the ones my BiL has tested in his reloads have shown great performance.

He made the swaging dies on his mini lathe in his garage. I guess you can buy them somewhere online, though.

55chevy · 09-13-2023, 06:13 PM

southern Oregon manufacturer. Corbin swagging dies etc. Link http://www.corbins.com/feedback.htm

drh · 09-13-2023, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill3542

I'm 65 so where trying to get some stuff used up before I kick the bucket.

I'm going to be 66 soon....not sure this is kicking the bucket age, but I guess we never know.

FloridaAKM · 05-05-2024, 11:55 AM

I think I posted this elsewhere in the forum, but I got a bunch of various range brass & all of it other than the CBC brass in 5.56 reloaded well.

The CBC brass had short primer pockets & after swaging them & wire brushing the carbon out of them, there were many primers sticking up above the base. These had the primers removed & all 4k of them had the primer pockets uniformed to the correct dimensions with a vertical mill & a jig for holding the cases.

Everything went well after the primer pocket reaming & that batch of brass is now loaded ammo. Never had that problem before.

RetVet · 05-05-2024, 04:40 PM

I've yet to get my reloader mounted on a bench in my shop since moving. Just not enough time to do everything. Not until I finally decide to retire which is likely within the year, two tops.

MrKalashnikov · 05-05-2024, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetVet

I've yet to get my reloader mounted on a bench in my shop since moving. Just not enough time to do everything. Not until I finally decide to retire which is likely within the year, two tops.

I retired last month @ 68. It's great, wish I would have done it in my early 60's as I originally planned.

RetVet · 05-06-2024, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKalashnikov

I retired last month @ 68. It's great, wish I would have done it in my early 60's as I originally planned.

At 66 I'm ready once I tap into SS very soon

FloridaAKM · 05-08-2024, 11:16 AM

I retired almost 3 years ago come July. Lots of time to do what I wanted till I had a mild stroke. That shut down all the fun for about a year & now it's all back to fun & games.

Funny thing about it was that after I retired, the company started giving out early retirement packages & then a few months later, they started firing people who had any real time there. I still believe that I got out at the right time.

If you paid your dues to SS, you will never reclaim it all, but you will have money to do the things you need to. Putting money in saving 401k, or others will ease the burden if you have expensive hobbies.

09-13-2023, 09:01 AM	#1
bill3542 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 1,710	Working on reloading 223. I got 1/2 dozen different calibers I reload for but this year it's been 223. I did around 400 back in march and just finished another 250 that was free brass from a shooting range. My son has around 400 he wants me to help him with but he really needs to do this himself. Here's what where using. Midway bulk 55 grain FMJ and pointed soft point, CCI primers and AA Data 2200 powder. this stuff was purchased around 20 years back when it was cheap NOS overrun surplus powder. bullets where 47 bucks a 1000. primers around 2.50 a 100. powder was 68 bucks for a 8 pound keg. I'm 65 so where trying to get some stuff used up before I kick the bucket.

09-13-2023, 10:59 AM	#2
Sanders Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 66,557	I've been plugging away at the 1,000+ pieces of .223 brass I've saved up over the years. All range brass of various manufacturers, so it all gets cleaned, sized, trimmed and primer pockets swaged so they'll all be consistent. I got a few pounds of Varget from an estate sale I'm going to load up, and some home made hollow points that my brother-in-law swaged using .22LR brass for the jackets and lead wire for the center. The bullets are remarkably consistent - not more than .4 gr. between any of them, with most of them right at 55 gr. __________________ "The truly dangerous man dresses inconspicuously and is soft- spoken. He walks away from most confrontations. The only time you learn that the truly dangerous man is mad at you is a split second before you die, for he never fights. He only kills. The truly dangerous man knows that fighting is what children do and killing is what men do." - Charley Reese 1986 3

05-05-2024, 04:40 PM	#8
RetVet Statistical Error Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Homeless Posts: 43,702	I've yet to get my reloader mounted on a bench in my shop since moving. Just not enough time to do everything. Not until I finally decide to retire which is likely within the year, two tops. __________________ ^^^ For entertainment purposes. Use only as directed. ^^^ III

09-13-2023, 06:13 PM	#5
55chevy Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central Orygun Posts: 4,399	southern Oregon manufacturer. Corbin swagging dies etc. Link http://www.corbins.com/feedback.htm

05-05-2024, 11:55 AM	#7
FloridaAKM Military Truck Collector Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Florida Posts: 681	I think I posted this elsewhere in the forum, but I got a bunch of various range brass & all of it other than the CBC brass in 5.56 reloaded well. The CBC brass had short primer pockets & after swaging them & wire brushing the carbon out of them, there were many primers sticking up above the base. These had the primers removed & all 4k of them had the primer pockets uniformed to the correct dimensions with a vertical mill & a jig for holding the cases. Everything went well after the primer pocket reaming & that batch of brass is now loaded ammo. Never had that problem before.

05-08-2024, 11:16 AM	#11
FloridaAKM Military Truck Collector Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Florida Posts: 681	I retired almost 3 years ago come July. Lots of time to do what I wanted till I had a mild stroke. That shut down all the fun for about a year & now it's all back to fun & games. Funny thing about it was that after I retired, the company started giving out early retirement packages & then a few months later, they started firing people who had any real time there. I still believe that I got out at the right time. If you paid your dues to SS, you will never reclaim it all, but you will have money to do the things you need to. Putting money in saving 401k, or others will ease the burden if you have expensive hobbies.