The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Hi all,

Looking for some advise on re loading .223

So I have purchased my 1st .223 a very nice Remington 700 VTR 1 in 9 in a magpul stock. Sunday will be my 1st opportunity to test it so I have purchased some Hornady 55gr frontier ammunition as I do not currently own reloading equipment and it was what the previous owner recommended.

My question however, is it worth the investment in reloading equipment for this caliber? Eventually I will have larger calibers so it will be far more cost effective. I like the idea of home loading as its another factor/ enjoyment that comes with the hobby. However excluding the initial outlay of the equipment its self. The actual material cost seems more than what I can pay for a factory round? Now I know that the powder will go along way and that a case can be used multiple times however I'm just trying to gauge what others peoples thoughts are for this caliber? A few people have mentioned I will get better consistency however I wasn't 100% if that was true? More versatility I suppose? However I imagine factory rounds are going to be very consistent.

Thanks in advance
Steve

Depends. What are you going to be using the rifle for vermin control, target shooting , competition.

if you are using it with expanding ammo, well worth it IMHO at the moment I reload for pest control at around 25p a pop, due to some careful buying of components, target ammo? the cost saving may not be as much, but how about consistancy and accuracy? all depends on what you are shooting and how.

When asked an apparently simple question one of my law lecturers would always answer with "It depends"

Without the full facts and circumstances the answer could be no or yes because there are so many variables.

I shoot targets only, and I reload 6x47,6.5x47, 6BR, and 223. For me, making up the ammunition and experimenting is an integral part of the fun, and it saves money.

Pete

For hunting ammo I think it would be cheaper per round by far but how many you would need to shoot before it becomes a saving after taking the cost of equipment in to account is the biggest consideration.

If target shooting then what disciplines?
For McQueens or Highpower or similar style of shooting, then yes, it will give a much more competitive and consistent round.
For CSR, ETR or silhouette style shooting then there are some great cheap factory ammunitions available, the GGG is more than competitive at these targets.

I don't reload to save money (although I do save now the cost of equipment is negligible once factored over the many years I have been doing it) I do it because I like the task, I like the development of the rounds and I like the control I have over the finished round.

So I will only be using the rifle for target shooting out to 250yds at the moment. Not competitively, just as a hobby. I would like to get into the more competitive side of things however, I thought it best to crawl before run.

I like the idea of home loading as previously stated, as its a continuation of the hobby when I am not at the range. However as we all know shooting isn't the cheapest of pass times and as every round I throw out the barrel only has 1 purpose, to punch a hole in a piece of paper, cost does come into play.

I appreciate the feed back so far, I will speak to my local gunsmith who stocks a lot of reloading products and get a price together for a basic reloading package and see if its justifiable. I will keep hold of my spent brass as thats 1 less thing to buy when I come to reloading. Out of curiosity how many times would you say you could reload a .223 case? Or is that another can of worms depending on what type of bullet you use, how hot the load is etc?

Cheers Steve

I use Lapua 223 cases, and I reckon on getting 10-15 goes out of them. I do anneal them after 4-5.......I started doing this after getting split necks, and it solved the problem.
I shoot SMK 80 grain bullets at around 2890 fps from a 30" 1:8 barrel.

Pete

I always give the same advice. Save your brass and see how things develop.

I note PPU .223 factory ammo at £86 a hundred.. reloading must be cheaper.. the brass seems to last a long time..

Mike95