Starting out .223 Reloading .... is now as good a time as any ?

[DVS1]

Apart from tweaking my own ammo how I want i just enjoy the quiet and tranquil surroundings when reloading and find it most relaxing.

Don't think I've ever sat and worked out much each round costs me but another nice touch is if you get a spontaneous invite or thought to go shooting after opening hrs you can make up some freedom seeds at any time day or night

 

[ChesterP]

Maybe read the OP's question again, 53/55 grain ammo... 69 grain TMK's were hardly raining down from the sky or being found in the bargain bin the last time I checked..

OP might have a less fussy rifle as well!

I mentioned that one of the reasons or advantages was in getting tailored precision loads. With mine, the best was using 69gr but I've also done very well with 55gr, better then the factory loaded 55's I've tried, so there's nothing wrong on what was written. I buy 55 Vmax bullets from the bargain bin or at least a few months back at £24/100. You're making assumptions on what the OP has or doesn't have but most who reload would agree that an advantage is tailored loads. If that doesn't matter for your use then fine but he specifically mentioned vermin control where precision at range does matter. Only he can make the decision based on how much he shoots and what the loads are used for. We're just providing some real world costs and examples. We're not trying to make decisions for him.

 

[njc110381]

I think it's worth doing. There are several ways to go about home loading. A cheap Lee press, dies, priming tool and a set of scales are basically all you need to get started. They don't cost much second hand.

People who say it doesn't save money - well maybe not a lot if you shoot Prvi ammo and your gun likes it. As soon as you step up to the £30+ per box stuff you're onto a winner. It'll take some time, but you'll never lose out. Don't forget that there's every chance a used press and dies will be worth more than you pay for them now in a few years, so it's essentially free. Folk often overlook the fact that tools are assets, they're money in the bank rather than money lost.

 

[gixer1]

Buy a Lee handloader if you are just loading the odd 50-100 now and then - that way it’s very little cost wise and you still have the benefit of controlled rounds. I assume you have brass already so that should last a while and you will get bullets, primers and powder that will last a long time if you buy 1000, a 1kg tub and a couple of hundred bullets.

Regards,
Gixer

 

[25 Sharps]

I load .223 for 30p a shot . I buy bullet heads per 1000 for £150 , using speer 52g hollow points and 55g soft points , fedral primers and vhit 130

Where are you getting federal primers, everywhere I look has no stock or prices higher than £7.50/100?

Most people have little to no primers available?

I’m loading .223 AI for under 10p a round but most people won’t do it. The same as when those Speer go out of stock the new stock will be far more expensive.

 

[Bowland blades]

Nobody in their right mind would reload .223 rem to save money ! As regards shooting quarry . Getting what you want and when you want it involves stocking up and a fair old amount on kit , meanwhile 223 rem can be bought pretty inexpensively . Shooting say 20 rounds a month 12 months a year , it will take ages to recover your expenses . 20 a week every week is will still take a considrable time to re-coup your costs ( this is without alreading having the press and such ) .
Rifles are rarely fed cast lead loads and a 223 would be 23-30 grains of powder and the brass is floating either side of £1 each.
Recently added a 223 myself and found it better economically to buy factory ammo initially to salvage the brass for re-use.
A commited reloader myself , its part of the sport to me ( the reloading) and i run various different rifles and i shoot here at home plus all over the UK but if i was just shooting 223 rem with stuff i could get at the gunshop - then i would

 

[Bowland blades]

I think it's worth doing. There are several ways to go about home loading. A cheap Lee press, dies, priming tool and a set of scales are basically all you need to get started. They don't cost much second hand.

People who say it doesn't save money - well maybe not a lot if you shoot Prvi ammo and your gun likes it. As soon as you step up to the £30+ per box stuff you're onto a winner. It'll take some time, but you'll never lose out. Don't forget that there's every chance a used press and dies will be worth more than you pay for them now in a few years, so it's essentially free. Folk often overlook the fact that tools are assets, they're money in the bank rather than money lost.

If i sold my kit , it would mean the end of hand loading under UK law or similar and hence there would be no buyers and no value of worth . why make rounds as cheap as possible ? The factory ammo today is actually pretty good , I paid £24:95 per box of 20 rounds 50 grain V max super performance and what price is privi ?
Still i am a commited re-loader / hand loader ( rifle and shotgun) because i will shoot less popular calibers and shoot a lot and often use ammo the RFDs dont carry in stock . A lot of my shooting mates have packed in the reloading because £1 a round is the smallest cost in going out shooting Vermin or deer even ten miles from home, with a popular round . Shoot say a 7mm rem mag ? definitely reload !
Add the kit as and when because i guess more are packing in reloading than starting up now ?
Factory ammo has certainly improved now in quality

 

[Tim1989]

Where are you getting federal primers, everywhere I look has no stock or prices higher than £7.50/100?































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Most people have little to no primers available?































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































I’m loading .223 AI for under 10p a round but most people won’t do it. The same as when those Speer go out of stock the new stock will be far more expensive.































































































































































































































































Where are you getting federal primers, everywhere I look has no stock or prices higher than £7.50/100?































































































































































































































































Most people have little to no primers available?































































































































































































































































I’m loading .223 AI for under 10p a round but mostI peoe won’t do it. The same as when those Speer go out of stock the new stock wIill be far more expensive.















































































I get my federal primers from Cambridge gun shop just checked my receipt they were actually 100£ / 1000 , I've got remington small rifle aswell from fenland rural sports £75/ 1000

 

[jimo]

Buy a Lee handloader if you are just loading the odd 50-100 now and then - that way it’s very little cost wise and you still have the benefit of controlled rounds. I assume you have brass already so that should last a while and you will get bullets, primers and powder that will last a long time if you buy 1000, a 1kg tub and a couple of hundred bullets.

Regards,
Gixer

Or cheaper still buy a Lee Classic Loader for £40 if your saving your own brass.

 

[gixer1]

Or cheaper still buy a Lee Classic Loader for £40 if your saving your own brass.

That’s what I meant…same thing (in my head!)

 

[jimo]

That’s what I meant…same thing (in my head!)

I wasn’t sure. Thought you were talking about the hand press after the thread a few days ago.

 

[BenBhoy]

Not wanting to highjack but I'm in similar boat but my flavour of choice is 204, which generally speaking factory is harder to source with far less choice - would that make people more inclined to start reloading? Cheers

 

[Essexsussex]

Buy a Lee handloader if you are just loading the odd 50-100 now and then - that way it’s very little cost wise and you still have the benefit of controlled rounds. I assume you have brass already so that should last a while and you will get bullets, primers and powder that will last a long time if you buy 1000, a 1kg tub and a couple of hundred bullets.

Regards,
Gixer

Exactly what I was going to say. Very much enjoyed slinging together a sub 1” load for my 7mm rm when up in Scotland last week with nothing more than the supplied powder scoop and a hammer. That was off a bipod so likely could have got them a bit closer if I tried harder.
Absolute beautiful simplicity. Brass lasts ages as only neck sizing too.

 

[Essexsussex]

That’s what I meant…same thing (in my head!)

I’ve just noticed that Lee have significantly reduced their range of calibres. 7mm rm and 6.5 swede don’t seem to be produced now, I’m pleased I have them.

 

[Lancaster]

Where are you getting federal primers, everywhere I look has no stock or prices higher than £7.50/100?

Most people have little to no primers available?

I’m loading .223 AI for under 10p a round but most people won’t do it. The same as when those Speer go out of stock the new stock will be far more expensive.

How do you do that, bullet, primer and powder all for less than 10p a pop?
Loads for my .222, using less powder than a .223, costs 17p for powder alone??

 

[gixer1]

Or cheaper still buy a Lee Classic Loader for £40 if your saving your own brass.

That’s what I meant…same thing (in my head!k

I’ve just noticed that Lee have significantly reduced their range of calibres. 7mm rm and 6.5 swede don’t seem to be produced now, I’m pleased I have them.

yes, I noticed that - I like them that much I bought one to try and have it machined out to make creedmoor rounds.

 

[Bowland blades]

Not wanting to highjack but I'm in similar boat but my flavour of choice is 204, which generally speaking factory is harder to source with far less choice - would that make people more inclined to start reloading? Cheers

In the UK if you dont handload then buy only the usual suspects to be in stock . This changes depending on where you live, check out with your local dealers as the question

 

[User00040]

How do you do that, bullet, primer and powder all for less than 10p a pop?
Loads for my .222, using less powder than a .223, costs 17p for powder alone??

Would not worry too much.

Most fail to account for inflation when announcing how much they paid for stuff years ago.

Yes, it might have 'only' been £5 back then but that was your take home pay for the week too!

 

[25 Sharps]

Most are

How do you do that, bullet, primer and powder all for less than 10p a pop?
Loads for my .222, using less powder than a .223, costs 17p for powder alone??

As I have posted before I got lucky and picked up some clearance powders at £6/lb I also got some .223 46 gr HP in the same clearance, £2.20/100 and S&B primers at £35/100, GGG cases free from other club members.

So

3.5 p for primer
1.72 p for 20.3 gr of powder
2.2 p for the bullet

So 7.5 p a pop!

The aim was to get a downloaded load to replace the hornet if I decide to sell it.

Tested different lengths tonight and 2.110” gave a 4 shot .389” group , 2545 fps so 670 ft-lb or thereabouts, so I think I’ve succeeded .

 

[25 Sharps]

Would not worry too much.

Most fail to account for inflation when announcing how much they paid for stuff years ago.

Yes, it might have 'only' been £5 back then but that was your take home pay for the week too!

My point was I can load for that but I don’t tell other people they can because everything is very expensive. If you read my posts you’ll know this is the case.

PS I’m nowhere near old enough to have been buying primers at £10/1000!