Thread: So thinking about pottering around with 223 reloading

Nothing serious, 50 rounds here, 50 rounds there, just to see if I can tighten up on target shooting - to see if the misses are me or the factory ammo

I already reload in 9mm on a Square Deal, so have a few components, and understand the requirements, but thinking about just getting something like a Lee single stage for $50 with dies, etc separately. Or one of the Lee Anniversary kits for $200. Any thoughts/recommendations/tips/things to really stay away from ?

It's just an idle thought at the moment but I keep wondering what if . . .

Kscott

Check out the Classic Lee Loader, bottom right on this page.

Presses

They will be perfect for what you want to do and very inexpensive too.

I have a dozen or so in different calibres and have tested them with reloads against my presses and dies.

On paper you will not be able to tell the difference.

However the downside is they are a little slower to load with but for 50 rounds they will be fine.

Here's a you tube video on how it's done.
Only thing I do different is I weigh the powder or use my power thrower instead of the powder dipper.
Reloading with a Lee Loader - YouTube

Cheers
Pete

Brillant ! Thanks for the info.

its a bit more money, but I find the lee classic cast press really good.
im sure you will improve your group size.

The addiction has started I find the basic Lee press is fine for both 9mm and 223. I'm suspicious that it stretches a bit on some bigger stuff like 308s

Oh it has banged out another 200 rounds tonight while wondering if the addiction will have the same cause and effect - I shoot to reload !

I started off with a Lee Loader in 223, works really well. I also didn't dip my loads.

Moved on to a press due to wanting to load for my 270WSM.

Be very carefully with reloading, you will spend a lot of time and most thoughts and effort in your life being based on loading ammo.


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I have been researching all things reloading this week... more confused than ever now

So will add a couple of quick questions to this thread

Dies... go for the ones that need no lube?

Originally Posted by moonhunt

I have been researching all things reloading this week... more confused than ever now

So will add a couple of quick questions to this thread

Dies... go for the ones that need no lube?

Moonhunt.

The dies that need no lube have carbide inserts in the sizing die.
These carbide sizing dies are usually only found in Pistol Calibres.

Go for the dies that you can afford.
Lee RGB dies are excellent value for money and will last a lifetime if you look after them.

Forster Bench Rest dies are also very good dies that will last you a lifetime if you look after them.
However they are more than three times the price of Lee RGB dies and unless your shooting serious competitions you wont notice any difference on the Deer.

Cheers
Pete

Spoke to Petone gun shop today, just making some general inquires

Lee loader only available in 45/70 270 and Hornet , rest all sold

GO FOR THE LEE DE-LUX DIE SET THE KNECK SIZEING DIE DOES NOT NEED LUB BUT I HAVE FOUND IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO USE LUB. I HAVE REDDING, FORSTER AND LEE DIES AND ALWAYS COME BACK TO RUN OUT AND CAN SAY THE LEE CAN STAY WITH THE REST HAVING SAID THAT FOR TARGET SHOOTING ALWAYS USE THE READING

Update - grabbed the Lee Anniversary Kit and Lee Deluxe Rifle Die set from Reloaders as I had some store credit with them. Learned a quick tough lesson on trying to deprime milsurp 5.56 cases not 223 oh well, life would be boring if everything in life went perfectly. Because my eyesight is slowly going for reading small fine print and I'm holding off getting my eyes checked and glasses ! Haha, but yeah have learnt that lesson. But otherwise things seem to be going well.

Instructions on the Collect Neck Sizer die in the kit made me laugh :
Screw the sizer die in until it contacts the shell plate, plus one more turn. The next paragraph we suggest the die be screwed until the die contacts the shell holder, plus 2 FULL TURNS (their emphasis not mine). Not crimping at this stage, just using the seating die.

Anyway, looking for some fun with some Vmax and Nosler varmints, and making up various combinations to see how well they can shoot. Quite keen to bust further than last years' 319m bunnie with good ol' Hornady Training Ammo (ahh back in the day when it was available to buy).

q: bullet OAL sets to find accurate OAL - really worth it ?? Seems $89 to use just once on a rifle to find out the OAL a bit steep. Handy if in 10 years I have 20 rifles for sure, but . . . .

If you are going to do milsurp stuff I'd recommend getting a Lee Universal Decapping die for $25. The whole thing is cheaper than the decapping shaft assembly for sizing dies but is a lot stronger. It adds another step but in between I clean the brass in a $50 ultrasonic cleaner. Makes the rest of the process a lot cleaner and easier on the sizing dies. You could always just slosh the brass around in an empty yoghurt container of hot water and citric acid from the supermarket to get the same result.

re seating depth measurement.

you can do it just as well if not better with a lightly sized hacksaw split well deburd fired case(to find the lands)

to record your seating depth an oal length is as good as any imho as long as you average it.

lead tip vary far more than plastic in tip to ogive measurement-

Cheers ta, might give it a go. Gadgetman, turns out of all the brass I had in the ice cream container 8 or so were milsurp, the rest are Hornady from the 55gr SP Hornady training ammo I shot.

It was also a reminder to me I'm kidding myself that my eyesight is fantastic anymore