first time loading .223

trigger45 · June 16, 2011, 09:30 AM

do i need to seperate brass? got rem f.c. and pmc. military. do i treat fc and pmc like military brass? is blc-2 a good powder to start with? i have 300 60gr bthp hornady.

Tuzo · June 16, 2011, 09:38 AM

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.

Jim243 · June 16, 2011, 07:55 PM

For a 60 grain 223, I would suggest H-4895 it always worked well for me. Another powder would be H335 but I only use that for 55 grain or less.

Jim

tobnpr · June 16, 2011, 08:02 PM

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.

B-RAD · June 16, 2011, 08:06 PM

To many variables, with no info

What is your barrel twist?
What is your barrel length?

grumpa72 · June 16, 2011, 08:43 PM

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!

4runnerman · June 16, 2011, 09:14 PM

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)

CherokeeT · June 17, 2011, 09:38 AM

To answer your powder question - BL-C2 will work fine. Now, your gun may not like the load but its a fine start. I like H-335 myself. Consult your load manuals for specifics.

603Country · June 17, 2011, 12:59 PM

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).

CherokeeT · June 17, 2011, 01:22 PM

I too have used AA2230 with good results, I just like H335 better. Another alternative that shows promise for me is TAC.

NWPilgrim · June 17, 2011, 01:36 PM

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.

Bamashooter · June 17, 2011, 09:52 PM

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 · June 19, 2011, 10:07 AM

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.

hooligan1 · June 19, 2011, 02:25 PM

W-748 is what we've been trying, and so far, the juries still out.

B-RAD · June 19, 2011, 03:02 PM

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.

June 16, 2011, 09:30 AM	#1
trigger45 Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 1999 Location: TEXAS,USA Posts: 322	first time loading .223 do i need to seperate brass? got rem f.c. and pmc. military. do i treat fc and pmc like military brass? is blc-2 a good powder to start with? i have 300 60gr bthp hornady. __________________ 5.56x45, .243win, .308win,8x57mm, 9x19mm,.45acp, .357mag,9x18mm .380acp, .410, .50bp, 12ga. I would like to see a modern 7x57and 8x57 in my safe.

June 16, 2011, 07:55 PM	#3
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	For a 60 grain 223, I would suggest H-4895 it always worked well for me. Another powder would be H335 but I only use that for 55 grain or less. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

June 16, 2011, 08:06 PM	#5
B-RAD Junior member Join Date: June 16, 2011 Location: Right behind you Posts: 23	To many variables, with no info What is your barrel twist? What is your barrel length? Last edited by B-RAD; June 19, 2011 at 03:02 PM.

June 16, 2011, 09:14 PM	#7
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	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) __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

June 17, 2011, 09:38 AM	#8
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 273	To answer your powder question - BL-C2 will work fine. Now, your gun may not like the load but its a fine start. I like H-335 myself. Consult your load manuals for specifics. __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

June 16, 2011, 09:38 AM	#2
Tuzo Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 797	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.

June 16, 2011, 08:02 PM	#4
tobnpr Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 4,556	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.

June 16, 2011, 08:43 PM	#6
grumpa72 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2009 Posts: 487	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!

June 17, 2011, 12:59 PM	#9
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,996	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).

June 17, 2011, 01:22 PM	#10
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 273	I too have used AA2230 with good results, I just like H335 better. Another alternative that shows promise for me is TAC. __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

June 17, 2011, 01:36 PM	#11
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	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. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison

June 17, 2011, 09:52 PM	#12
Bamashooter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2010 Posts: 1,860	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.

June 19, 2011, 10:07 AM	#13
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	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. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

June 19, 2011, 02:25 PM	#14
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	W-748 is what we've been trying, and so far, the juries still out. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

June 19, 2011, 03:02 PM	#15
B-RAD Junior member Join Date: June 16, 2011 Location: Right behind you Posts: 23	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.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search