.223 Re-Loading Process
This setup is for my plinking ammo for my patrol rifle. It is very different from my precision reloading .308, I don't watch the tolerances as close, I don't care if the powder varies by a 1/10th of a grain either way, I don't care if the bullets are seated exactly identical, I don't care if the trim length varies greatly after sizing. I just need it to work, and this setup does that with fairly minimal effort.
Case Prep
Step 1 - Case Cleaning: Tumble clean brass, in Cabela's tumbler using walnut media and maybe a little Cabela's polish Additive. I mix and match cases for tumbling .222/.45 whatever I want. Sometime a .223 gets stuck in a .45, oh well.
After cleaning I separate the media from the cases, currently by hand with a shaker tray thingy, not very fast, but it is what it is right now.
Cases are then sorted and put into ammo cans for holding till needed. I clean brass when the tumbler is full, I just dump cases in after each range session, match, etc...
Step 2 - Case Trimming: Cases are then put in the Lyman universal trimmer with the power tool attachment. I had a old battery powered drill with a screw driver attachment that works quite well for this. I have a pre measured case to set the trim die to 1.750".
After trimming brass is moved to another ammo can for holding. I sit down during the week and just run brass through the trimmer, I can do about 100-200 in 30-45 minutes, so a few nights a week and I've got a bunch of brass trimmed.
Final Case Prep: I use a RCBS Case Prep Center to finish off the brass
Dillon 550B Stage 3: Bullet Seating
Dillon 550B Stage 4: Crimping, because I use this in a semi-auto rifle, I need to crimp so the bullet doesn't walk in the case and possible cause an over pressure situation.
Final check of Loaded cartridges:
I can load up 200 rounds in about an hour, it takes me another 1/2 hour to case gauge everything. It's a habit I have with my pistol rounds and I can cull any bad loads before they get to the gun and cause potential problem.
This is just my process, not the only way, but it's what works for me right now. I'm sure it will change in the future.
Case Prep
Step 1 - Case Cleaning: Tumble clean brass, in Cabela's tumbler using walnut media and maybe a little Cabela's polish Additive. I mix and match cases for tumbling .222/.45 whatever I want. Sometime a .223 gets stuck in a .45, oh well.
After cleaning I separate the media from the cases, currently by hand with a shaker tray thingy, not very fast, but it is what it is right now.
Cases are then sorted and put into ammo cans for holding till needed. I clean brass when the tumbler is full, I just dump cases in after each range session, match, etc...
Step 2 - Case Trimming: Cases are then put in the Lyman universal trimmer with the power tool attachment. I had a old battery powered drill with a screw driver attachment that works quite well for this. I have a pre measured case to set the trim die to 1.750".
Final Case Prep: I use a RCBS Case Prep Center to finish off the brass
- Flash hole uniformer (Don't bother with .223)
- Small primer pocket cleaner (if I feel like it, usually don't)
- Inside chamfer
- Outside Debur
- Primer Pocket Uniformer (Don't bother for .223 only for .308)
All of these case prep steps are done ahead of time, before I actually need to reload, so that when I'm want to load ammo, I can just grab and go.
SIzing, Priming, Bullet Seating, Crimping
Step 3 - Lube cases with Hornady One Shot spray lube on a large cookie sheet. I member at the club told me that he uses a large box, sprays one side, rolls them around, the sprays the other side. I will put wax paper or something over the cookie tray usually, then spay shake and spray again.
Then wait at least a couple of minutes for the lube to set and I'm ready to load.
Step 4: Priming: Time to load up the Dillon 550 primer tubes, here's the setup:
Here is the Press setup, table on right holds lubed cases ready to grab, bullets in tray on left ready to grab. (I will someday get the bullet tray for the press, (yet another little item that will be worth it when I get it.)
Dillon 550B Stage 1: Decap, Size and Prime
If one slips through, I have been able to feel the resistance in the press and discard that one there. Someday I will need to get a swagging tool.
After sizing the case goes from 1.750 to just a little longer, but still within the 1.760 limit.
Dillon 550B Stage 2: Charge case with Powder
Step 3 - Lube cases with Hornady One Shot spray lube on a large cookie sheet. I member at the club told me that he uses a large box, sprays one side, rolls them around, the sprays the other side. I will put wax paper or something over the cookie tray usually, then spay shake and spray again.
Then wait at least a couple of minutes for the lube to set and I'm ready to load.
Step 4: Priming: Time to load up the Dillon 550 primer tubes, here's the setup:
- Primers into the Primer flip tray
- Shake to taste
- Flip
- Load tubes, I have 3 so that 300 I can have ready to go
- Dump into primer tube on press and get busy.
Here is the Press setup, table on right holds lubed cases ready to grab, bullets in tray on left ready to grab. (I will someday get the bullet tray for the press, (yet another little item that will be worth it when I get it.)
Dillon 550B Stage 1: Decap, Size and Prime
- This stroke full length resize's
- Deprime's Case
- Seats primer on the upstroke.
If one slips through, I have been able to feel the resistance in the press and discard that one there. Someday I will need to get a swagging tool.
After sizing the case goes from 1.750 to just a little longer, but still within the 1.760 limit.
Dillon 550B Stage 2: Charge case with Powder
- I use BL-C(2) and it throws very consistent, within 1/10th
Dillon 550B Stage 3: Bullet Seating
- I place a 55gr FMJ-BT on the case and go. This is why I trim, before I started trimming the cannalure on the bullet would sometime's be seated all the way in the case. With trimming it sits where it is suppose to be and bullets are seated so that I have 1/16th of an inch of clearance in the AR15 Mags.
Dillon 550B Stage 4: Crimping, because I use this in a semi-auto rifle, I need to crimp so the bullet doesn't walk in the case and possible cause an over pressure situation.
Final check of Loaded cartridges:
- Check EVERY loaded cartridge in a GO/NO Dillon .223 Case Gauge
- I'll visually check a couple loaded rounds to make sure they clear an AR15 mag as well
Load up Plastic bins and go have fun
I can load up 200 rounds in about an hour, it takes me another 1/2 hour to case gauge everything. It's a habit I have with my pistol rounds and I can cull any bad loads before they get to the gun and cause potential problem.
This is just my process, not the only way, but it's what works for me right now. I'm sure it will change in the future.