Need reloading advice for .223

[WashPa]

I've just obtained a Handi in .223 as a Christmas present for my son and have no experience reloading ammuntion for a break-open rifle such as this.   Will regular .223 dies be OK or would a small base dies be preferred?  Is neck sizing OK or should cases be full length resized?  And so on.  I would welcome any advice/tips you may have to offer.  Thanks, Jeff

[quickdtoo]

Hey Jeff, welcome aboard!  I don't handload for the .223.....yet! But someone will jump in here for ya soon, I'm sure. :wink:

[Paul5388]

Welcome aboard WashPa!  

I have been loading for the .223 for almost a year.  I normally use a Lee collet neck size die that comes in their deluxe die set.  Every once in a while, they may need to be full length resized.

After this length of time loading for it, I still can't beat the Win white box 45 gr "varminter" that are about $12/40 at Wallie World.  :oops:   It may just be my gun, but I haven't succeded yet.  My handloaded .22 Hornet will out shoot my handloaded .223 Rem, both in Handi rifles.

[ping925]

I use 23.5 grains of BLC-2 behind a 55 gr JHP.  I can't duplicate the MV of the cheap S&B you can buy for less than $4 almost anywhere.  The most important thing is to make sure ALL case lubricant is removed before you fire them.  I carry a brass rod to the range for the occasional sticky round.

[SGD]

I full length size my brass now.  I used to next size only and got a few cases that stuck, now no stuck cases.   My load is 22 grains of Vectan Tu2000, a Remington 50 gr PLHP, winchester small rifle primer, and winchester brass.   Last time a shot this I got a five shot group that was less than an inch and got 3300 fps from my ultra.  I use Tu2000 because it is real cheap from Graf and I use it in my 45-70.

[jeff223]

the Varget and bl-c(2) are great powders for the 223.i got away from Varget and i now use the bl-c(2).bl-c(2) meters so much better than the Varget i  no longer use Varget.its a big time savings for me at the loading bench.accuracy is about the same with both powders.i always full length size my brass for any handi rifle i load for.brass for the 223 is cheap so thats not a problem.i also seat my bullets a long ways out,the OAL is at 2.5 for my 223 ammo.i have used many differant bullets and out of my gun ,the Hornady 55gr Vmax and the Nosler 55gr BT bullets are the best.i am shooting a max load and the gun shoots the best there,you may find your gun does too.when i was working a load up for my gun the hotter i loaded it the better it shot and this is not uncommen  for a 223.

good luck

[Fred M]

Jeff223 has all the bases covered. He is right about full sizing for the Handi in particular, since there is some stretch in the action. Unless you obtain a constant head space of .003" accuracy will fall off. That means that the shoulder must be set back each time you reload.

Neck sizing for the Handi is not very productive to accuracy in a Handi unless you have a bushing die that sets the shoulder back at the same time. BR shooters use dies like that that will move the shoulder back .001".

You may have a bit of trouble to get that perfect set back. If you have a lot of difference in a fired case and a full sized case at  shoulder or the forward body you can polish the die out a few thou. I did that with the 25-06. The die would size the case to .436 at the shoulder while the fired case measured .443. I polished the die to size the case to .441.

[handirifle]

Washpa
I have always full length resized and stuck cases are a thing of the past for me and my UV.

I seat to factory specs and 27.2gr of H335 behind a 40gr Hornady V-max give me 3 shot groups I can cover with a dime at 100yds.

H335 meters very well too.  haven't checked mzzle velocity on these loads yet though.

[safetysheriff]

I'd go with RCBS full-length dies, use a good synthetic oil for the case lubricant, and polish the expander ball BRIEFLY with 600 grit machinists sand paper to smooth it out.    That lessens drag of the expander on the case neck when the ram is being lowered.    

The synthetic motor oil is much slipperier than regular oil which will leave a case stuck in a die.    The oil and the fouling come off in a vinegar rinse with two tablespoons of salt in it per quart of vinegar, per the NRA.   The cases are washed in hot water and Ajax Lemon dish soap.  

These are the things I use to get good loads that will readily chamber in my Handi' without beating up the brass cases.    I also agree with BL-C(2) or the bulk wc-846 replacement.   I get good results with either Win' WSR' or Rem'  7 1/2br primers, and Hornady bullets.    I really like Rem' nickel-plated brass.    

Hope your results are decent, too.

SS'

[PA-Joe]

Turn your 223 into a 22 hornet. Check some of the Gopher Loads from this site:

http://www.jamescalhoon.com/

[Paul5388]

PA-Joe,

I tried Calhoon's "gopher" loads and other reduced loads and still didn't get but 1 1/2" at 100 yards at the best.

[ScatterGunner]

hi washpa -

if you had a bolt gun you could buy a Lee Loader and load up some pretty cheap ammo. i've used ball C2 mostly for the 223, although i've also used some of the faster IMR's too like 3031 or 4227.

for my handi, i picked up a set of Lee FL dies that size good enough to where i havent had any stuck cases and with irons sights, shoot better than i can aim. the dies came with a collet neck sizer too which seem to work but i have a couple mini-14's and one remington bolt gun so i full length everything now so they function in all the guns.

you should also check out some of the bulk ammo suppliers and manufacturers. i picked up 1000 rounds of sellier and bellot 55 gr fmjbt's for peanuts, almost as cheap as buying brass. all my guns shoot that and the american eagle stuff from federal equally or better than i shoot too. but, the sellier and bellot stuff is made in some godless communist country like checko-herzo-bozno-kazaka-cuberstan.

i am sure i will get a few corrections about this.

if your  handi has a smooth chamber, i'll bet the Lee Loader would work just fine !

sg