advice on first time reloading components for 223

[PlinkIt]

Well I have all the tools needed and enough reading material on reloading to keep me busy for a month straight..

Now does anyone have any suggestion for a first time components list?..

loading for a new FNHerstal TSR 223 with 1-9 twist 20" barrel..

suggestions on bullet choice, bullet grain, powder, and charge weight all appreciated

any and all suggestions are appreciated though thanks for the help folks its nice to have so many people willing to share experience!

 

[Warpspeed]

So a 1-9 twist will probably like the lighter bullets best. I'd suggest the SMK 52gr or the GameKings in 55gr.

Powder ? What can you find ? H322, VV N133, Reloader 15

 

[PlinkIt]

So a 1-9 twist will probably like the lighter bullets best. I'd suggest the SMK 52gr or the GameKings in 55gr.

Powder ? What can you find ? H322, VV N133, Reloader 15

really have no clue what all I can manage to get my hands on as of yet.. the two local stores that carry powder were out I called a much larger store this evening and basically said what I was wanting to load and they said they had enough powder that was delivered today alone to fill the back of my pickup.. so I figured I needed to get some opinions on what type of powder I should really be looking for before I drive up there.

I would hate to waste my first few purchases on powders that are very temperature sensitive or extremely charge weight sensitive ... or really anything extremely touchy.. I mean this will be my first attempts at reloading I most likely be better off with some forgiving components..

 

[JRM83]

H-335 is the classic choice with 55gr bullets. Nosler lists it as their most accurate powder with 55gr bullets in their load manual.

 

[Smithcollector]

what's the maximum range you're intending to shoot? That barrel will handle heavier bullets, I like 69gr Sierras over Varget or R15 for up to 600 yards.

 

[Victor N TN]

55 grain FMJ
21.7 IMR 4198
Lake City brass
3060 fps

from my AR shoots 28 round group 1/1/8" at 100 yards from a rest and bags.

 

[samnev]

52 gr Sierra SMK's or 52 gr Hornady Match HPBT over 26.2 grains of W748 have given me excellent results in all my 223/556's. With CCI #41 primers in gas guns.

 

[elfster1234]

60grn vmax all the way

 

[rduckwor]

I like the 52Gr Noslers with H335. H335 is becoming slightly more available locally. If you can get some LC brass, and don't run really hot loads, it will last a long time. You will have to deal with the swage on the primer pocket once, but after that no more. Start low and work your way up in charge weights.

The OCW method works well for me.

Good Luck,

 

[Splat]

Go to the store, see what powders they have in stock. Get on your smart phone (if you have one) and go to Hodgdon's or other powder manufactor's website and look for loads with the powder they have in stock and the bullet weights you plan on shooting. But I wouldn't waste time because powder tends to disappear real quick like.

 

[sakobob]

69 smk's and varget or Rl-15.

 

[Jerry m]

I have found that my 1-9 likes 52 gr, 69 gr, reloads and 77 gr SMK BH reloads. It doesn't like 75 gr OTM BH reloads. I do not reload ball ammunition, it to cheap.

Good luck

Jerry

 

[OF&B]

For a first time reloading shopping list, I suggest:
Hornady 55 grain soft points. These are ~9 $/100 and more accurate than similarly priced FMJs. They also have better terminal performance.
For temperature insensitive powders, Benchmark would be my first choice. It's extruded, but fine enough to drop well from a powder measure. H335 is another popular powder for this loading. It will be more temperature sensitive, but should give a little higher velocities than Benchmark. I have a bunch of these loaded up with H4198 because I found an 8# jug of it locally, but H4198 is really too fast for this application and could get a new guy in trouble.
After you get that down and want something more accurate with longer legs, the 77 grain Sierra match king and varget work well with my 1:9 twist MVP.
I use a lot of the Remington and CCI primers in 223.

 

[7mm0late]

IMR 4320 is also a good choice, and is typically easier to find.

 

[PlinkIt]

Thanks guys For the insight, made a bit of a drive today and found some win748 h322 and varget now the fun begins

 

[Juma]

Get an 8 twist [Tikka T3] and load up Barnes 55gr TTSX.Nothing will get away from you. Lighten the trigger to the end of the screw. Breaks about 2lb. Makes a huge difference.Otherwise buy an X Bolt and do same to the trigger with same bullets.Use BM2. Magical powder.