I have purchased a new press and want to start reloading .223 for my AR. Any suggestions on powder/ primer combinations. Any info will be well appreciated.
Win 748, WLP, Processed Brass from Scharch, and the Hornady 55gr FMJ bullets work great for me. I have yet to have one not function properly. Been loading on a 550B for the past year. I use a Lee FCD since I load these for my AR.
Already a few threads on this, but Ramshot TAC is a very popular choice for .223.
It’s less expensive than most of the other good choices and it’s claen and produces very accurate loads.
I use 24.5 grains with a 55 grain fmj bullet and Rem 7 1/2 primers for general purpose and bump it up to 25 grains with a 52 grain Sierra Match KIng.
Other popular powders are the previously mentioned Win 748, Reloader 15, Accurate 2460 and Hornady BLC2, 335, Varget, IMR 4895 ans Vhita Vuori N133.
I’ve tried many of the powders listed above and TAC gets my vote so far.
I’ve use IMR4895 on 5.56 Lake city brass and found that it filled way up and getting almost a compress load! USe the Winchester W748 ball powder and it loads and measure much better.
USe that on both 55 grain FMJ and 62 grain M855 bullets!
Using CCI Military small rifle primers or WInchester Small rifle primers! both works great .
I reload using a Lee turret press with the RCBS electronic powder dropper. the loading and all that is fast! it is the hassle of trimming the brass , cleaning it and somtimes priming can get into some issues becasue a lot of the military brass do have a primer crimp on it! so !have to clean up the burrs in the primer pocket.
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DaveC
TAC is about $3-4 per pound cheaper than W748 and you’ll use less of it.
It’s a ball powder so it meters perfectly and it’s cleaner.
Reloading is about saving money and making more accurate rounds than you can buy.
TAC gives you both.
Kool! I will give RAmshot TAC a try!
DaveC
I’ll throw my two cents in…
Brass: your preference. I prefer lake city brass for my match rifle, and everything else for my SHTF rifle
Powder: TAC is an excellent choice, I use 23.0gr. I use Varget for my match loads. TAC meters extremely well, and is cheaper.
Primers: your preference. I like to use Federal Gold Medal Match 205M for my match loads and anything else (whatever is cheapest) for SHTF loads. I’ve heard of people getting good results with Wolf Russian primers, so I may try those eventually.
Projos: your preference. If you’re just plinking, I’ve had good results with these 55gr FMJ-BT’s(and the prices include shipping): https://secure3.mooseweb.com/montanagoldbullet.com/pricelist.tpl
As far as presses go, you’ll get a million different answers. I’ll never be without my trusty Dillon 550. For dies, I use RCBS extensively with the exception of a Redding competition seater die for my match loads. Make sure and pick up a small base full-length sizer for at least the first sizing of brass to make sure you have no problems with extraction in a semi-auto.
-WRM
Lake city brass,CCI BR primer,24 grains of AA 2230, 62 grain SS109, eats a 2inch hole @200 yards.
This with a cheapo Model one sales 1 in 8 Bull barrel
Dont’ for get H335
I am also interested in TAC…where do you get load data for it?
xxxxx
thanks!
I ran this load in a class this weekend with my 11.5 inch upper. I was the only SBR in the class, and out shot everyone with this load on both days. 
Bullets were Hornady bulk 55 grainers.
I won a couple of boxes of Federal bonded ammo for my effort. 
I use Hornady 55 gr myself. They group better than any other 55 gr FMJ I’ve tried.
Thanks everyone for the load info. I am waiting for my dies to come in so I have been busy preparing brass to get started. I have been having a little trouble finding TAC powder. Any Suggestions???
My loads are hunting loads (deer…and yes its legal here).
I have found Reloder 15 to be the best (most accurate, consistent, clean) for my uses.
26 grains pf Reloder 15
Winchester brass
Fed. 205M primers
Barnes 62 grain TSX bullet
OAL 2.26 (or mag length…each rifle has a sweet spot here)
10 shot, 100 yard group measured 1.25 inches.
2,900 fps
That same load at an OAL of 2.27 will do 1 inch at 100 yards 2990 fps…but thats pushing the limits of reliability…almost too long for the mags.
Compressed maximum charge…start at 24 grains and work up
Did you try Powder Valley?
I agree about using Ram Shot TAC powder. Much cleaner than WW748, and about 10% less expensive because you use less per round, and it’s cheaper per grain. I also load 24.5 gns. with a WW Small Rifle Primer (SRP) and 55 Gn. Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail with Cannelure (FMJBTw/C) bullet. For plinking, and CQB training find the cheapest bullet out there. It won’t matter a bit.
I also am a big fan of Scharch 1 shot Military processed 5.56mm brass. It comes to you sized, decapped, trimmed, deburred and tumbled clean for about $77 per 1,000. You can also get your bullets there as well. I think they offer free shipping on orders over $70.00, but you need to go to their site and check. www.scharch.com
Brass: Lake City, Winchester, Remington, WCC
Bullet: Hornady 55gr FMJBT
Primer: Winchester small rifle
Powder: 25.0gr H335
Good info above!
Here’s my general purpose ball load:
LC brass
25.2 gr. AA2230
Hornady 55 FMJ BT w/c
Remington 7 1/2
In my barrels it clocks about 100 fps less than Nato spec loads, which to me is about perfect, good safety margin and less wear on everything in general. Runs great in my shorties.
Match/serious loads I use AA2520 and Hornady 75’s (not AMAX).
That’s my approach too. I dialed in my old WW748 loads at exactly that… 100 fps slower than NATO.