Thread: Getting started reloading 223

Hey fellas

I'm looking to start reloading 223. I've got a 22 inch 1:9 twist barrel. So far I've picked up that my best weight range will be 60 to 69gr. I'm wondering what powder you guys would recommend me going with? And should I go with the cheapest small rifle primers I can find?

Any load advice would be greatly appreciated, even pointing me in the right direction.

You can't go wrong with ar2206h it just works. Winchester 748 is also tried and true. Pick projectile to suit your intended game species,look in manual and just get into it. I don't hot rod my loads and over the years have had very very few issues. 24.5 GRN of 2206h under a 50-55 GRN projectile has been my go to load for twenty eight years.

Hornady 73ELDMs and 75BTHPs worked well in my 1-9" and are easy to find.
2206H, 2208, 8208 and Benchmark 2 will work with a wide range of projectile weights.
Find decent primers, Fioccis are cheap but show pressure signs with book loads in a couple rifles I've used, where as White River, CCI and Federal small rifle primers work great.

Oh and the ADI website provides load data for the powders I suggested, very handy

Amen to what MD said
Personally I use 25 gr of 2206h, but I think 223 is a bit like 308, it’s pretty easy to load for.
Beware though, reloading is addictive

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

You can't go wrong with ar2206h it just works. Winchester 748 is also tried and true. Pick projectile to suit your intended game species,look in manual and just get into it. I don't hot rod my loads and over the years have had very very few issues. 24.5 GRN of 2206h under a 50-55 GRN projectile has been my go to load for twenty eight years.

Thanks MD. I'll have a look and give them a go. No intentions here to try and push the loads, I want my barrel to last a while haha. I can always overtime play aeound with projectile weights and see what ends up performing the best and sticking with that.

Cheers fellas

Originally Posted by Deanohit

Hornady 73ELDMs and 75BTHPs worked well in my 1-9" and are easy to find.
2206H, 2208, 8208 and Benchmark 2 will work with a wide range of projectile weights.
Find decent primers, Fioccis are cheap but show pressure signs with book loads in a couple rifles I've used, where as White River, CCI and Federal small rifle primers work great.

Sweet I'll keep that in mind when looking for primers. I've always favored CCI ans Federal when it comes to rimfire ammunition, so good to know they make good centrefire primers.

Agree 2206h would be very good, but can be difficult to get.
I'm using 2208 works good and more common.

2208, BM2, 2206h and a few others all go well in my Ruger Ranch II, 16in, 1:8 twist. Had no issues with Fiocchi, Murom, Energetics, Servicios, Federal, CCI. Natch of Winchester had enough pin hole bursts to etch my bolt face. Mine likes 62gn to 75gn. I mostly shoot 62 Hornady Interlock softpoints. Goats, hares and rabbits to date. Easy to load for, very accurate.