Stop listening to whoever told you to only neck size.Despite a few decades of shooting and 6 years of saving my brass (thanks Hillary Clinton for convincing me), I finally got into hand loading. The main reason is to learn and be able to develop a load for our 600 - 1000 yard range. My plan is to reload for one of my 223 rifles (Ruger American Predator with 22" barrel) and my Howa - KRG Bravo in 308. Since large rifle primers are unobtainium, the decision to load 223 was made for me! I acquired a rock chucker supreme kit for ~$280 and a bunch of other tools such as dies from local shop (Mace Sports, Mebane NC). I'm still waiting on a Hornady headspace comparator kit which should be helpful to figure out how much shoulder bump is required, assuming I continue to use the FL dies.
My first load was 223 rem with the following:
-mixed once-fired brass, full length sized and trimmed to 1.760", de-crimped, etc
-CCI #400 primers
-Sierra matchking 69gr BTHP
-Varget powder, charges were 23.5, 24.0, 24.5 and 25.0 grains - Lyman manual lists 26 grains as max charge
-COAL 2.260" - barely fits in STANAG magazine
Today I took the Ruger predator to 100 yard range and was absolutely astounded by the performance. Prior to my handload groups I shot factory Federal GMM (which has the same bullet) that grouped at 0.7" (4 shots). At the end I shot WWB 55 gr FMJ which performed surprisingly well with 1.4" 5-shot group. My handloads were all 5 shot groups and measured from 0.5 - 0.7". Powder charge seemed to have minimal effect on group size. The rifle is wearing a Vortex Viper gen 1 2-10x FFP and a YHM Turbo K. Thankfully my first handloads neither blew off my face or destroyed my YHM can. Unfortunately I have no idea on velocity because I still don't have a chronograph!
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Some questions for the rifle handloaders out there:
1. Primer cratering. My primers showed some cratering (see photo) but I observed no other signs of over-pressure and it didn't seem to much correlate with charge weight. It seems some make a big deal of primer cratering and others claim they've seen it for decades without any issues. Does this mean anything to you?
2. Neck sizing. A few guys at my range suggested I switch to neck sizing (instead of full length sizing) to facilitate brass life. Since I'm really only loading for the ruger american 223 rifle it seems like a reasonable proposition to switch to neck sizing. Legit?
3. Chronograph. I need one. My plan was to hold out for a LabRadar but I since they're nowhere to be found I'll go ahead a buy a regular chrono. The caldwell one is available for $100. I used a magnetospeed once (courtesy of a member at Westwood) and was impressed by it. However I want to chrono with suppressor attached which would require the fancy magnetospeed model (not the sport) which is something like $380. For that cost again I'd rather shell out an extra $200 and get a LabRadar.
4. Powders. I have a few lbs of varget but I'm wondering what powders you guys like for 223 and 308. The popular ones all seem impossible to find. There are powders with faster burn rates available such as IMR4198 and some oddballs like Ramshot TAC. Should I muck around with those or just hold off for good stuff like IMR4064, reloader-15, varget, etc.
Appreciate whatever other reloading advice might be shared.
Thanks in advance.
Good shooting.
