DeerhoundLurcherMan 997 Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Zeroing my .223 yesterday in perfect conditions and was getting roughly 1.5 inch groups at 100m and then the groups gradually got wider, ending at about 2.5 inch groups at 200m... That was using factory 40grn Vmax rounds... Now realistically that is perfectly fine for me to shoot foxes with... But I still cant help but want to see tighter groups... I got my .223 back in September and have put just over 200 rounds through it...which will have cost me a little over a £1 a go.... How much is it going to cost to get everything I need to reload? Is it worth it for the amount I use it? Or is it worth buying a few different boxes of ammo first, to see if it groups better with a certain round? I've read that the .223 can be loaded for about 40p.... Quote Link to post
Cedric 132 Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 (edited) My basic Lee Kit plus a couple of extra dies cost me less than £150 - ready to go.! Powder approx £36 a tub. (7,000 grains in a pound - you do the maths! about 2p per round), bullets from 17p to 21p each, primers 4p. Not including brass approx 30p per round. By the time you have loaded 220 you have saved the cost of the equipment. Mind you, be prepare to find that it is adictive and you will shoot more, testing various load combinations. Edited April 5, 2015 by Cedric 5 Quote Link to post
charlie caller 3,654 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 100% yes and if you need any help ASK. 1 Quote Link to post
Deker 3,478 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 (edited) Zeroing my .223 yesterday in perfect conditions and was getting roughly 1.5 inch groups at 100m and then the groups gradually got wider, ending at about 2.5 inch groups at 200m... That was using factory 40grn Vmax rounds... Now realistically that is perfectly fine for me to shoot foxes with... But I still cant help but want to see tighter groups... I got my .223 back in September and have put just over 200 rounds through it...which will have cost me a little over a £1 a go.... How much is it going to cost to get everything I need to reload? Is it worth it for the amount I use it? Or is it worth buying a few different boxes of ammo first, to see if it groups better with a certain round? I've read that the .223 can be loaded for about 40p.... It most certainly is! I am fortunate that PRVI delivers perfectly acceptable field performance in all my centrefires. If I was still serious about target/competition they would definitely not be on my list, but for the cost of PRVI it just isn't worth me reloading. Now, as regards Home Brews, a certain gent I know rather well started reloading a few years back, he knew nothing to start with and even his reject reloads shot better than PRVI. It was an eye opener for me just how good they can be, and how good he has now got (but he keeps tinkering). So, if you want to play you will almost certainly be able to bring your groups in, but not many reloaders I know have settled, they keep playing, so if you are realistic about costs, don't expect to save a whole load, seems to me a lot of money is spent on continuous load development! ATB! Edited April 5, 2015 by Deker 1 Quote Link to post
charlie caller 3,654 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 And Deker has hit the nail on the head, once you have found a load that shoots 1/2 inch or less, leave it,I have been rather fortunate in my reloading, in that I have managed to find an accurate load pretty quickly,others have not been so fortunate,I now have a load that shoots (when I do my bit) a lovely cloverleaf group or smaller @100 yards, I refuse to do any more fiddling or playing with seating depth etc that is a super accurate load and that is how it will stay. 1 Quote Link to post
IanB 0 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 My basic Lee Kit plus a couple of extra dies cost me less than £150 - ready to go.! Powder approx £36 a tub. (7,000 grains in a pound - you do the maths! about 2p per round), bullets from 17p to 21p each, primers 4p. Not including brass approx 30p per round. By the time you have loaded 220 you have saved the cost of the equipment. Mind you, be prepare to find that it is adictive and you will shoot more, testing various load combinations. 001.jpg Eh? What you reloading 2p per round! £36/0.02 = 1800 rounds , 7000gr/1800 , 3.8grain per load? Quote Link to post
Cedric 132 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Eh? What you reloading 2p per round! £36/0.02 = 1800 rounds , 7000gr/1800 , 3.8grain per load? Slight miscalculation ! Should have been 12p. not 2p. ! Average 25gr. load gives 280 loads per 7,000gr tub. Quote Link to post
jacknife 2,005 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Its something in going to have to start 12p shy of £ for 60 .308 rounds My rifles hate Privi Quote Link to post
slipper 116 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I love reloading, when she's watching that eastenders rubbish I set up in the kitchen and relax and take my time, had some great advice and tips off kind chaps off here it is addictive though but now I can get really tight groups with my 223 1 Quote Link to post
IanB 0 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Costs me about 36p to reload a .22 hornet with 35gr vmax head using H110. I bought it as a fox/long range rabbit rifle, which its superb for but I'm shooting that many rabbits I've went back to a HMR as I got sick of reloading even when using a chargemaster.. Quote Link to post
DeerhoundLurcherMan 997 Posted April 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Right folks, after watching a few vids on youtube I have made a list of all the things I think I will need....Please correct me if I have given anything the wrong name or anything else I will need, or anything I wont need.... A press case lube de-primer / sizer die? tumbler and media primer pocket cleaning tool digital calipers case trimmer de-buring tool flash hole cleaning tool primer seating tool / or use press? powder dispenser scales bullet seating die... and obviously primers, powder and heads... Am I better off buying a kit or buying the bits individually? Any bits of kit to stay away from? Or recommendations? Cheers! Quote Link to post
walshie 2,804 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I'd buy a kit to begin with then add bits and pieces as required. Lee 50th anniversary or breech lock challenger kit is as good a place to start as anywhere. Don't let the reloading snobs put you off. Lee is does a perfectly good job. I use a hand primer (which comes with one of the Lee kits. I forget which one.) Quote Link to post
Elliott 436 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 (edited) What do you lads think of the Hornady reloading kit? Had my eye on one in my local shop for quite a while. Just need to save up a bit now Edited April 5, 2015 by Elliott Quote Link to post
Cedric 132 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Add a case holder, funnel and powder trickler A Lee Kit contains everything except case holder and powder trickler. Apart from the full length sizing die, neck sizing die and seating die which are inclded you might want a crimp die (about £12). Pity it's not for .22 Hornet - I have a full set for sale! Quote Link to post
Cedric 132 Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Costs me about 36p to reload a .22 hornet with 35gr vmax head using H110. I bought it as a fox/long range rabbit rifle, which its superb for but I'm shooting that many rabbits I've went back to a HMR as I got sick of reloading even when using a chargemaster.. Just the same here but the noise was a big factor as well - new HMR on it's way. Know anyone who wants a good .22 Hornet ? Quote Link to post
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.