223 - Buy or Reload?

[ESquared]

As it happens, PT7 and I are meeting up at an outdoor range tomorrow, so I'll be sure and scout around, ask the RSO, etc., for 223 brass. I'll bet you're correct, thanks for the tip!

[Mistered]

Ramshot TAC is a superb powder for handloading.

This is what I am using as well for .223 - along with 'full house' 30-30 rounds which it performs equally as well.
A few years ago I decided to try the Ramshot powder and picked one that would work for both .223 and 30-30.
It turned out to be a very good powder, everything loaded with it is accurate and it burns very clean.
I would have probably used more of it but when certain 'events' of a few years ago rendered the shelves nearly bare of all components I had to consolidate and find what I could and make due with 'alternatives' and planning for what could have been an extended shortage but fortunately the wind blew the 'right' direction and the shelves eventually filled up again to normal levels.
I'll stick with TAC however for my .223 loads and may try it with .243 - but it might be a touch on the 'fast' side for good .243 loads.

[220]

Even here in Aus very few high volume shooters reload 223. If you factor in the time to reload which most professional have to then it is cheaper to buy.
If you sell your once fired brass then you should be able to match or better reloading cost.

[ESquared]

What I'll likely do is buy a few hundred rounds to start with, so it can be "captive brass" that I know is mine while I figure out dies, powders, bullet weights, primers, etc.
Maybe, just maybe, I should definitely decide to buy the rifle first...

[PT7]

As it happens, PT7 and I are meeting up at an outdoor range tomorrow, so I'll be sure and scout around, ask the RSO, etc., for 223 brass. I'll bet you're correct, thanks for the tip!

As part of the range procedures at our MDC outdoor ranges, each person picks up all spent brass in their booths when done shooting. People take theirs if they reload, or more often, they dump spent brass into cans sitting alongside the range benches. It would be challenging to dig through all the different calibers in those cans and pick out .223 brass, or any specific caliber.

Here's what I do when I "scout" the MDC ranges for 9MM brass for my son-in-law to reload. I usually can tell who is shooting 9MM, so at a "cease-fire" I ask them whether or not they keep their brass. If not, I offer to take it off their hands and usually help clean it up, too. Doing it this way, I've brought quite a large amount of brass home over the months.

I've seen a lot of .223 spent brass there.....just have to get to it before its "recycled" into the brass bins!

PT7

[ESquared]

Well, then, never mind.

[Mistered]

you can usually find plenty of 223 brass that people have shot and not bothered pick up.

Yep - I am at the point where I am passing on .223 brass I find laying in the woods - but I may get a 5 gal bucket and start picking it up for scrap - heck a full bucket of scrap brass might fill a tank and buy lunch !

[ESquared]

you can usually find plenty of 223 brass that people have shot and not bothered pick up.

Yep - I am at the point where I am passing on .223 brass I find laying in the woods - but I may get a 5 gal bucket and start picking it up for scrap - heck a full bucket of scrap brass might fill a tank and buy lunch !

I'm not too proud to scrounge! Would gladly pay shipping and a finder's fee to a good guy like you!

[Ojaileveraction]

When I bought my ADL 223 I bought a stock pile of inexpensive 223 ammo. And made some mistakes.
The Tula Steel ball ammo for one and 200 Lake City ammo ment for ARs.
Berdon primers and 20% failure to fire in my rifle.
I broke two decapping pins trying to deprime them. Then realised I'd need to ream out the primer pocket.

[ESquared]

When I bought my ADL 223 I bought a stock pile of inexpensive 223 ammo. And made some mistakes.
The Tula Steel ball ammo for one and 200 Lake City ammo ment for ARs.
Berlin primers and 20% failure to fire in my rifle.
I broke two decapping pins trying to deprime them. Then realised I'd need to ream out the primer pocket.

Ouch! PITA to work through a pile of that stuff, huh? I've never been a steel fan, and I'm guessing the Lake City was 5.56? I know I've got few boxes of "where did this come from" in my safe, mostly bargain 9mm...Oh, well!