Getting started reloading for M4/AR15 - advice requested

[BravoGolf59]

I have been reloading for bolt action rifle for a while and feel like I understand that. I recently participated in a club-level carbine match and really enjoyed it. If I could reload ammo for it, I could probably afford to participate each month, and this leads to the questions.

It takes approximately 120 rounds for a match. Most targets are 15-20 yds. or less, with some 50 yd. targets thrown in. I used AE223H, which seemed to work well and not have the recoil of XM193.

My big question is... [strikeout]how can I load for reasonable accuracy and be able to use mixed cases?[/strikeout]

Really, my question is what process (as in load development) do I use to arrive at the best load that works for mixed cases and is not dangerous? I was not asking what press to use!

I have several 20 round boxes of Remington, Winchester, Federal, Hornady, Privi, etc. fired cases. I also have several Lake City cases separated by year. Some of the LC range in quantities from 5, 10, 20, up to 50 to 80 for a given year.

Additionally, I have Hornady 55gr. FMJBTs to use, and probably Hodgdon H322 powder as my TAC is getting low.

I appreciate and look forward to your advice!

[Baedarlboo]

At the distance you'll be shooting, it shouldn't be hard. Just run them through a progressive press. Now if you're shooting for 200+ yards and accuracy, you'll have to spend more time in case prep and powder charge. And for the economy, just use min charge on powder. It seems this is more of a quantity then quality situation.

[simple1]

Baedarlboo is spot on.

Here is a comparison of progressive press reloads vs. Black Hills red box 55 gr. 10 rounds at 50yds using AimPoint Micro T1.

This is obviously not precision shooting - simply illustrates that you can load on a progressive as good as you can buy off the shelf.

Black Hills




Reloads. Head stamps mixed PMC, RP. Hornady 55 gr FMJBT 25 gr H335. The one flyer was me.

[markm]

I have no idea why black hills gets such a wonderful reputation in the first place.

Every time I put their ammo in some instrumentation, it shows me that it's really not that good... and EASILY beaten by a hand loader with half a clue.

[simple1]

... and EASILY beaten by a hand loader with half a clue.

That would be me

[markm]

That would be me

Me too. The more I learn... the more work hand loading becomes.

Sometimes I wish I was back loading blissfully ignorant.

[simple1]

Me too. The more I learn... the more work hand loading becomes.

Sometimes I wish I was back loading blissfully ignorant.

My reloading is simple because my requirements are simple. Almost trained monkey level really.
But I'm wanting to do some longer range shooting and I'll have to put more work into it at that point.

Your comment about Black Hills is interesting though. Those 10 rounds were the first I'd fired from what I thought was my "good" stash. I was surprised that it faired so poorly.

[markm]

I was at that point too. I just loaded practice ammo and was fine.

If you ever get to loading precision ammo, you'll go nuts. These accurate ammo gurus will get into your head like a neurologist.....

Then you'll be buying all kinds of competition dies, and guages, etc.

[BravoGolf59]

Opening post has been edited. Not really interested in what press to use, but I can see how you might get that out of my question. I am interested in how to do the load development to achieve my goal of using multiple brands of cases, safely.

[Baedarlboo]

At the distance you'll be shooting, it shouldn't be hard. Just run them through a progressive press. Now if you're shooting for 200+ yards and accuracy, you'll have to spend more time in case prep and powder charge. And for the economy, just use min charge on powder. It seems this is more of a quantity then quality situation.

Opening post has been edited. Not really interested in what press to use, but I can see how you might get that out of my question. I am interested in how to do the load development to achieve my goal of using multiple brands of cases, safely.

Read what I have in bold. For the the distance you will be shooting, min charge is more than enough.
If you want to "develop" a load for certain accuracy (at distance), or velocity that's another story...this requires time prepping cases with matching head stamps and a chrony.
There is no one best load, every gun is going to prefer something different.
Again, since you're after quantity at 50yrds max, min charge (powder of your choice), cheapest projectiles, cheapest primer, and your mixed brass is going to be just fine. Try an purchase in bulk to save.