FNG wants to start to reload question?

[AR15barrels]

excuse me for interupting here guys, but don't the dies play a very big role in the reloading process ?? if you have .223 Rem. dies you are making .223 Rem. ammo and on the other hand if you are using 5.56mm dies you are making 5.56mm ammo.

this is one of the reasons so many people get confused about calibers, most/many AR-15 type rifles have stamped on the receiver ".223Rem." , yet on the barrel you will see 5.56mm NATO, and that is why i use 5.56mm NATO dies.

Are you aware that the loaded cartridge dimensions are all but identical between 223 and 5.56?

The difference between 223 and 5.56 is mostly in the MAXIMUM chamber lengths and the throat diameters.
The minimum lengths are basically identical.

ALL ammo loaded to meet 5.56 specs would easily FIT in 223 chambers.

[M4 Colt]

Thank you guys allot for the info. It definately cleared the issue up for me. Now about that Dillon 650 progressive reloader and sneaking it past my wife to the basement (my room) we will see.

good luck in "sneaking" a 650 box past your wife, the box mine came in was abt. 30" long & 18" square, then the case feeder box is abt. half that size

[M4 Colt]

sorry guys about the 5.56mm dies, but i have had this one set of dies for over 30 years and the sizing die is marked "5.56 NATO", i am not sure who made it, because when i got my Dillon 650 several years ago i got a new set of dies plus the Lee crimper, a lot of my older stuff is boxed and stored away somewhere on the ranch in one of the 5 buildings on site.

[User Name]

good luck in "sneaking" a 650 box past your wife, the box mine came in was abt. 30" long & 18" square, then the case feeder box is abt. half that size

Oh great fat chance. Oh well. But I just bought her a new car. Actually I'm sneaky. I ship stuff like that to my buddy's house and sneak it in when she's at work. Best thing is she cannot tell one AR from the next and she does not have the combo to my safe!

[paulosantos]

You are not going to safely duplicate the Hornady 556 75 Gr. TAP. Hornady uses special powders that they get and it beats up the brass when you shoot it. Your best bet is to get some Varget, H4895, RL-15, TAC, and BL-C2, and test each one and see which one provides the best blend of speed and accuracy and stick with it. If you go over the max recommended load, you will beat the crap out of your brass and be lucky to get 3 or 4 reloads. Remember if you are reloading the Hornady 556 TAP, it already gets beat up from the first time you fire it so if you continue to load it hot, your brass will not last and that is not the purpose of reloading.

I also recommend getting a Corbin HCT-1 cannelure tool to roll your own cannelures, which is easy as hell and pretty fast.

http://www.bulletswage.com/hct-1.htm

[User Name]

Remember if you are reloading the Hornady 556 TAP, it already gets beat up from the first time you fire it so if you continue to load it hot, your brass will not last and that is not the purpose of reloading.

Good point. I plan to load it down per say 200 fps.

[paulosantos]

Remember if you are reloading the Hornady 556 TAP, it already gets beat up from the first time you fire it so if you continue to load it hot, your brass will not last and that is not the purpose of reloading.

Good point. I plan to load it down per say 200 fps.

I have Hornady's Reloading Manual and this is what they have:

1. H4895: Start at 19.3Gr. and Max is 23.3 Gr.
2. RL-15: Start at 20Gr. and Max is 24.1Gr.
3. Varget: Start at 19.4 Gr. and Max is 23.5Gr.
4. BL-C2: Start at 21.2Gr. and Max is 25.2Gr.

5. TAC: Start at 21.2Gr. and Max is 23.6Gr.

With a 16" barrel you should be in the 2500fps with the max load.

[User Name]

I have Hornady's Reloading Manual and this is what they have:

1. H4895: Start at 19.3Gr. and Max is 23.3 Gr.
2. RL-15: Start at 20Gr. and Max is 24.1Gr.
3. Varget: Start at 19.4 Gr. and Max is 23.5Gr.
4. BL-C2: Start at 21.2Gr. and Max is 25.2Gr.

5. TAC: Start at 21.2Gr. and Max is 23.6Gr.

With a 16" barrel you should be in the 2500fps with the max load.

Thank you. Good stuff.