Affordable .223 brass ammunition, what do you use?

One of the things I like about steel case IS the convenience of policing my empties. I have a nice 6" magnet that I tie a string to. I just walk over the area, and all of the empties attach to the magnet. I don't even have to bend over to pick them up.

As for reloading, I've done the math, and unless someone is giving you brass for free, which is possible, it will cost more than $0.20 a round to reload. I figure on average about 5 reloads per brass. The 2nd-5th reloads get cheaper being you already have the brass, but the initial reload as to take into consideration the initial cost of brass. Either through buying brass ammo or brass cases.

Anyway; reloading .223 is mainly for accuracy and the hobby of it. It's only a financial savings if you're the type that never would buy and shoot steel case ammo. If you've got this thing about it HAS to be brass ammo, then yes, you'll save money by reloading. But if you're able to shoot steel case ammo for plinking, the most you might save by reloading .223 is about $1 a box. For most people that's not really worth it. But again; many people reload for improved accuracy and the hobby of it. Nothing wrong with that. But it's not like saving $5-$10 a box of 20 for 7mm mag or 30-06.

When you get older, you realize you have more money than you have time. As such; for plinking; I buy steel case ammo. I still reload for my 7mm mag and 30-30 for hunting; but it's not worth my time for .223. Not for $1 a box. Maybe for some people it is. Many times, you don't even save the $1; depending on the price of powder, primers, brass, bullets, and your time.
 
...When you get older, you realize you have more money than you have time...
Click to expand...

Gotta agree with you there, Christcorp! Now that I'm retired I thought I'd have more free time. What a joke! :p

I used to reload 357, 38, 9mm and 45ACP years ago but no more. For my ARs 90% of my shooting is with steel case. Debating whether I should get the equipment to reload again...
 
In re OP,
Black Hills blue box is remanufactured and can be had in premium bullets...for your twist rate, I'd suggest staying under 69gr. 60gr Ballistic Tips can shoot real small groups.
HSM is another place that loads remans with premium bullets and I've had great luck with them.
Watch BVAC, Bitterroot Valley ammo co...plinking ammo is good, $.30 is the going rate here.
 
I bought 1500 rds of once fired Lake Cities military from an online auction a yr or so ago. Once you go through the process of converting it to .223 which consists of
1 decapping
2 removing military crimp
3 full length resizing
4 trim to minimum case length
you now have heavy duty .223 brass. I have found it to be very consistent, which means easy to sort of 100 round lots that weigh +or- .3 grains and due to the extra thickness of the military case and the inherent gentleness of the .223 load it can stand 5 or more reloads before showing fatigue. Not sure how many reloads exactly it will stand as I have not fired it enough yet to reach a reliable test of its limits.
 
PMC bronze
American Eagle

Both can be found for around $6 a box. Cabelas had a strong sale on the american eagle for 5.99 a few months back. I stocked up so haven't looked since then.
 
Personally I recommend the cheapest Russian stuff you can find. Simply put if your AR15 cannot function with it you probably have either an out-of-spec or non wylde type. In general with the majority of AR-15s that have things like they should be and have a 5.56 NATO (accommodates 223 and 5.56) chamber it works just fine. Accuracy isn't great but it's good enough for practice and learning to shoot.

If you get good I'd suggest stuff from Black Hills, PPU target loads, and etc. The military surplus stuff is in general mediocre. Aimsurplus, Palmetto State Armory, Natchez SS, Wideners, and J&G Sales usually have the best prices. However I load my own and that's a whole 'nother game.


As for the AR, Stag rifles will work just fine for someone doing target shooting. If you were interested in doing carbine courses or running a high round count I would look elsewhere (BCM, Colt, Noveske, LMT, and some others). I myself have a 20" A4 build from BCM and it has been flawless through the 2k rounds I've shot recently through it. I get under 1 MOA with good handloads.


Basically if you want to be set up for target shooting with the .223 Remington & 5.56 NATO I would look for the following in an AR:
  • Long sight radius for iron sights
  • Good trigger such as a Geiselle, Timney, CMC, etc
  • Proper chamber for your purposes. 5.56 NATO military chambers are the most forgiving.
  • A quality made barrel
  • Good ammunition


The Stag you listed is for $840 which would come out to about $900 after taxes, FFL fee, and shipping. Let's use $900 as a budget point:


First off, assemble your own lower receiver or purchase one locally. The vast majority of ones available are quite fine. It's a hard part to mess up in an AR. You can get a stripped lower for about $60 before FFL fee these days and a lower parts kit for another $50. An A2 or A1 stock (what I prefer for target shooting) can be had from various dealers for about $80 total.
http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=365
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.a...+LOW15+Stripped+AR+Lower+Receiver&groupid=214
http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/2037.php

Guides for assembly are all over the net. It really is easy. Just do it in a plastic tub so you don't lose any parts. I'd level the difficulty with a lego set.

So that's what? $200 about? Tools may run another $20 if you can't borrow some and the transfer fee is about $20 usually at an FFL. Apart from that everything can be mail ordered.


So that's like ~$650 for a complete upper. I would really wait for this to come back in stock soon (they're in and out of stock just use an email notification)
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-M16-Government-20-Upper-Receiver-Group-p/bcm-urg-gov-20.htm
and make sure to buy the BCM M16 bolt& carrier group combo with charging handle


But keep in mind the only thing you'd gain with that is the sight radius over a mid-length. This one has a better barrel and is a bit more but sitll in budget:
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-...pper-Receiver-Group-p/bcm-urg-mid16 ss410.htm


I hope that helps. BravoCompanyUSA has some of the best priced uppers when in stock. They're also at Colt quality pretty much equally. Something that would last you through a war or your lifetime.
 
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