Found a .223 Lee Classic Loader for $28.99 at Amazon and thinking that since I won't be finding anymore closeouts at wallyworld on .223 ammo, it might be a good time to start rolling my own. And I will likely add a 30-30 Lee Loader soon enough.
Both my .223 and 30-30 are target of opportunity rifles mainly used for plinking, target shooting, rocks-paper-steel at any range, along with short range deer, hogs, coyotes, etc.
The 22" '95 Ruger Mark II .223 has the antique 1 in 12 twist, so I'm probably thinking of using something similar to the 60 grain Nosler Partition, 64 grain with a flatter or more rounded tip, or lighter TSX. And probably some less expensive and more pointed 55 grain bullets for target shooting.
The Marlin 30TK 30-30 has a short 18" barrel, so I don't know how much this would affect efficiency or powder choice. Maybe a certain weight bullet would be a better match for the short tube.
Anyway, wanting to keep inventory as small and simple as possible and acquire a single pound of powder that would work for both. And was thinking a ball powder would be most accurate measuring with dippers. Is this correct?
First thoughts were Ramshot Tac or Hogdan Leverevolution. Would either or both of these be good options for my low volume loading operation? Or is there something equally as good or better for my application?
If you don’t have a scale, then spherical powder will be slightly more consistent with a dipper. I have loaded both cartridges with W748, it gave good velocity and accuracy. Not sure that LVR would work all that well in the .223, Hodgdon says it is very limited in application and lists no loads for it. No idea about Tac....
If you don’t have a scale, then spherical powder will be slightly more consistent with a dipper. I have loaded both cartridges with W748, it gave good velocity and accuracy. Not sure that LVR would work all that well in the .223, Hodgdon says it is very limited in application and lists no loads for it. No idea about Tac....
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Thanks for the suggestion. Just trying to get a range of powders that would be easy to work with so I'll know when I see it if I should buy it or not. I will add W748 to the list.
Edit: I'll probably add a scale to my smalltime loading endeavor, for accuracy's sake. That seems simple enough and I don't have to mount it to a bench. Thinking digital for it's compactness. But still like the idea of a spherical powder.
Benchmark is a dandy in 223 and meters like water, works in 30-30 too. Others would be 335 although I don’t like it much.
Thanks for the reply. Benchmark looks pretty slow in the 30-30, and is extruded. But it got me looking at Hodgdon load data and it looks like CFE223 is spherical and has good velocity in both .223 and 30-30. Maybe I'll hear from someone familiar with it.
Our forefathers did not politely protest the British.They did not vote them out of office, nor did they impeach the king,march on the capitol or ask permission for their rights. ----------------They just shot them. MOLON LABE
This looks like a consensus to me. Did a little research on W748 after all the replies, and it appears to be universally praised for very good accuracy in both the .223 and the 30-30. I'm going to go ahead and get a pound of this.
Still I'm intrigued by the BL C2, CFE223, TAC, and Leverevolution. I suspect that one or more of these may give higher velocity, especially in the short barreled Marlin 30-30. But maybe with higher pressure and at the expense of case life. Probably a negative if I don't plan on full length resizing.
Checking out hunting bullets now. Seems to be at least a few selections that will work in a .223 with a 12 twist. 62 Fusion, 60 Partition, Nosler 64 Bonded Solid Base, the lighter monos, and probably a few others. Gonna look around and see what seconds I find. I don't think the 30-30 bullets will make as much difference. The 150 CoreLokts have worked well in the past. But I've got a pile of 170 Power Point factory ammo that I'll be using the brass from after it's shot. Might try something different like some lightweights for plinking since I already have enough hunting ammo and can save some back. And maybe I'll graduate to casting my own, although I don't know they'll work great with the micro-groove.
Dippers were invented back in the stone age, sure it will work but yesterday I saw a used RCBS 505 scale for $20 !!!!!!! would be a quantum leap forward for your reloading for a very modest price.
Dippers were invented back in the stone age, sure it will work but yesterday I saw a used RCBS 505 scale for $20 !!!!!!! would be a quantum leap forward for your reloading for a very modest price.
W748 will work well, so would CFE223
Yeah, I agree. I'm planning on getting a small digital scale. Just don't want a bench full of equipment.
I did exactly that yesterday..... loaded some incremental 60gr loads for my .223 with 748 using a LEE dipper and electronic scale. You can dip very consistently with 748 and add a few kernels by hand if need be. It was quicker for me to do it this way than to set up my powder measure for such few loads. I was done in no time.....
BT53 "Where do they find young men like this?" Reporter Savidge, Iraq Elk, it's what's for dinner....
I did exactly that yesterday..... loaded some incremental 60gr loads for my .223 with 748 using a LEE dipper and electronic scale. You can dip very consistently with 748 and add a few kernels by hand if need be. It was quicker for me to do it this way than to set up my powder measure for such few loads. I was done in no time.....
That's what I'm talkin about. If I load 40 rounds it'll be a BIG day.
Lever is the only powder for 30-30 and works well in 223 too with the heavier bullets. You might consider 2 cans of powder. Lever for the 30-30 and benchmark or 8208xbr for the mid weight 223 loads.