Well - I meant when reloading .223 vs reloading .308 and to be fair, it's been a really long time since I looked into reloading costs (I still don't reload - too lazy and too much else going on right now, but when we get moved into our new place, I might start down that path again) so I'll have to differ to Nikat - your opinion is good enough for me man
Depends what you're loading for. If you don't shoot much, and what you do shoot is bulk available mil-type ammo, then no, it probably wouldn't be worth reloading. For accuracy, it gets worth it fast, depending on how you value your time. I totally understand being too busy to reload. I didn't get back into it for over a year and a half after moving down here from Stillwater.
I'd bet 99% of the time, no problem. Especially since in most guns that are chambered for .223, they are also offered in larger higher pressure rounds anyways. So the chance of a KaBoom is super low, in those guns.
At the same time, I can't in good faith recommend someone else shoot a caliber in their gun that it is technically not rated for. *CAR beat me to it*
As far as the accuracy, notice the "supposedly," in there. I guess I should have bolded/italicized that word. That's what the internet claims, but I haven't tested enough to verify one way or the other, and haven't really researched on other's first hand experience with both.
Well now you've got me curious (I'm thinking of building a precision AR for my daughter so now I'll have two different calibers that I need "good" ammo for).
I can buy Fed Gold Medal Match 168gr .308 for $.89/rnd, and can find Fed GMM 69gr .223 for about the same on sale. You're saying that I can reload match-quality .223 for a lot cheaper than I can reload match-quality .308 (or that I can just reload either round cheaper than I can buy them)?
Now that is funny right there.
So is 9mm NATO Flake loaded with flake powder? lol
Both.
Bullets for .223 are quite a bit cheaper than .308 - from what I see, price corresponds to weight of bullet, to an extent. Bigger bullet = bigger $$$. For pistols, powder is near negligible (~0.01$), not so for rifles, and .308 has more capacity than .223. Brass is also more expensive for .308.
My figgers:
.223 Match - $324.59 / 1000
Rem brass - New - Figure you can use it 6 times. $25.73/100 / 6 or $42.88 / 1000
Fed SRM Primers. $30 / 1000
Hodgdon H4895 powder. $66.80 / 1000
Sierra 69gr SMK bullets. $184.90 / 1000
.308 Match - $559.27 / 1000
Rem brass - New - Figure you can use it 6 times. $20.01/50 / 6 or $66.70 / 1000
Fed LRM Primers. $30 / 1000
Hodgdon CFE 223 powder. $120.67 / 1000
Sierra 168gr SMK bullets. $341.90 / 1000
J
Jckellison
Guest
Ball powder, almost exclusively used by militaries around the world, because it's cheaper to produce and burns a lot faster than extruded/stick powder, which is why a same weight powder measure will produce higher pressures. Hence, why military surplus ammo is called "ball ammo." throughout the years it has become a looser term for fmj/cheaper ammo.
But being a good sport, feel free to participate and correct my mistakes. I'm always up for an education.
This may sound dumb but i thought it was called ball ammo because its Full metal jacket. Like there is light ball and heavy ball depending on bullet weight. I didnt think it had anything to do with the powder used.
You thought correctly. A "ball" round is a non-expanding projectile like military FMJ. It is a left over term from the musket days when they were actually round balls.
This is what I found......
