How to Reload a .223 Caliber Shell

The .223 Remington rifle cartridge is ideal for hunting varmint and small game at a maximum range of 250 yards. The brass cartridge was first employed by the United States military in 1957 for use in the Armalite AR-15 assault weapon. Since then, .223 ammunition has been enjoyed by countless sport shooters and hunters. Consult any and all rifle, ammunition and reloader manuals to ensure your .223 reloading process is safe and expeditious.

Things You'll Need

  • .223 shell casing
  • Work gloves
  • Dust mask
  • Safety glasses
  • Brass chemical polish
  • Water
  • Pot
  • Baking soda
  • Clean rag
  • Sand
  • Case tumbler
  • Brass sizing die wax
  • Swage device
  • 2 Buckets
  • 2 Plastic bags
  • Gun powder
  • Powder scale
  • Powder funnel
  • Reloading press
  • Rounds
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Instructions

    • 1

      Submerge the brass in brass or kettle chemical polish, per label instructions for up to 60 minutes. Remove the brass and rinse them in a mixture of 2 cups of warm water and 1 tsp. baking soda. Dry the brass completely. Allow the brass to breathe and dry for up to 24 hours.

    • 2

      Rub a tablespoon-size of brass sizing die wax in the palm of your hands. Rub your hands together to work up a thin lather. Pick up the shells and roll them around in your hands. The wax will work its way off of your skin and onto the outside of the casing. Avoid getting wax inside the casing.

    • 3

      Pour sand and shells -- per tumbler instructions -- into the tumbler. Close the lid. Plug the tumbler into a working outlet and activate for up to 30 minutes. The tumbler is an extra -- and necessary -- step to cleaning and removing the lube.

    • 4

      Insert a tumbled casing into the center rod on the swage device. Pull the lever to push the rod into the casing to give it its correct shape. Swaging is necessary to ensure any dings or microscopic bends in the metal are eliminated and the casing is sized just right. Be sure to separate swaged brass from non-swaged brass in two different buckets or bags. Follow swage owner's manual instructions.

    • 5

      Weigh 25.5 grams of powder on a powder scale. Insert the powder into the casing using a powder funnel. Insert the round into the reloader press. Operate the reloader handle to push and fit the round down into the casing with proper force.