NeveSSL

Eh... $0.38/rnd... I know this is good ammo, but that's still a bit expensive to me.  Is there something super special about the XM193 rounds that I'm missing? Brandon

That looks like a good tool, but for a few bucks more, you can have one that chamfers and deburrs, too.  :)  http://www.giraudtool.com/Tri%20Way%20Trimmer.htm   Brandon

  That's good to know.  They have some phenomenal prices on .223 projectiles at the moment... 1000 for $83.33.  Perfect for plinking.   :)  I may have to put an order together for me to buy what I need for .223.   I have to admit, I really enjoy loading more than I thought I would.  I'm enjoying developing the processes and then executing them.  It's nice to have something to do that is fairly productive and allows me to get my mind off of everything else for a bit. Brandon

Awesome.  I'll search for some threads.  Thanks! Brandon

I know you can order and pickup, I just wish they had a store to peruse.  :) Brandon

Ohhh... ok.  I'm with you now.  I missed that.     I really wish Midsouth had a retail store!  :)   I almost feel like I should get a rifle in an odd caliber that is so expensive to buy that reloading makes a ton of sense to justify my habit.  Haha! Brandon

Gotcha.  Thanks for that link to the online reloading calculator.  That's awesome!   So you're saying that you don't feel it's worth it to reload at $0.10 savings per round?   Brandon

lol... Nice.  They're great guns.  I am loving mine.  :) Brandon

Thanks for the replies, guys!       That is what I've been doing with my new AR15, too.  Buying brass plinking rounds and keeping the brass to reload.  Where are you buying .223/5.56 for cheaper than you can reload it?   Brandon

  It was nice to meet you, Wayne.  :) Brandon

The 6720 is nearly a pound lighter.  It is the "lightweight" version, and is marked as such on the lower.  Most of this weight is from a thinner-profiled barrel.   Brandon

Right now I can reload .223 for about $0.20/rnd.  Cost for brass .223 is $0.30 or so.  The $0.10/rnd is worth it to me, but some people have said it's not worth it to them.   Just curious... at what point do you guys decide to reload?     Brandon

No problem! Definitely is! Brandon

Thanks for all of the replies, guys! Brandon

I got mine for $800 out the door (including taxes, background, everything) at Goodlettsville Gun Shop.  Not sure if they have any left, but it would be worth checking with them on Tuesday I think.  They're closed on Mondays.   Brandon

Thanks for the replies, guys.     It's not that I don't enjoy it.  I just don't enjoy processing brass three or 4 times if I can do it in one or two steps instead.  Inefficiency bothers me if there's no need for it.  Just the way my mind works.  :)   Brandon

Hi all,   I am new to reloading and also just bought an AR.  I won't do something if it takes a long time, so reloading rifle rounds and doing every step of case prep manually is a huge turn off (and I know other people who won't load rifle, I assume for the same or similar reasons).  Having said that, I love the idea of shooting more for the same money (because we all know I'm not going to save money, right?) and therefore have been thinking about the process I might use to reload .223 plinking rounds.   So here is what I'm thinking:   1.  Deprime and resize (yes, before cleaning... OneShot for lube) 2.  Clean with sonic cleaner (I want clean... couldn't care less about it being shiny) 3.  Trim/deburr/chamfer with Giraud Triway Trimmer http://www.giraudtool.com/Tri%20Way%20Trimmer.htm 4.  Load on Turret Press with the following:      1.  Auto-Drum      2.  Hornady Bullet Feeder      3.  Bullet Seating Die      4.  Crimping Die   I believe this operating procedure (for lack of a better term) should yield consistent results and a fair amount of rounds per hour without spending thousands.  I think maybe the only thing I haven't included is swaging.  I don't expect to be using much crimped brass.   I know there are people who refuse to use dirty brass on their resizing die, and I understand that.  I may resize after cleaning, I am going to try it before and see what happens first, though, as I have heard of others resizing dirty brass without issues.  I understand the theory of dirty brass wearing out dies more quickly, but I have yet to hear of it actually happening, only people afraid of it happening.     I am also not 100% sure which resizing die I'm going to use, as I believe there are a couple of different options with different benefits.  I am certainly open to suggestions.  I'm planning on starting with Lee's Deluxe Die set, which I believe does neck sizing only for rifle rounds.     Lastly, I'm not sure these need to be crimped.  I've read .223 is fine with neck tension.  What do you guys think? Thanks,   Brandon

Found this interesting thread at M4carbine:  http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?171789-Melonite-vs-Chrome-Lined-Longevity   Seems like some pretty good information.  I don't think there's a clear winner between the two barrel linings.     Brandon

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate you guys taking the time to post. DMark was very gracious with his time Tuesday and took me through many of the things you guys are discussing, especially sighting the gun in and field steipping it for cleaning. Also, I ordered a Bore Snake from Amazon and they sent me 6! Must have been someone new on the packing line. Ha-ha! Brandon

Ok, gotcha.  Wayne, right? Brandon

Lol... Yep, that was me! This is the lightweight variation, thus the smaller barrel. Which person were you? :) Brandon

This is great information for me on possible upgrades for my rifle or maybe even building my next rifle, Dolomite.  Thanks for sharing.   Brandon

I will.  Working on the process I'm going to use to reload for this beautiful beast, too.  :)  My goal for this gun is lightweight and fun to shoot.  Those are the only goals I have for now and they may or may not change. Brandon

I understand the first M&Ps had great barrels, but that is no longer the case, unfortunately.  When you compare the two as they are currently produced, I still think the Colt wins easily, especially for the price difference of $125 in this case.   Having said that, I still may pickup an M&P Sport 2 at some point just for the fun of it.  They're still great guns and do not seem to have any known consistent issues.  :) Brandon

I prefer to duct tape magazines to my chest, so the situation HAS to be worth it for me to rip them off.   Brandon