Im absolutly new to reloading but i just bought a .223 cal rifle and want to reload, so i was on hornady's website looking at some vmax bullets and all they seem to have is one .223 cal bullet but have a ton of .224 cals. so my question is, are .224 cal bullets for .223 cartidges??? Thanks for your help and sorry for the dumb question
Probabaly dumbest question on forum
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Websites are fine, but you really ought to get yourself a RELOADING MANUAL, such as is put out by Speer, Hornady, Sierra, etc. The reason for a manual is that all the info you need is placed in the correct order for you to use it, not hodge-podge spread out all over the place.
If fine measurements are also new to you, you must get comfortable with using close measurements- the difference between .224" and .223" is 1/2 the thickness of a human hair. Most applications are forgiving enough to allow a difference in bullet diameter of a few thousandths of an inch from the nominal diameter for the caliber.
Generally speaking, if you buy bullets shown in the suppliers listing as being .22 caliber, they will be suitable for your .223, assuming, of course, that their WEIGHT is within the limitations of .223 usage, say, 50 to 60 grains.
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Short answer: .224" bullets are for your .223 rem cartridge.
Long answer: .223" bullets are for use in a few very old cartridges some old 22 Hornet rifles were made for .223" bullets. All of the modern 22 caliber cartridges use a .224" diameter bullet.
I agree with the purchas of a reloading manual. Also you need to get ABC's of Reloading. This is a book that shoud be on every new reloaders bench. I prefer the Sierra 5th edition reloading manual. They list the 223 for bolt guns, and ar-15 type rifles. They also list the best chance for accuracy with their accuracy load and the bech choice for a hunting load. Some other manuals Like my Hornady manual do not list a most accurate.
Also if times are tight you can download PDF file reloading manuals from just about all the powder manufactures. I personaly do not relay souly on the powder companies relaoding manuals. But they are there for you if you need them. They are a good way to gain insite into powder weights.
For begining I would find one powder that you can get localy and start with 1 or 2# of it for each cartridges. I like Varget or Accurat 2015 for my 223. Varget also works well in the 308 win cartridge as well. As far as bullets Hornady V-max bulets are very hard on varmints and very accurate as well. Sierra makes very good bullets that have won tons matches around the world. Sierra also is the sole maker for bullets for the US Palma team (155gr 308 Match King Palma).
I would look at Varget and 50gr V-max bullets for a bolt gun. Depending on your rifle and twist rate will determine the bullets you will want to shoot. 223 with a 1-12" twist you can shoot up to 60 -62gr bullets, 1-9" will get you up to 75gr anf a 1-8" twist will get you to 80 and 1-7" twist will get you up to 95 gr or there abouts. The standard bolt action twist is 1-12" (Savage offers 1-9") I believe that the standard twist for an AR type rifle is 1-9" Don't hold firm on thoese numbers because they can and do change.
Long answer: .223" bullets are for use in a few very old cartridges some old 22 Hornet rifles were made for .223" bullets. All of the modern 22 caliber cartridges use a .224" diameter bullet.
I agree with the purchas of a reloading manual. Also you need to get ABC's of Reloading. This is a book that shoud be on every new reloaders bench. I prefer the Sierra 5th edition reloading manual. They list the 223 for bolt guns, and ar-15 type rifles. They also list the best chance for accuracy with their accuracy load and the bech choice for a hunting load. Some other manuals Like my Hornady manual do not list a most accurate.
Also if times are tight you can download PDF file reloading manuals from just about all the powder manufactures. I personaly do not relay souly on the powder companies relaoding manuals. But they are there for you if you need them. They are a good way to gain insite into powder weights.
For begining I would find one powder that you can get localy and start with 1 or 2# of it for each cartridges. I like Varget or Accurat 2015 for my 223. Varget also works well in the 308 win cartridge as well. As far as bullets Hornady V-max bulets are very hard on varmints and very accurate as well. Sierra makes very good bullets that have won tons matches around the world. Sierra also is the sole maker for bullets for the US Palma team (155gr 308 Match King Palma).
I would look at Varget and 50gr V-max bullets for a bolt gun. Depending on your rifle and twist rate will determine the bullets you will want to shoot. 223 with a 1-12" twist you can shoot up to 60 -62gr bullets, 1-9" will get you up to 75gr anf a 1-8" twist will get you to 80 and 1-7" twist will get you up to 95 gr or there abouts. The standard bolt action twist is 1-12" (Savage offers 1-9") I believe that the standard twist for an AR type rifle is 1-9" Don't hold firm on thoese numbers because they can and do change.
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What CPTango said! And by the way, there is NO SUCH THING as a stupid question when reloading!!! There are stupid people that don't ask questions and don't read books.
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Once again RL is here to say the things I forget to say. Thanks for the back up RL.
Yeah, what they said.
We shoot .224 bullets in the .218 Bee, .219 Zipper, .220 Swift, .221 Rem, .222 Rem., .223 Rem., .224 Weatherby and .225 Win. Only the older .22 Hornets shoot .223 bullets. And that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg! Don't even try to think cartridge designations might make sense, few do.
Get yourself a loading manual soon, it will tell you what diameter bullet each round shoots. I think Lyman's manual is probably the best available for newbies and oldies alike.
We shoot .224 bullets in the .218 Bee, .219 Zipper, .220 Swift, .221 Rem, .222 Rem., .223 Rem., .224 Weatherby and .225 Win. Only the older .22 Hornets shoot .223 bullets. And that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg! Don't even try to think cartridge designations might make sense, few do.
Get yourself a loading manual soon, it will tell you what diameter bullet each round shoots. I think Lyman's manual is probably the best available for newbies and oldies alike.
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You're welcome CP - It's a fun, interesting, and safe hobby - if given the proper respect. A bullet is one of the smallest yet most lethal objects a person can make, incorrectly.
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