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Hey everyone,

I'm in the beginning stages of an AR build, and naturally am wanting to gear up to reload .223.

Where do all of you get your components? Most specifically, I'm looking for good bullets that can be purchased by the thousand. It seems most retailers (Midway, Cabela's, etc.) want to sell them by the hundred or possibly five hundred.

I know that Berry's makes 55 grain FMJBT bullets for $101/1000. Montana Gold bullet sells the same, but no longer sell in quantities of 1000, so the minimum is a case of 3500 - quite a commitment for a first-time purchase. Does anyone have experience with either of these?

Also, if you have other suppliers for your .223 bullets that you've had good experience with, I'm all ears.

Also, any recommendations on brass? I figure I'll get a brass catcher for the AR and keep all of my factory brass, but that will probably take a while to build a stockpile of brass for reloading.

Thanks!

What size bullets How much brass do you want?

T.O.M. wrote:What size bullets How much brass do you want?

55 grain, since that seems to be the standard and easiest to find in quantity.

Judging by how much 9mm I go through, I'll probably try to get up to around 3000 cases so I can build a good stock of loaded ammo. That way I'm not constantly having to reload just to keep shooting like I am currently with my handgun calibers. I'll probably just start off with 500-1000 and build over time. Berry's has kits for .223 that includes both bullets and brass:

http://berrysmfg.com/product-i14776-c6- ... 500ct.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They also have new Lake city for $99.50/500 and once-fired deprimed/decrimped Lake City for $65/500:

http://berrysmfg.com/product-i14701-c6- ... Count.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://berrysmfg.com/product-i14769-c6- ... 500ct.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My current bullet supply is Montana Gold.

I have ordered once-fired brass from Wilson combat:

http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Brass/products/277/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AndyC wrote:I just buy Hornady FMJ in the bulk 1000-lot boxes for regular range/plinking loads - cheaper that way, but these days it takes a bit of trawling through websites to see what's in stock.

Where do you find Hornady ammo in boxes of 1000? I've never, ever seen their stuff in anything other than a box of 100, no matter what caliber. I was always under the impression that Hornady did this to keep profits high and not give any kind of discount for bulk. I can only guess that it's 10 boxes of 100, as I don't see anything but the 100 count on Hornady's site, either.

With the price of Hornady bullets, it seems like that would be an expensive choice of bullet for plinking.

They're currently out of stock, but Midway lists Hornady bullets in boxes of 1000:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?p ... 1165165907" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here's a source for the 55 gr Hornady bullets

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm? ... 93|324|696" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

once fired LC brass

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm? ... 82|909|948" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Powder valley has Winchester 55 gr FMJ bullets and mixed .223 once fired brass

http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have done business with both of these companies and can recommend them. There are a lot of suppliers out there who have bullets and brass you've just got to do a little google!

Midway also has their own line of 223 bullets. I have a couple boxes but haven't tried them yet:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... =939269531" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... =939655304" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have been using Montana Gold's bullets for handguns for the last 5-6 years and have been very pleased with the quality of their product and with their commitment to their customers.The last bullets I ordered were out of stock and they substituted a more expensive type at the same price.I am also impressed with the free shipping that they provide(business addresses).I have never tried their 223 bullets as I don't have anything in that caliber,but if they ever start making 30 cal bullets my order will be on the way as soon as I find out about the addition to their product line.