Which .223 Dies

[Donny1]

Looking to reload for an AR only right now but a .223/5.56 bolt gun is in my future.

I've done some reading about FL vs neck only sizing but still a bit confused on 2,3 or 4 (Lee FCD) sets.

I'd rather buy once, cry once if there's an advantage.

[phdo]

Buy Redding. I bought Hornady when I first got into reloading. They work well and I got decent groups but the Redding S-Type bushing dies are quality stuff.

[Tommy Gun]

Deciding dies can be challenging. Cost vs utility and precision are important factors. Need to ask yourself, at least for .223/5.56 are you going to reload for an AR. You don't need to but crimping might be needed sometime down the road.

4 Lee die sets are cheaper and do the job well enough and you get all the dies you need if/when you need them. More expensive if you end up buying a single die later on. Neck sizing is fine but you will need to FL size sometime down the road. Grab the 3 or 4 set of Lee's.

[Novaholic]

Check out Mighty Armory

I have the decapping swagging die and the FL sizing die.

Great product

[JackEllis]

You need a FL sizing die, especially if you pick up range brass or use once-fired brass purchased from anywhere. When I was totally clueless about the finer points of reloading I bought some once-fired .243 brass from a reputable company. It wouldn't chamber in my rifle. FL sizing fixed it.

[mrbigsteel]

Buy the Lee "Ultimate" 4-die set.

Use the neck-sizing die for your bolt-gun. (If brass is being reused in the same gun. Use the full-length sizing die if the brass was fire-formed in a different gun...like for range pick-ups.)

You will need the full-length sizing die in the future when you have your AR.

[koehn,jim]

RCBS full length sizeing dies.

[rcslotcar]

Another vote for RCBS FL, I use these for my Remington bolt rifle.

[FLIGHT762]

You DO NOT want to neck only size for an autoloader(AR). Full length size only. You can neck only for a bolt gun, but after 3-4 neck only sizings, you have to F/L size.

The Redding S bushing dies recommended in post#2 require a specific size bushing to size the case neck properly (added cost) and are for the more advanced reloader. Probably not for you unless you completely understand how they work.

Any of the major brand standard dies will work for you. I'm prone to RCBS, Redding and Forster.

[HUTCH 7.62]

Why not RCBS Small base X dies?

[JagerDog]

You DO NOT want to neck only size for an autoloader(AR). Full length size only. You can neck only for a bolt gun, but after 3-4 neck only sizings, you have to F/L size.

The Redding S bushing dies recommended in post#2 require a specific size bushing to size the case neck properly (added cost) and are for the more advanced reloader. Probably not for you unless you completely understand how they work.

Any of the major brand standard dies will work for you. I'm prone to RCBS, Redding and Forster.

PITA or no real advantage for mixed brass too. Match brass from 1 lot is where they can become valuable.

[Abenaki]

I'm prone to RCBS, Redding and Forster.

^^^^^ this^^^^^^

I will admit that one of the best things that I have bought as a reloader is a Lee universal decapping die.


Take care
Abenaki

[phdo]

^^^^^ this^^^^^^



I will admit that one of the best things that I have bought as a reloader is a Lee universal decapping die.





Take care

Abenaki

[kramynot]

For 223 I've been using the Lee full length reloading dies with factory crimp die for years for a number of different AR's without any problems. The only issue I found is with the Lee shellholder. For 223 I load pretty much any brass I find and for some makes, I found the brass fits pretty loosely in the Lee shellholder. So I replaced it with an RCBS shellholder and its all good to go.

[HUTCH 7.62]

Lee decapping die is one of the best reloading tool I’ve ever bought.

This. Coupled with the Lee hand reloader. It becomes priceless