Which .223 Dies

[mif_slim]

If you're starting Lee product doesnt hurt you. I've used it from start til now and they are great products for the price. I cant tell the difference between Lee, Hornady, RCBS, Lyman....I haven't drank the blue koolaid because the brands I listed has gotten me subMOA groups for the last 15+ years.

[scamp62]

Redding !

[MrElectric03]

You'll get tons of answers and really comes down to what you want to spend, also what kind of press you are using( progressive or turret/single stage)

A lee Ultimate set would get the job done. I buy dies individually usually. Rifle brass is sized and trimmed in the Dillon with trimmer, for seaters I like the Forster bench rest or Redding seaters with the sleeve to help center the bullet. For crimp I have been using the Lee factory crimp die on 223 and it works really well when lengths may not all be exact. The only dies I would completely reccomend against is Hornadys. Everything Hornady I have owned has let me down, especially the dies.

[JagerDog]

You'll get tons of answers and really comes down to what you want to spend, also what kind of press you are using( progressive or turret/single stage)

A lee Ultimate set would get the job done. I buy dies individually usually. Rifle brass is sized and trimmed in the Dillon with trimmer, for seaters I like the Forster bench rest or Redding seaters with the sleeve to help center the bullet. For crimp I have been using the Lee factory crimp die on 223 and it works really well when lengths may not all be exact. The only dies I would completely reccomend against is Hornadys. Everything Hornady I have owned has let me down, especially the dies.

I haven't used their rifle dies (other than 45-70), but the pistol dies have been perfect for me.

[McGuiver]

Depends on what press your loading them on. On my Dillon 450 / 550 press, i use my Dillon Carbide Dies, on my Hollywood press, Dillon Dies will work, but Redding Dies are my first choice.

Depends if you want to just crank out plinking ammo, +1 MOA, or you want sub MOA.

My Dillon Press is great, but if I want precision ammo with one ragged hole, I choose a tighter setup with my CH reloading press or my Hollywood press. Redding Dies are top notch. CH also makes excellent dies from what I have heard. Never tried their dies, but love the old press.

Buy once...cry once, would be top of the line Redding Dies. What press setup are you running?


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[Donny1]

Buy once...cry once, would be top of the line Redding Dies. What press setup are you running?

Really just learning now with a Lee Turret press but I'm shopping for a single stage press for .223, Rock Chucker or similar.

[McGuiver]

Which .223 Dies

Really just learning now with a Lee Turret press but I'm shopping for a single stage press for .223, Rock Chucker or similar.

I started out with a Lee press, because of cost, but then realized what else was out there. I have upgraded since then.

I have an older single station CH reloading press. Here is there new model.

https://www.ch4d.com/products/equipment/presses/044000

If you can find a decent Hollywood press, that would be good too.

Here is the same type of Hollywood press I have. Very happy with it. It is the most heavy duty press I have.





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[diverwcw]

Another vote for Lee. They are a great value. They come with a shell holder, powder dipper and loading data. I don't know about other dies, but Lee are designed that in the event a case is stuck in the die, all you have to do is remove the top and tap it out with some sort of rod (wooden dowel, metal rod, etc.). It happened to me one time and worked like a charm.

[Donny1]

Interesting that they are such a high end press and not a solid O-frame design but like I said, learning. Really can't complain about the Lee, the SD on the chrono and accuracy is already superior to boxed practice ammo. Only been a few months and I'm saving $$ over buying 45acp ammo. Hoping to do the same for .223 since I have 3k mixed brass cases. Also trying to get set up so I don't need to deal with buying retail after the stupid background checks go in to place.

I really appreciate all the advice from everyone. Thanks to everyone here, within the last 2 years it has me loading 12ga, 9mm and 45 with a reasonable investment that will cover itself very shortly and save a ton in the future.

If your sitting on the fence about reloading, just climb on over!

[TripleThreat]

Lee Loader

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....Grab the 3 or 4 set of Lee's.

Buy the Lee "Ultimate" 4-die set.

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

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

Really just learning now with a Lee Turret.

Another vote for Lee. They are a great value. They come with a shell holder, powder dipper and loading data.

Lee Loader has worked very well for me. Great value, rock solid.

[Wrangler John]

I have been reloading for over 60 years, in that time I have acquired well over 100 die sets and custom dies, and every brand available, including neck bushing dies, F.L bushing dies, body bump dies, ream dies, trim dies forming dies, you name it.

My latest purchase was just last month to load ammo for a new .218 Bee Browning Model 65 that has been aging unfired in the safe for about thirty years. I bought a Lee Pacesetter Die set, which cost $33.00 plus shipping. Included are a F.L. die, a seating die, a factory crimp die, a shell holder, a powder dipper, an instruction sheet that includes basic loading data, and a really cool bright red box. The dies function flawlessly, and just like the .308 Winchester set I bought as a lark, for a custom long range rifle, produce cartridges as accurate as any high priced die set. No one, except the benchrest, or precision competition shooter will need anything more. These dies are not low quality, they exhibit fine quality machining, and just work. A good value in my opinion.