Which .223 Dies for Precision AR15 shooting?

[Quinc]

Rifle .223 AR15 w/ 26" 1-8 twist WOA upper
Press RCBS JR3 hand press
Goal to shoot 600+ yards as accurately as possible.
Use to reload 55-80gr bullets.

So the more I read/learn about reloading, the more confused I become. Everything I have been reading is saying to crimp for AR15's. However, John at WOA says NOT to crimp.

What do you guys think about the forster-ultra-2-die-set.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/799076/forster-ultra-2-die-set-223-remington

Or if I would be better off going with an RCBS or Forester 2 die set and getting the micrometer seater die separate?

[grant22]

I don't have a highly experienced answer for you other than I've been making precision .223 rounds that I can confirm work well up to 200 yds. Maybe longer, but don't know yet.

I'm using Dillon dies (not sure if that matters) and a very slight crimp from what I learned here. The slight crimp should aide in semi-auto feeding and to help keep bullet push back from occuring.

Just curious, are you chamferring and deburring the cases?

[SandDiegoDuner]

I have the Redding national match dies for .223. They are not cheap but the micrometer seating die is really nice as is the seperate die for crimping.

[Dark Mod]

The Redding set with micrometer will do great, but at $120+ are a little pricey. You will be capable of producing great quality match ammo with many of the less expensive dies as well.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

Rifle So the more I read/learn about reloading, the more confused I become. Everything I have been reading is saying to crimp for AR15's. However, John at WOA says NOT to crimp.

NEVER crimp ANY 223 match bullet loads....

[TimRB]

However, John at WOA says NOT to crimp.

John Holliger is one of the top shooters in the country, and he builds ARs that are used by many of the rest of the top shooters. If he says not to crimp, then don't crimp.

Tim

[Quinc]

I am NOT going to crimp. That's why I need help finding .223 dies for the AR15.

[uscbigdawg]

Redding Competition dies. You can adjust the neck tension (not crimping) by changing bushings. I use them on my 308 for 1k shooting and it's a super simple process and yields immediate results.

Rich

[Ahhnother8]

Redding type 'S' sizing die with bushing .002"-.003" smaller than a loaded round
Redding micrometer seating die

[Bongos]

Hands down, Redding Competition dies

[mjmagee67]

Before knocking crimping take a look at this: http://www.accuratereloading.com/crimping.html

I have found similar results with my 30-06 if a lightly crimp with the Lee FCD my groups shrink. This is with bullets w/o cannulars.

As far as Dies I have RCBS and Lee and both give me great results. The cheezy Lee die is very consistent for length.

[C.G.]

Depending on your budget Redding or Forster if you can't afford Redding.

[huckberry668]

Any regular 2-die set will do for auto loader. I now have a hybrid set with RCBS full length sizing die, Redding comp seating die, Lee Neck die (for bolt gun) & Lee factory crimp die (only on bullets w/ cannelures).

for autoloaders you'll have to bump the shoulder down enough to make sure it loads properly. Bullet seating will need to be mag length at the most anyway so no worrying over touching the rifling. for autoloaders you'd want more neck tension.

on the cheap you can't beat Lee Deluxe set. You'll have all the dies you'll need for autoloader and bolt gun. Just change out the die ring with something with a cross bolt to lock the ring (I like the Hornady steel rings or Forster rings). They load just as accurate rounds as the $200 competitors.

[bubbapug1]

Forster benchrest seater, and if your brass fits in a case gauge after firing, just neck size..no need to full size. The idea is to get the bullet as concentric as possible into the neck, just kissing the lands....and with the same stresses on the bullet throughout the neck. Thats a tall order if you crimp.

Also, White Oak uppers are chambered tight, so you CAN get close to the lands and still fit into a magazine, like with a SMK.

Check this thread out, these guys ran a ton of scientific tests to come up with the best groups....ever.

http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/max357/houston.html

Botom line is however, no matter what ammo you have the gun still has to be capable of shooting a good group..

This is a very bad 5 shot 100 yard group out of a 6ppc with hand load die made ammo...still working on that wind reading.

[BrianRodela]

Any regular 2-die set will do for auto loader. I now have a hybrid set with RCBS full length sizing die, Redding comp seating die, Lee Neck die (for bolt gun) & Lee factory crimp die (only on bullets w/ cannelures).

for autoloaders you'll have to bump the shoulder down enough to make sure it loads properly. Bullet seating will need to be mag length at the most anyway so no worrying over touching the rifling. for autoloaders you'd want more neck tension.

on the cheap you can't beat Lee Deluxe set. You'll have all the dies you'll need for autoloader and bolt gun. Just change out the die ring with something with a cross bolt to lock the ring (I like the Hornady steel rings or Forster rings). They load just as accurate rounds as the $200 competitors.

Second this. I'm using the Lee RGB 2 die set and am having no issues at all. Unless the bullets have a cannulure for crimping, adding the crimp will create inconsistencies when chronographing rounds. Make sure each neck is cut to the same leingth and same COAL for each round and consistency will improve. The key is consistancy to everything. I have chrony data for 80gr VLD's all within 5 fps over a 10 shot group with the cheap dies! Keep checking back also for advice!!