Ready for .223/5.56 Dies - RCBS X-Dies or AR Series Dies?

[ExtremeX]

Im ready to buy some dies for my Pro 2000, so far im down to RCBS X-Dies or AR Series Dies?

All these rounds will be used in a semi-auto ar platform. What do you recommend between the two?

[Chief-7700]

Dillon rifle dies come with a built in stuck case remover.

[XDRoX]

X-die is in a league of of own.
Trim once and then never again. No other die can offer this that I know of.

[XDRoX]

Dillon rifle dies come with a built in stuck case remover.

What does this look like? I have a pretty new set of 223 dies from Dillon and don't recall getting a stuck case remover.

[morrow]

Get the X-die for sizing/depriming.
For seating make sure the die is a taper crimp die (I believe that's all RCBS sells these days new for rifle brass) as the taper crimp works the brass less and is more forgiving on OAL.

Just be aware you'll need to make sure you're keeping your already trimmed X-die brass separate from any others you might pick up, as those will need to be trimmed.

[ExtremeX]

I am looking at projectiles I come across options with or without Cannelure....

I was about to get a box of Hornady V-Max projectiles which do not have the cannelure and various other projectiles that do.

Is there a specific type of crimp taper or role that should be used or is crimping only to be used on cannelure projectiles? Would I be better off not crimping the V-Max bullets?

Should this effect my decision making process in my dies?

[morrow]

Crimping = cannelure or groove only. If you really want to crimp a bullet without use taper crimp

You don't need to crimp, neck tension will be fine.

[Quinc]

OP you decided against the comp dies?

X-die is in a league of of own.
Trim once and then never again. No other die can offer this that I know of.

Wha?!? Why would you not have to trim again, and why isn't everyone using these?!

[morrow]

Wha?!? Why would you not have to trim again, and why isn't everyone using these?!

Because often it's too tough to keep brass separated, so they don't bother. I'm in the catagory, my brass gets mixed up and I get new and range brass, so I just trim before loading.

[ExtremeX]

Because often it's too tough to keep brass separated, so they don't bother. I'm in the catagory, my brass gets mixed up and I get new and range brass, so I just trim before loading.

Ya I was thinking of this myself too... when I go shooting with my friends I take their brass because they don't reload. Plus cleanup in the desert is a group effort and everything goes into one bucket which I have to sort anyways.... after thinking about it I am actually leaning away from the x-dies.

[ExtremeX]

OP you decided against the comp dies?

I am still researching them...

I might get it down the road, I might just get another die plate and set it up just for .223 match ammo and keep the AR Series dies just for general use ammo...

I really want to just see what type of results I can achieve with whatever I decide to pickup. If I can find a nice compromise between the type of accuracy I get with M193 and match ammo, its going to take care of 90% of my shooting needs because I usually shoot steel plates at a distance.

[morrow]

As said previously in other threads the Dillon dies rock.
I personally use the RCBS AR series dies with the carbide expander balls (sold by Hornady)

[mls204]

i picked up a set of rcbs dies last week for $25 when psa had their 20% off going on. they're not x-dies tho just the regular set.

[mud99]

I love the x-die. If your rifle has a loose chamber like most AR-15 rifles, you don't even have to trim, just set the x-die a little on the long side. I take the longest piece of unsized brass I can find which went through my gun, and size it to that length.

It will also work as a normal full length sizing die if you decide you don't like it.

I have never trimmed a single piece of .223.

[9mmrevolver]

I have the x die and love it. I've trimmed about 2000 cases and am damn glad I don't have to retrim. One time the kids dumped someone else's brass into my brass. Couldn't get to pissed off because they were good little gophers. Plus I just sorted out by head stamp and have them in a separate marked container. Xdie is all I will use now