.223 die set recommendations

[Sunday]

I am ashamed to have to post but Dillon Carbide Dies. Buy once cry once. Plain and simple.

[mjmagee67]

I'm all about more for less or at least the same for less. With that said Lee dies all the way. I make quality match 223 & 30-06 ammo with my cheap old Lee dies.

[DS94901]

How about the hornady 2 die set? I just picked one up but haven't tried it out yet.

[Solus]

there was atleast 20 sets of 223 fl rcbs sets at basspro in rancho on friday... I like RCBS dies. I would get Full Length dies for reloading rifle dies. Especially if you buy the brass from someone else.

[Colt562]

Me personally I would get the RCBS 2 die set. Works like a charm for me. I use Small Base Dies, but you can use full length as well.

[eric90503]

Thanks for everyones input. It gets more confusing but clearer as this thread progresses, ha.

From what I understand, the small base dies sizes the case dimensions smaller than a full length die so that if there are inconstancies in various mixed headstamps shot out of different rifles (i.e. range brass). The small base dies would essentially make your reloaded cartridges more reliable chambering and extracting.

Got a lot of responses to go Dillon. However, I just saw on Dillons website, all their rifle dies are small base Well that solves that.

Now a new question pops up, which it's effects are probably minuscule. IF a chamber can support a FL sized cartridge. Would a FL sized cartridge be more accurate than a small base sized one, given they are loaded to the same specs and fired from the same gun?

btw, my rifle barrel uses a chopped down 20"SDM to 17.5" WOA barrel with a .223 Wylde chamber. I guess it would also be helpful to see what WOA recommends as well.

[LynnJr]

Thanks for everyones input. It gets more confusing but clearer as this thread progresses, ha.

From what I understand, the small base dies sizes the case dimensions smaller than a full length die so that if there are inconstancies in various mixed headstamps shot out of different rifles (i.e. range brass). The small base dies would essentially make your reloaded cartridges more reliable chambering and extracting.

A small base die sizes the case near the casehead or base to a smaller diameter as the name implies.
On a bolt action gun where the brass comes out of the chamber cool to the touch you would use a small base die only if you had hard extraction of your cases or what is commonly referred to as bolt click.
On a semi-auto the cases get extracted very quickly while they are still hot which often times means you need a little more clearance for proper extraction.If you are having feeding/extraction issues do to insufficient base clearance you would then switch to a small base die.

Got a lot of responses to go Dillon. However, I just saw on Dillons website, all their rifle dies are small base Well that solves that.

In my opinion I would only use small base dies if they are needed

Now a new question pops up, which it's effects are probably minuscule. IF a chamber can support a FL sized cartridge. Would a FL sized cartridge be more accurate than a small base sized one, given they are loaded to the same specs and fired from the same gun?

A properly full length sized case would be more accurate than a small base full length sized case if they both fed and extracted well from the same chamber.The small base sized case would need to expand more to fit the chamber so you are giving away pressure and thus velocity when you use a small base die if it isn't necessary for proper functioning.
The key to accuracy is starting your bullets down the barrel as straight as possible.If a full length sized piece of brass will function properly and you size its base more with a small base die it rattles around in the chamber more giving you worse alignment of the bullet.

btw, my rifle barrel uses a chopped down 20"SDM to 17.5" WOA barrel with a .223 Wylde chamber. I guess it would also be helpful to see what WOA recommends as well.

It truly only matters how your brass fits in your gun wether you need a small base die or not.If you had a Wylde reamer and took it to several different gunsmiths for a chamber job the gunsmith who pre-bored most of the chamber and aligned the barrel on the lathe to the tightest tolerances would most likely have the tightest base fit over another gunsmith who merely used the reamer to do the entire job.
The reamer will wallow out more of the base depending on how straight it is fit to the barrel and if material is removed before it is used.
If you pick up range brass fired in a tight fitting bolt gun and you run it into a small base die it forces the shoulder forward.This in turn makes the necks longer once the shoulder comes into contact with the die and you caes over all length can increase significantly requiring trimming.

[A and O]

Thank You for the info re the Dillon dies being SB Lynn. My preference is for using the Dillon Dies in Bottleneck cartridges vs the others on my bench. I like the stuck case extraction feature on them. Funny, I've not had any issue with stuck brass since using the Dillon Dies and I've processed over 9 grand 223 since buying the Dillons.

I do not know for certain, but the Dillon Die for 223 anyhow seems to be polished to a higher standard. Perhaps I got the 1 in a 1,000 die? I've come across bad or at least unacceptable dies over the years from most of the Manufactures out there. So far both Dillon and Redding appear to have the highest quality control and are worth the extra cost. Just my .02

[stilly]

Looking to pick up a set of .223 dies. I know... good luck with that right

I have a Redding BigBoss II and a newly aquired 650XL.

Going to give .223 a whirl and wanted to see what you guys recommend for a die set. Redding or Dillon. I noticed there are many different models when getting into the Redding brand.

Lastly, I was told by a longtime reloader to pick up a Dillon small base standard set (Seating die & sizing die) but a Lee factory crimp die instead of the Dillon?...

Just trying to make sense of this.

Looking forward to reloading all the .223 brass I've been saving since the early 90's

Thanks in advance!!

You can do what is on my plan.
1. Get a Lee Neck Sizer or Collet Sizer die in .223 so that you are set for any bolt or crack in halfs you may buy.
2. Get an RCBS X-Die FL Sizer.
3. Get a Lee seater/crimper whatever die (just get the Lee .223 Neck sizer die set and buy a seperate RCBS FL Sizer)
4. In theory, you should be able to use your brass longer/more with this setup as long as you use your RCBS X-Die to FL Size every time. Until I can see that it works like they say, it is just a unicorn, but hey, I have documentation (from the internet) so it MUST work...

[Dark Mod]

Depends on what the application is, but if your not considering Lee dies, then i would go with redding. I just have a thing for redding dies, to me they are some of the finest dies available.

Not a huge fan of the Lee Factory Crimp die, but alot of people swear by it.

[chris]

The problem with getting Dillon set right now will be finding someone who has them in stock...

Field Time and Sports in Westminister had them yesterday. I bought one and hey had 2 more sets.

[milotrain]

I like dillon, and their backorder works you just have to wait for them to deliver. Not so much of a wait. The stuck case removing feature is fantastic and unique. They are great dies.

[dabibbee]

I know I'm late to the party here but I've used Dillon carbide dies, Redding dies, and then bought Forster Ultra dies. In my humble opinion the Forster is the best. The higher cost Redding dies I hear are just as good but all my loads are very concentric which I could not get out of the lower cost Redding
or Dillon dies. The Forster bullet seating die is just the best. Hard to get but worth the wait.

One man's opinion,

Dave