Question about accurately sizing brass for semi auto use

[Mike402]

I've had great success reloading for my .308 bolt action, and am waiting on a new heavy barrel AR build from JP Rifle.

I am trying to get a jumpstart on formulating my loads before the rifle gets to me so I bought one of their case gauges, which is cut from the same reamer as their chambers (.223 Wylde). At this point I am sizing to the gauge, and will finalize once I actually get the rifle in my hands.

I have the Redding National Match .223 die set, however I'm not really fond of the expander ball in the full length die. Really got to lube it well otherwise stuck cases, and I believe it overworks brass & doesn't give consistent concentricity (I've been measuring them w/ a concentricity gauge)

After switching over to the Lee collet die in my .308, I decided to go this route in the .223 as well.

My plan is to remove the expander ball in the Redding FL die, size the brass (using the competition shell holders & bumping the shoulder back .003 - .004), then size the necks with the Lee collet die. Any potential issues you see with doing this?

I've called both Redding & Lee and they couldn't definitively tell me if it will work. They just give me the standard answer to only FL resize brass for semi auto use.

I know Redding has the FL bushing resizing die, but I like the Lee collet die better since it creates better concentricity on the inside of the neck that holds the bullet, and doesn't require lube. The Redding is great if you are turning necks, but there is no way I'm going to do that for .223 semi auto brass.

Any thoughts? My goal is .5 moa loads, which I know the JP barrels are capable of.

[Ferrum]

Only issue that I had, going from .308 bolt to semi platform, was I had to small base size my brass for use in my AR. Not everyone has the same problem, just something to be aware of if it doesn't chamber correctly.

[mark501w]

F/L size you may even have to S/B size. Functioning is your 1st priority with a auto loader not over working the brass. I don't know why you are having problems with your expander ball, to large?

[ocabj]

I bump shoulders back on .223 for my gun by .002". I use a standard Redding FL sizing die for my mag length ammo, and a Redding FL S-Type (bushing) die for my single loaded ammo.

I only small base resize brass that will be used in a gun that it wasn't fired out of initially.

[Mike402]

F/L size you may even have to S/B size. Functioning is your 1st priority with a auto loader not over working the brass. I don't know why you are having problems with your expander ball, to large?

I actually got the carbide expander, and not having problems with it, just don't think its the best way of sizing the neck.

So in essence I'm still full length resizing, just using a separate die for the body & the neck. I was just wondering if there is any known issues with doing that.

I'll see how it works out with the standard die in terms of functioning, and then keep the SB die in mind.

[Mike402]

I bump shoulders back on .223 for my gun by .002". I use a standard Redding FL sizing die for my mag length ammo, and a Redding FL S-Type (bushing) die for my single loaded ammo.

I only small base resize brass that will be used in a gun that it wasn't fired out of initially.

.002 is less than everything I've read/heard about that. Do you find that gives you more accuracy?

Also do you use an expander ball in your Redding FL die? Are you happy with that?

[mark501w]

I use RCBS F/L dies & add S/B dies if necessary. I set the die to cam over for F/L sizing & check the case length .

[ocabj]

.002 is less than everything I've read/heard about that. Do you find that gives you more accuracy?

Also do you use an expander ball in your Redding FL die? Are you happy with that?

I don't think it gives me more accuracy. I just do it because .002" is still reliable in my competition service rifles and I hope it's extending the life of my brass.

I use the expander balls since I've never subscribed to the ideology of removing expander balls. I want the necks to be concentric, therefore I need to run an expander ball through them.

I guess the anal way to go about it would be to use an expander ball without sizing the neck (e.g. body only die) and then neck sizing only without an expander ball.

[CSACANNONEER]

Use FL dies. Remove the expander ball and get this: https://www.kmshooting.com/catalog/c..._complete.html

Yea, it adds another step to your reloading process but, I use it for loading 50BMG and am super happy with it.