Full size, neck size, or small base dies for 223 Rem?

[xsn10s]

Thanks @xsn10s . I read in to it and I'm liking the idea of the X Die Set. Appreciate the help.

No problem. Before you buy be aware you need to trim the brass before the first firing. After that it's not needed if the dies are set up right. So far I'm on my third firing with no need to trim on Federal brass. Usually I need to trim on every other firing with Federal brass in my AR15's.

 

[LVJ76]

No problem. Before you buy be aware you need to trim the brass before the first firing. After that it's not needed if the dies are set up right. So far I'm on my third firing with no need to trim on Federal brass. Usually I need to trim on every other firing with Federal brass in my AR15's.

Thanks and yeah I've, I've had that same issue with federal brass before.

 

[xsn10s]

Thanks and yeah I've, I've had that same issue with federal brass before.

Notoriously soft. Any softer they'd be like me, I bruise like a peach!

 

[UncleDano]

FL sizing die unless you have an AR with an extra tight chamber.

 

[LVJ76]

Thank you all. I have some time off tomorrow so I'll give it a try and see how it works out.

 

[LVJ76]

I'll poke your brains a little more. I have Remington 7 1/2, CCI 400 and Federal GM205M primers, which will work best?

I've read here that Federal are a bit soft and get get ignited when closing the bolt on the AR.

What do you all recommend?

Thanks again

Luis

 

[Hugnot]

Full length dies vary in dimensions - I scrounge up .223 range brass and have lots of it, some of which is good quality. I recently picked up 150 or so pieces of brass made in Lithuania with swaged primers. I use 3 brands of F/L dies: a Redding .223 small base body die, a Redding type S F/L bushing die, and a RCBS F/L die. I can run 5.56 brass thru the Redding type S bushing die and have extraction problems with my Ruger M77 MKII but no extraction problems with sizing using the Redding small base die & RCBS die. My usual process with sizing range brass after careful inspection and cleaning is to run it thru the Redding small base die. We shoot lots of .223 & .20P ammo and prefer CCI #41 primers. My .204 R is now a back row gun safe queen as I am carefully rationing .204R brass.

I have read that the Rem 7 1/2 is the hottest small rifle primer.

https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1203/1203.2701.pdf

I use these in my 6.5X47 Lapua with 120 ELDM bullets & R-S Hunter powder - no problems at less than 30*.

Non magnum or standard small rifle primers like CCI 400's have reported cup thicknesses of .020 inches vs. .025 for magnum primers like CCI 450's BR4's & Rem 7 1/2's.

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Upon shooting hot loads using CCI 400's I have has primer dimples pushed back into the bolt thru the firing pin hole in the bolt face.

Federal 200's are reported to be thinnest at .019".

My favorite SRP is the CCI 41.

 

[bamban]

We support the TX junior high power team, on a typical 5 day training we shoot anywhere from 10-12K rounds. All rounds sized with standard FL die. Never had any issue with their ARs. They all have the same chamber, barrels spun from Shilen donated blanks.

 

[xsn10s]

I'll poke your brains a little more. I have Remington 7 1/2, CCI 400 and Federal GM205M primers, which will work best?

I've read here that Federal are a bit soft and get get ignited when closing the bolt on the AR.

What do you all recommend?

Thanks again

Luis

Full disclosure Fed 205M are soft and do get dented. I have not have them ignite from closing the bolt. They are my preferred 5.56/ 223 AR15 primer for accuracy loads from 53gr-77gr loads. I've used CCI 400 and 450, WSR white box and they work. But the Fed 205M just seem to consistently make more accurate rounds for me. YMMV.

 

[Another Casual]

If you're loading for multiple rifles in .223 splurge on a case gauge. Best money I've spent on the caliber. What mine has told me is that all of my rifles are fine with a standard 223 sizer. If a particular rifle's brass doesn't fit after firing then you know it needs the small base.

 

[SSgt G Cody]

I use FL dies on all new brass, then neck dies on most reloads. Anneal every other firing. Trim as needed. Snug neck, and Mag primers!

 

[LVJ76]

Thanks again all for your help.

I'll be trying the full size die first and go from there.

I'll go with the CCI 400's for practice loads and GM205M's for precision loads. I've always loved Federal Match primers, they have never disappointed, so I'll save these for more precise loads.

I'm trying some Nosler 50gr Ballistic Silvertips with TAC and the Hornady 60gr HPBT's with A2520.

I'm only loading for one AR and it's just a for fun shooting gun but I'll eventually use it for some type of hunting. Regardless I still want tiny groups so that'll be the goal.

Thanks again everyone and stay safe

Luis

 

[Hondo64d]

Hello all,

I mostly use neck dies especially for my 7mm-08 bolt actions. Have also used them in .223 Rem, 280 Rem and other cartridges with zero issues.

For my AR in .223/5.56 what would work best? I have all 3 sets already.

Thank you in advance.

Luis

Regular dies should work fine provided you are virgin brass or brass that has only been fired in your rifle. If you are using milsurp or other brass that was fired in someone else's rifle, then, at least for the initial sizing, a small base die is a safer bet.

All that being said, I have found Forster dies to size the case body a little smaller than most and have loaded literally thousands of milsurp brass without using a small base die, instead using Forster FL dies. They have all functioned flawlessly in my AR.

John

 

[budlight]

Lee Ultimate 4-Die Set 223 Remington

Choose the Lee Ultimate Die Set for maximum versatility. The set features a full length-resizing die to return brass to factory new dimensions, perfect...

www.midwayusa.com

Lee has superior decapping pin design over replaceable RCBS pins. Just buy several because you can bend them.

I used to trim and chamfer all 223 to 1.750 They actually work fine out to 1.770 or so. Since I use a Dillion 550 the crimper stage is a good thing to be consistent on neck tension.

I use Rem BR primer for precision AR shooting. AR-comp and 2000-mr powder. Leverrevolution, 748, CFE 223, H414 are okay. .223 IMO is kind of limited to 75 and less grain bullets because of the 2.26 length.

I only use match 11° target crowned SS barrels of 20 and 24 inches. I'm a piston gun AR guy

Size them first and then wet tumble clean to be lube free for reloading. I sort everything and only use Lake City for paper days. It is possible to shoot sub dime sized 200 yard groups in a AR platform.