AR reloaders input please.

stralia

stralia

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Hey guys.

I reload .223 for my bolt gun with great success using a Lee die set. My question is, is reloading for a bolt gun the same as for an AR? I just picked up a RRA 16" upper and would like to develop some loads for it. Are there specific dies for AR's, or are the same as the garden variety?

Cheers!
 
No difference with the exception that your C.O.L will have to be short enough to allow the round to seat in the magazine and chamber properly when loading from the magazine. I full length size my .223 brass as I have been told neck sizing may cause cambering issues but that's just hear say I'm sure someone who knows better will correct me. .223 dies are .223 dies regardless of what firearm you are loading for.
 
Cobec is 100% correct. One thing to mention is you need a good crimp on the brass to make sure the rounds load properly and do not set the bullet back. There are AR specific dies out there. RCBS makes them but I've never seen the point yet to them. I use the Lee set for my 223 and it works.
 
I'm told the LEE dies are closer to the RCBS AR Small Base dies and you shouldn't have any problems using the FL die for use in your AR.

FYI, you should post this in the Reloading section.
 
Trinimon said:
I'm told the LEE dies are closer to the RCBS AR Small Base dies and you shouldn't have any problems using the FL die for use in your AR.

FYI, you should post this in the Reloading section.
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Yes, it was a tossup. I wanted to put it where more AR blokes look. So I should only be full length sizing each time and ever just neck size?
 
Just make sure to use a full length size or small base die. Factory crimp die is advisable as well. Also be warned if you reload with some of the softer brands of SR primers you might want to change to harder ones to prevent the possibility of slam fires, federal are soft CCIs are harder.
 
I reload for an r-15 in 204R. I just use full length rcbs dies. Neck sizing for semi auto firearms is not reccomended. No issues but I have measured some unfired shells after loading and the bullet does move slightly. Crimp would be a good idea. You can buy small base dies if you have a tight chamber but I wouldn't bother unless you run into problems.
 
One Lung Wonder said:
I used regular .223 dies and full length sized them and they worked just fine.
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Yup.... 'Have loaded close to 20000 rounds of .223 using regular Hornady dies.
I do apply a mild crimp to rounds loaded for the AR... Probably not needed, but it offers some peace of mind given the violence involved in the chambering of rounds during firing.
 
stralia said:
So I should only be full length sizing each time and ever just neck size?
Click to expand...

It's not really recommended as you can have feeding issues. I have tried neck sizing cases shot from my own AR as a suggestion from a friend and I have shot 20 rounds without any hiccups. The nice thing is that it saves having to do case trimming. Would I trust them if I took 'em hunting etc, nope. Chances are you probably can't shoot 'em from other rifles too.
 
One of my friends neck sizes and gets good accuracy out of his AR, but every now and then he gets a bunch of rounds that won't feed. Full length size and bump your shoulder back 3-5 though for reliable feeding. Buy a case gauge and go through all your reloads - to confirm that your brass is sized properly and that it will feed into your chamber. Every now and then you get a case with a beat up or out of spec rim which goes ok through the die but fails the case gauge test.
 
I use hornady dies for resizing and bullet seating and a lee factory crimp die to produce a crimp.

I use 25.5gr of H335 with a 55gr bullet and accuracy has been excellent while reliability has been 100%.

I'm definitely a student of crimping. I loaded 2 squibs my first time around reloading and the crimp was strong enough to retain the bullet when the primer was struck in both cases.
 
here's mine,
Dillon dies( small base)
No crimp for me
Neck I.D. .2197
1.446- from case base(head) to shoulder using Sinclair Bump Gauge
1.460- base to Datum line using Hornady Headspacae Gauge
Measure your fired case either way(gauges) and bump the shoulder for AR from .003-.005
Always checked if your having bullet setback, with a dummy round use the "Thumb check" or chamber your dummy round and checked your OAL.
Powders- H335, WW748, VHit. 530 all for my 55grs. pills
- Vhit. 135,Vhit.140 for my 68grs and 75grs bullets
 
The only difference I've heard so far between reloading for an AR vs bolt action is apparently the throat in an AR is a bit longer so a cartridge fired in both will have less pressure in the AR.
 
Similar here too. I use one set of dies and one load (mil spec duplication). I use a separate crimp die, collet style and run it in all my rifles and pistols of this caliber, bolt or semi.
 
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