Die suggestions for Dillon 550B - loading .223 and .308

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canucklehead

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Hey guys,

I've waded through a TON of posts about 'what dies to buy', but haven't found a really good answer to my quesion.

Essentially, I need to get some rifle dies to reload for .223 and .308 on my 550. I know brand doesn't REALLY matter for the volume I'm going

I will be loading .223 for an AR, and also for a bolt action. .308 will be loaded for my M305 only.

Question - should I get full length sizing dies for the .223? I think I'm going to neck-size only my .308 (as per Hungry), but wondering what's best for .223 in both bolt and semi? I don't want to buy two sets of dies if I don't have to.

Also - what dies do decapping and resizing in the same step? I need dies that do both on station 1. Universal deprimer is not an option, since I don't have a single stage that I can dedicate to decapping.

Thanks for the help!
Dave
 
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Full Length sizing for the AR is a must for semi auto reliability.
I'd recommend it for the M-305 too, especially if you are new to loading for it, but that's your call.
If you buy a FL sizing set, you can always buy a neck sizer seperately.
I use RCBS with a Lee Factory crimp die
 
X 2 for the Dillon Carbide. They're expensive, but they work flawlessly even with very little lubricant on your brass (yes, altough they're carbide, they still require lubricant). That's for the sizing die.

For the other dies, I really like the Dillons, especially the feature that enables you to clean your seater & crimper without unscrewing them and losing your adjustment. Also, they're less prone to rusting that most other dies I've worked with.
 
I've been thinking the Dillon's - are the non-carbide rifle dies any good? They're quite a bit cheaper, and with the volume I'm reloading (2000-3000 rounds per year), I'm not sure if it's worth the extra expense.

I don't wanna turn into a dillon whore.. :)

Thanks for the tips guys!
 
Carbide dies for sure. Brand makes little difference, unless you are looking for match quality ammo. Go with the Lee factory crimp die though....
 
I use the redding sizer die -it f/l sizes the body and has an adjustable bushing for the neck. I have the bushing a little small (offhand don't remember what size, think it's .243?) to increase neck tension. With this, I skip crimping altogether on 223. It decaps as well.
For seating, I use the redding competition seater die, works like a charm, and easily repeatable if you're jumping around with different size bullets.
 
Well, I ended up going the cheap route - Lee Pacesetter dies for both. At $30 a set, I can afford to try them out, and sell them if they aren't the best.

The .308 is only going to be fired in MY m305 - is it still necessary to FL size every time, or just eventually when it stretches and is too tight to chamber? I'm still trying to figure out the route to take.
 
I would not just neck size for the m-305 or any Garand type rifle. I partial full length size so my ammo fits all 3 of my m-305's. All three of mine have factory barrels, chambers and bolts. My ammo loaded like this will not chamber in my .308 win. 88 or my custom switch barrell Sav 112-e. It does work in my brothers 2 m-305's, again stock barrell, bolts and chambers.

It hurts me to admit it because I HATE Lee stuff, but the factory crimp die for RIFLES in general and the m-305 especially works excellent. It actually seems to improve accuracy, at least for me.

If Hungry or Lazerous 2000 say it's OK to neck size, than I am sure it will work for you. They are both MUCH more knowledgable on the m-305 than I am. It just don't work for my particular needs.

One other thing, cases don't last forever with my method, IVI's are recycled at 6 or 7 firings at the max. I don't know how long neck sized cases last in the m-305, but it's probably a lot longer.
 
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