Does Dillon make 2 different non-carbide dies for .223 and another for .223 and 5.56?Just a little confused here.I read somewhere that if loading for an AR15 to get small base dies for .223-5.56 and use regular base dies for bolt action .223 cases.
Dillon 3 die set for .223/5.56?
- Thread starter LouF
- Start date
It is my understanding that all of the .223 and .308 Dillon dies are small base dies and size the cases to minimum SAAMI dimensions.
Dies and chambers vary in size and it is my experience that Lee dies size cases smaller than other brands of dies.
Below is a .223/5.56 reamer chart and as you can see the 5.56 chambers are .002 larger in diameter. Meaning a standard .223 resizing die will properly size a .223/5.56 case fired in a AR15 rifle 99% of the time. But just remember dies and chambers vary and cases vary in hardness and nothing is written in stone.
For reliable extraction in a semi-auto the resized case should be .003 to .005 smaller in diameter than its fired diameter, and the shoulder bump for a semi-auto is .003 to .006. So again chambers and dies vary in size, example my .223 Lee full length die sizes the cases smaller in diameter than my RCBS small base die.
I'm loading for three AR15 rifles and a .223 bolt action Savage and have more than seven different type .223 dies. And if your sizing cases fired in your rifle a standard .223 die should work fine.
I buy a lot of bulk once fired military Lake City 5.56 and 7.62 brass that has been fired in many different chambers. This brass is first sized with a RCBS small base die and thereafter I size the brass with a standard .223 die.
Bottom line, I would not spend the money on a Dillon carbide die unless you have a progressive press and plan on loading hundreds of rounds in one sitting. Also I would buy a standard die and see how it works and "IF NEEDED" then buy a small base die. "BUT" if you plan on using once fired or range pickup brass I would also get a small base die. This is because these cases were fire formed for another chamber and when sizing you will be dealing with brass spring back.
Below from left to right a Wilson, Dillon and JP Enterprise case gauges. As you can see the Wilson and Dillon gauges do not check case diameter and the reversed cases drop further into these gauges. I use the JP Enterprise gauge to only check case diameter as the final "plop test" of the loaded rounds. If the cases fit the JP Enterprise meaning fall in and fall out just by flipping the gauge the loaded rounds will fit in any chamber. The JP Enterprise gauge is made from a finish chamber reamer and the Wilson and Dillon gauges only check case headspace.
Below measuring a fired case from my AR15 carbine with a Hornady cartridge case headspace gauge. The die was then adjusted to bump the case shoulder back .003 from its fired length and I highly recomend on of these gauges. With the Hornady gauge you only need to buy this one gauge and not buy a separate gauge for each caliber you load for.
Dies and chambers vary in size and it is my experience that Lee dies size cases smaller than other brands of dies.
Below is a .223/5.56 reamer chart and as you can see the 5.56 chambers are .002 larger in diameter. Meaning a standard .223 resizing die will properly size a .223/5.56 case fired in a AR15 rifle 99% of the time. But just remember dies and chambers vary and cases vary in hardness and nothing is written in stone.
For reliable extraction in a semi-auto the resized case should be .003 to .005 smaller in diameter than its fired diameter, and the shoulder bump for a semi-auto is .003 to .006. So again chambers and dies vary in size, example my .223 Lee full length die sizes the cases smaller in diameter than my RCBS small base die.
I'm loading for three AR15 rifles and a .223 bolt action Savage and have more than seven different type .223 dies. And if your sizing cases fired in your rifle a standard .223 die should work fine.
I buy a lot of bulk once fired military Lake City 5.56 and 7.62 brass that has been fired in many different chambers. This brass is first sized with a RCBS small base die and thereafter I size the brass with a standard .223 die.
Bottom line, I would not spend the money on a Dillon carbide die unless you have a progressive press and plan on loading hundreds of rounds in one sitting. Also I would buy a standard die and see how it works and "IF NEEDED" then buy a small base die. "BUT" if you plan on using once fired or range pickup brass I would also get a small base die. This is because these cases were fire formed for another chamber and when sizing you will be dealing with brass spring back.
Below from left to right a Wilson, Dillon and JP Enterprise case gauges. As you can see the Wilson and Dillon gauges do not check case diameter and the reversed cases drop further into these gauges. I use the JP Enterprise gauge to only check case diameter as the final "plop test" of the loaded rounds. If the cases fit the JP Enterprise meaning fall in and fall out just by flipping the gauge the loaded rounds will fit in any chamber. The JP Enterprise gauge is made from a finish chamber reamer and the Wilson and Dillon gauges only check case headspace.
Below measuring a fired case from my AR15 carbine with a Hornady cartridge case headspace gauge. The die was then adjusted to bump the case shoulder back .003 from its fired length and I highly recomend on of these gauges. With the Hornady gauge you only need to buy this one gauge and not buy a separate gauge for each caliber you load for.
Great info thanks!I plan on buying quality ammo, then use that brass that I shot out of my AR rifle only. Also buy new,unfired brass shoot it from my AR,and load that.What brass would be best?I read that some ammo has crimped primers and I have to ream primer pockets before loading.Which ammo manufacturers does this and is crimping necessary?
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All military 5.56 and commercial 5.56 made for the military will have the hardest brass. This is why I buy once fired Lake City brass that is already processed.
.223/5.56 - Cleaned, Deprimed & Swaged - LC Only - 500 Pieces $54.00 free shipping. (0.11 cents ea. and new Lapua would be 0.64 cents ea. and new Winchester would be 0.28 cents ea.)
wwdotbrassbombersdot
com/223-556-Cleaned-Deprimed-Swaged-LC-Only-500-Pieces-2LC-S0050.htm
Bottom line once fired military brass is very good hard brass, and more than good enough for use with a AR15 rifle, and you won't cry if you loose a few cases.
.223/5.56 - Cleaned, Deprimed & Swaged - LC Only - 500 Pieces $54.00 free shipping. (0.11 cents ea. and new Lapua would be 0.64 cents ea. and new Winchester would be 0.28 cents ea.)
wwdotbrassbombersdot
com/223-556-Cleaned-Deprimed-Swaged-LC-Only-500-Pieces-2LC-S0050.htm
Bottom line once fired military brass is very good hard brass, and more than good enough for use with a AR15 rifle, and you won't cry if you loose a few cases.
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