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johnnyreb65

johnnyreb65

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Just starting to get into reloading... I'm going to be reloading .223 for a bolt action Tikka and an AR15..I was talking to someone about dies and he said there are 2 types of .223 dies..large and small. The large die is for semi autos to allow for varying tolerances as the small is for bolt actions..The large die can be used in all actions, the small only for bolts.. He says buy the large die.

CONFUSED... please explain.:confused:
 
johnnyreb65 said:
Just starting to get into reloading... I'm going to be reloading .223 for a bolt action Tikka and an AR15..I was talking to someone about dies and he said there are 2 types of .223 dies..large and small. The large die is for semi autos to allow for varying tolerances as the small is for bolt actions..The large die can be used in all actions, the small only for bolts.. He says buy the large die.

CONFUSED... please explain.:confused:
Click to expand...

I think he meant small base dies and regular full length dies. I use small base for semi auto rifles and full length for bolt guns.But with proper setup, the full length die can be used for semi autos as well.
 
303carbine said:
I think he meant small base dies and regular full length dies. I use small base for semi auto rifles and full length for bolt guns.But with proper setup, the full length die can be used for semi autos as well.
Click to expand...

I think you're referring to full size and neck size. He was referring to something else.
 
johnnyreb65 said:
The large die is for semi autos to allow for varying tolerances as the small is for bolt actions..The large die can be used in all actions, the small only for bolts.. He says buy the large die.

CONFUSED... please explain.:confused:
Click to expand...

The information you were given is backwards

Small Base FL Sizer is for SA's for proper feeding.
Regular FL Sizer is for Bolt guns

I would try the Regular FL sizer and see if you have any feeding/chambering problems with your SA. If you do, then get a Small Base FL Sizer die.
 
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303carbine said:
I think he meant small base dies and regular full length dies. I use small base for semi auto rifles and full length for bolt guns.But with proper setup, the full length die can be used for semi autos as well.
Click to expand...

Not neccessarily true. If Large Base dies sized the brass small enough for semi's then there would obviously be no need for Small Base dies.

To johnnyreb65, buy a set of quality Large or Regular Dies for your .223, Hornady is what I would recommend & make some rounds. You can, by not running the Full Length sizing die right to the shell holder accomplish, almost, the same thing a a neck size die. Then run your Full Length Die right to the shell holder & run some brass thru & see if it cycles freely in the semi-auto, if not then purchase a set of Small Base dies for the semi.
 
New brass or brass fired out of another rifle, needs to be FL resized.
Using the same brass in both rifles works just fine as long as you full length resize when loading for one or the other. You can neck size only for the bolt action, but only with brass fired out of that rifle.
You can buy a neck sizer only die(it's one die, not a whole set) or set up an FL die to neck size only(that's a trial and error nuisance that will require you'll to set up the die every time you load for one rifle or the other). Buying the neck sizer die and using one brand of brass for each rifle will save you some headaches.
Either Small Base or FL dies will be fine. Semi-autos require one or other every time though. An SB die just sizes the brass a bit more than an FL die. They aren't absolutely required for semi's.
"...Not neccessarily true..." It's most assuredly true. FL sizer dies have been around for a lot longer than SB dies. Lots of people have used FL dies for semi's with no fuss for eons. If my M14 and M1 rifle were speaking to me, I'd have them tell you all about it.
 
Very true but I have reloaded for a number of diff semi over the years that wouldn't accept a case that wasn't FLS'd in a SB die. In fact I helped a neighbour that couldn't size brass small enough to go into his 308 BLR unless you used SB dies. That was my point for the guy, try a reg quality die set 1st, he needs one for his bolt gun anyway & see if it would size the brass small enough for his semi.

Again if not neccessary true, why would we have Small Base Dies, if Large Base dies sized the brass small enough for semi's then there would obviously be no need for Small Base dies would there!
 
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Thanks guys....still confused...... Thanks for the help.

I went to my local store and said I was loading .223 for a bolt action Tikka and a Stag Ar15...

He sold me RCBS PN 11101 F L DIE SET .223 REM Group A Shell holder #10

I checked the RCBS site they sell 3 types of .223..

11101 - F L DIE SET .223 REM $ 37.95
11102 - NECK DIE SET .223 REM $ 41.95
11103 - SMALL BASE DIE SET .223 REM

I should be oka with what the guy sold me right?

Also,, most people I've talked to say RCBS are good dies,,,I'm also gonna get 9mm and .40 but the store didn't carry them. My local gun store sells Lee dies,,are they any good?

Can you guys list the best dies in order?

Thanks
 
I think you will be fine with the full length RCBS dies you bought, I tried regular full length dies and it worked in my AR. Try a few rounds, if they don't feed reliably then worry about it. You can always get small base dies at a later date, but if the dies you have work then just run with it. As for RCBS and Lee dies I have both and have a slight preference for the RCBS. Either way I would go with carbide dies for the 9 mm and .40 If you get carbide dies, with the ram all the way up on your press leave a slight gap between the die and the shell holder, don't cam over it's supposedly not good for carbide dies.
 
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