I understand you are supposed to use Small base dies for semi-auto and pumps. but is there any benifit to using them for bolt action. The shop I got them from gave me a set of short base instead of full length. I didn't relize until I got home. So will the short base dies work as good or better for my 223 bolt action or should I go back and exchange or order a set of full length?
Small base vs full length dies
- Thread starter r106
- Start date
They will work fine for your bolt gun, but the brass will get worked more.
If you are using the brass strictly in the Bolt gun, then I would get a neck sizing die.
If you are shooting in both SA and Bolt, then I would still get a Neck Sizer for the Bolt and keep the Small Base for the SA.
If you are using the brass strictly in the Bolt gun, then I would get a neck sizing die.
If you are shooting in both SA and Bolt, then I would still get a Neck Sizer for the Bolt and keep the Small Base for the SA.
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
I use SB dies for .308 because I reload for an M14 (semi), a Rem 742 (semi) and pair of Rem 600's (bolt), and I really can't be bothered to keep four separate stockpiles of reloaded ammo. My reloads work great in all four rifles; I do trash my brass after 5 reloads however.
It all comes down to the intended use. If you intend to use your loads only in one (bolt) rifle and only for slow-fire target shooting, neck-sizing-only might be fine. For hunting, for multiple firearms, for reliability...it might not be adequate.
"...trash my brass after 5 reloads however..." Whatever for? As long as there are no cracks etc, they'll be fine for far more than 5.
"...supposed to use Small base..." Or regular FL. It's one or the other. You don't absolutely have to use an SB die only. SB dies just resize the case a bit smaller than an FL die does. Your SB die will be fine, but like CyaN1de says, the brass will be worked more.
"...supposed to use Small base..." Or regular FL. It's one or the other. You don't absolutely have to use an SB die only. SB dies just resize the case a bit smaller than an FL die does. Your SB die will be fine, but like CyaN1de says, the brass will be worked more.
If you back the FL die out a couple of revs, it is a neck sizer. use it that way until you feel resistance to chambering a round, then FL size.
I laod for a number of semi-s and pumps, including remingtons, and have not need SB dies. It is a luck of the draw thing.
I laod for a number of semi-s and pumps, including remingtons, and have not need SB dies. It is a luck of the draw thing.
