What type of dies for .223 AR reloading??

Gunneegoogoo

Gunneegoogoo

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I'm thinking my REC deserves better than surplus ammo all the time.

What type of dies would be a reasonable choice for a good quality gas gun?? FL I assume?? Bushing? Should I fret about COAL with a micro seater??

I'll be using Winchester and federal brass.

Thx for any advice!!

-J.
 
Gunneegoogoo said:
Are the small base needed, or will FL do, or is it gun-dependent??
Click to expand...

I buy a lot of once fired Lake City 5.56 brass, I size it first with a small base die and there after us a standard full length die. The AR15 chamber is .002 larger in diameter than a standard SAAMI .223 chamber so a small base die "may" over resize your cases. "BUT" on a semi-auto the case diameter should be .003 to .005 smaller in diameter after sizing than a fired case for reliable extraction. Meaning more brass springback after the cartridge is fired and reliable extraction. And this will depend on the brass hardness and this varies between manufactures.

How Hard is Your Brass? 5.56 and .223 Rem Base Hardness Tests
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/05/how-hard-is-your-brass-5-56-and-223-rem-base-hardness-tests/

I prefer the Forster full length dies with the high mounted expander that greatly reduces neck runout.

Below my RCBS small base die equipped with a Forster expander and spindle assembly.

IMG_2140_zpsea657d9e.jpg


The high mounted Forster expander assembly works so well I replaced all my RCBS dies with the Forster units.

Sizer_Die_011_zpst2zm6m7y.gif
 
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I've put about 3000 rnds through a xcr/2 SU16,s and an AR using FL RCBS. The only issue I've had was a set back , on the first batch of reloads. Since that I've been crimping.
 
Any full length 223 resizing die should work fine. I use Lee and RCBS and have never had a problem in any of my 223 semi's. The micro adjust ones are not needed unless you think they are. If you're going for as much accuracy as you can get from your loads then it wouldn't hurt but if you just want to make something better than factory surplus buy whatever you want.
 
Gunneegoogoo said:
Are the small base needed, or will FL do, or is it gun-dependent??
Click to expand...

You're going to need to FL resize (and the small base dies are FL resizing dies...just tighter). My experience with a few guns, one of them an AR with a custom barrel, is that it is gun dependent.

From the comments in this thread I suspect most ARs don't need the small-base dies. From experimenting with various commercial ammo in the tight chambered AR, it seems that most Commercial ammo manufacturers use something like a small-base FL die.
 
I shoot a Colt Canada SA20. It has a true 5.56x45mm chamber.

I use the standard Hornady 223Rem dies. The base of my brass is sized 0.002", and I have it set in my press to bump the shoulder back 0.003".

I shot 1200 rounds of reloads in competition last year without a single failure.

Alec
 
I'm shooting a DPMS Oracle and reloading using Lee full length sizer die, and crimp and have had no problems. I do sort my brass and try to stay away from some of the import brass especially with crimped primers.
 
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