I’m about to build .223 trainer and I’m interested in what dies people prefer for a bolt action .223 on single stage press.
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Which die set for .223
- Thread starter K80/6.5
- Start date
I don't have experience with every die but of what I have used and liked the best are Forster dies and Mighty Armory.
I tend to like the Mighty Armory a bit more these days. The reason for that is the decapping pin assembly is a lot more robust.
That being said I have migrated to using expander mandrels so my reasoning above is kind of moot.
I tend to like the Mighty Armory a bit more these days. The reason for that is the decapping pin assembly is a lot more robust.
That being said I have migrated to using expander mandrels so my reasoning above is kind of moot.
I use Redding Type S with no bushing, and the Lee Collet die for neck tension.
Forster full length sizer with the decapping pin/expander removed. I set then set neck tension with a Sinclair mandril die.
^ This here, almost. I leave the decapping pin in and remove the expander ball, I used to bother depriming before cleaning but not anymore. Three steps on the press now: FL size and deprime, mandrel, seat.
Absolutely.
Cut over 1/4 moa, on some loads more.
Especially using range brass even when sorted seems the neck tension was a problem.
Not anymore, and run everything on a mandrell now.
I leave the expander in my fls dies but I sand them down way undersized
If you wanted to skip the mandrel then just
The Forster FL die is nice because you can just remove the expander ball, it just unscrews off the decapping rod. I wouldn't want to use a bushing die with range brass, your neck tension would be all over the place (not implying you were doing that @Snuby642, just talking to the OP).
Nope just plain fls dies with the expander sanded down so it straightens dings and does a minimal neck expansion.
This leaves the mandrell expanding by 0.002 - 0.004 very smooth without a lot of effort to get to the -0.002 under caliber desired neck tension.
I can not explain how this works so well but it does and at a very low cost .
The time per round is only a hassle in mass loading range brass but worth the accuracy improvement to me.
Bushing dies and I didn't get along well. Lol
This leaves the mandrell expanding by 0.002 - 0.004 very smooth without a lot of effort to get to the -0.002 under caliber desired neck tension.
I can not explain how this works so well but it does and at a very low cost .
The time per round is only a hassle in mass loading range brass but worth the accuracy improvement to me.
Bushing dies and I didn't get along well. Lol
Yes. For one main reason... you can nearly eliminate stuck cases, or at very least make your life a whole lot easier if you do have one.
As far as actual shooting and accuracy is concerned I don't know yet. Haven't done enough side by side testing to know for myself yet.
By stuck cases I figure you mean during sizing?
When I undersized the stock decap / sizing stem I polished it up to a mirror finish.
Sizing force is way down and have not since had a stuck case.
Since the neck is straitened and partially sized the mandrell operation is very smooth.
No more measurements on the necks ever. (In no turn chambers)
When I undersized the stock decap / sizing stem I polished it up to a mirror finish.
Sizing force is way down and have not since had a stuck case.
Since the neck is straitened and partially sized the mandrell operation is very smooth.
No more measurements on the necks ever. (In no turn chambers)
i just started reloading a year ago... got a redding small base full length sizing die and rcbs matchmaster seating die, redding t7 turret press. using brass i've picked up after my 2 & 3 gun matches. loading 69g smk for my match loads (out to 500 yds). i've been dry tumbling in walnut shells, sizing and depriming, trimming and chamfering necks inside and out. then priming and using an electronic powder measure and dropping bullets on top. then every single round gets dropped in JP's case gauge. accuracy is equal to or better than the Black Hills blue box 69smk rounds i used to buy before they stopped selling reloads. haven't done anything special re necks other than the full length resizing. damn i hate all the steps though vs reloading 9mm etc on the dillon xl750!
don't complicate for your 1 MOA gun like those who would like to use mandrells for cutting down misterious 1/4 MOA on their 2 MOA gun...
just use any FL die and it will work just fine.
just use any FL die and it will work just fine.
the next big thing on the internet is how you mustn't use expander ball and you must use mandrells instead.
this is the next big thing after only neck sizing...
this is the next big thing after only neck sizing...
Using my 223 Redding Type S die with a mandrel results in .001 to .002 case neck runout where my RCBS die used with the
stock expander ball (I honed the neck for less neck sizing) puts out brass that has less than .001 runout.
Now does any of that matter? For PRS shooting no, even with the higher runout my 223 bolt will shoot way under .5 moa.
Lately the quality of dies seems to be slipping a bit. I would suggest you get a bushing die RCBS, Redding or Hornady
one brand is not better than the other as its kind of the luck of the draw. Or get a custom neck honed die from Forster.
stock expander ball (I honed the neck for less neck sizing) puts out brass that has less than .001 runout.
Now does any of that matter? For PRS shooting no, even with the higher runout my 223 bolt will shoot way under .5 moa.
Lately the quality of dies seems to be slipping a bit. I would suggest you get a bushing die RCBS, Redding or Hornady
one brand is not better than the other as its kind of the luck of the draw. Or get a custom neck honed die from Forster.
The only brand of dies I have had trouble with is hornady, 3 different dies.
Does the Forster stem seat about anything?
I used to own 2 moa ar's
Then I learned to reload.
I used to own 1 1/2 moa ar's then I started using a mandrell.
Now I own some ar's that run 1 1/8 moa consistantly. Some cherry groups went under.
That is with a dillon.
Oh wait, it's still the same cheap ass guns and old fucker running them.
I'm looking for a new seating die.
Does the Forster stem seat about anything?
Your a funny guy.don't complicate for your 1 MOA gun like those who would like to use mandrells for cutting down misterious 1/4 MOA on their 2 MOA gun...
just use any FL die and it will work just fine.
I used to own 2 moa ar's
Then I learned to reload.
I used to own 1 1/2 moa ar's then I started using a mandrell.
Now I own some ar's that run 1 1/8 moa consistantly. Some cherry groups went under.
That is with a dillon.
Oh wait, it's still the same cheap ass guns and old fucker running them.
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I would stay with the basics and buy a standard 2 die set in whatever brand that you favor. I like the Redding Master Hunter set that has a full length sizing die and a competition seating die. In the calibers that I load the most of I splurge and buy the carbide expander ball.
The truth is that all of the brands will work. It boils down to personal preference. I'm not a big fan of bushing dies unless you have a tight neck chamber and turn case necks.
The truth is that all of the brands will work. It boils down to personal preference. I'm not a big fan of bushing dies unless you have a tight neck chamber and turn case necks.
A mandrel wont fix shit range pickup brass unless you want to waste your time turning the inside and outside of all the cases.its more important to have a good seating die Redding or Forster i prefer Forster i have 4 RCBS comp seating dies only my 7MM seats bullets without run-out because it has tight tolerance.my 308 comp seating die has 20 thou bullet run-out but i tried it on my cast bullets sized .310 and it seats them perfectly becouse well ?
+1 for Forster dies. I run their standard FL sizer (w/out expander ball) followed up by a Sinclair/21st Century expanding mandrel. I use my Lee for decapping because it's cheap, and I use the Lee AutoDrum because it's one of the best IMO. Then back to Forster for the important stuff like seating.
Definitely, Forster Ultra Seating die with micrometer. For sizing/depriming, I prefer a Lee collet die paired with a Redding body bump die.
The mandrell exactly fixes the range brass neck tension problems.
It makes nt uniform regardless of brand because all slop is to the outside.
Seating is a separate issue and also important.
You go ahead and not do it, have fun with your groups not being up to the capability of your weapon.
The range brass I use never hit the dirt and when I'm done with it is pristeen, I have the time and am not lazy.
Hello. I have pretty much every die for 223. I prefer the Forster of the regular dies. But the Wilson Chamber die is the best if less run out is how you decide what is better. But all the brands works good and will shoot. The different brands will work better or worse depending on the bullet used. For non VLD bullets, they all have slightly different shapes so one bullet might get ogive dented in the Redding, but might not in the RCBS, and vice versa. I prefer Forster seating die, and overall I think RCBS is the best value. Performance for money. www.natoreloading.com
uses a combination of many different dies, but most tests are done with either Wilson Chamber die, Redding or Forster seating die, with no crimp.
I use either a redding FL sizing die with special .223 expander ball, or I use a Whidden gun works FL sizing die with .224 expander for match loads, so neck tension is .001 and arbor press pressure is about 40 lbs of seating pressure. Generally, not absolutely, expander balls in FL sizing dies are like .220-.222 and have high tension using .224 bullets.
I hope this helps you,
Semper Fi
uses a combination of many different dies, but most tests are done with either Wilson Chamber die, Redding or Forster seating die, with no crimp.
I use either a redding FL sizing die with special .223 expander ball, or I use a Whidden gun works FL sizing die with .224 expander for match loads, so neck tension is .001 and arbor press pressure is about 40 lbs of seating pressure. Generally, not absolutely, expander balls in FL sizing dies are like .220-.222 and have high tension using .224 bullets.
I hope this helps you,
Semper Fi
I am using Forsters in 6.5 Creedmoor and just asked Santa for some in .223 for a new bolt gun I am building. 
I have standard RCBS in .223 now and may keep them for my AR loads. They have produced good results in the gas gun. I also de-prime everything first with an RCBS universal decapper.
I have standard RCBS in .223 now and may keep them for my AR loads. They have produced good results in the gas gun. I also de-prime everything first with an RCBS universal decapper.
I'm new to reloading .223 so remember my opinion is worth what you paid for it...
I'm also loading for the absolute rock-bottomest off-the-shelf gas gun.
I'm using plain old RCBS small base dies. Sizer works fine, but I do plan to pull the expander ball and go with a mandrel expander.
My biggest gripe was the seater would chop the ends of bullets unless I kept them as near vertically aligned as I could. Super PITA... But when I went to a VLD chamfer tool it solved that issue. Bullets pretty much perfectly self align for loading.
Probably a lot better equipment to go with... But I figured it would be like hanging an Edelbrock on a Yugo.
That's it, that's all I got.
Mike
I'm also loading for the absolute rock-bottomest off-the-shelf gas gun.
I'm using plain old RCBS small base dies. Sizer works fine, but I do plan to pull the expander ball and go with a mandrel expander.
My biggest gripe was the seater would chop the ends of bullets unless I kept them as near vertically aligned as I could. Super PITA... But when I went to a VLD chamfer tool it solved that issue. Bullets pretty much perfectly self align for loading.
Probably a lot better equipment to go with... But I figured it would be like hanging an Edelbrock on a Yugo.
That's it, that's all I got.
Mike
I don't have a zero press couse i can't afford one and i think my T7 is almost as good at least for me.
I wish I had a t7 or the lyman 9.
My shooting funds got cut today by a blown up clothes washer, the machine not the wife.
