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Posted: 7/11/2010 6:37:13 PM EDT
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Yay!!!! Another one of these threads....
But this one has a little different twist to it.... So, I would call myself an experienced reloader, have been for probably 6-7 years w/ shotguns and almost 2 with metallic cartridges so I have used a an assortment of dies. I currently reload 45acp - Hornady dies + lee FCD 38spl/357mag - RCBS dies 45colt - Hornady dies 308 - Hornady dies 45/75WCF - RCBS dies My dad bought a 300wm for deer hunting(yes an overkill but, all the calibers cost the same and since we reload bigger can always be loaded lighter, and the theory, if we ever go somewhere to hunt bigger game w/ go t agun for it) and my AR will be here soon and I will be doing 223/5.56 So, with the purchase of the next two sets of dies I want to make sure I buy the ones that I want. Heres is my opinions w/ the ones I have... Likes RCBS - I like their pistol dies, the appear to make a better crimp with the seating die compared to the hornady dies Hornady - pistol and rifle dies much easier to adjust(no tools required) as far as the bullet depth setting. Lee FCD - solved my issue with loading 45acp with LSWC, I stopped using them but still use the FCD to make my ammo jam proof. Lee dies - look at them at cabelas, it appears that on the 223 decapping die, the decapping shaft is very solid, once piece(is this true?) Dislikes - RCBS - the locknut setup is annoying, the single set screw sometimes gets in the way and doesn't hold as well as the clamp style of the hornady, having everything be tool adjustable is kind of annoying to do minor tweaking, but its nice since its set and will stay there) Hornady - I have bent 2 decapping rod assemblies(Not the pin but the shaft that goes into the middle of the die) this is caused by the 308 resizer ball, there is NO way to tighten this ball on the shaft without using a wrench and potentially scarring the ball. I have no idea what to do about it(the RCBS dies have a checkered section where you can grip it and tighten it).. also on my 308 seating die, the floating plunger inside that guides the bullet tends to sometimes jump out of its track and requires tapping on the die to get it fall back in Lee - Their locknuts don't hold very tighten since they are not a setscrew setup (rubber wedge to hold it in place) On their FCD at least, theres not way to lock the adjustment setting in place(if it was to be turned it can turn w/o unlocking something) So... with these new two calibers.. I want to buy the best dies.... for the 223 I plan to use a dillon 1200 trimmer on our RCBS single stage, this will resize it but not die prime it... I will then go to the LNL AP press, put the shell in the actual die set resizer(where it will decap and resize the case mouth since the trimmer die makes it slightly smaller than spec, tight neck tension).. from there I will load progress for plinking ammo. I looked at the pacesetter dies from lee... I like that it comes with everything(sizer, seating, FCD, shell holder) but my concerns above come into play.. I have also heard people say that lee dies, especially the basic models are not consistent sa far as seating dies go. Then I was also thinking about going with the small base RCBS dies since then I will not have any issue w/ sizing for an AR... but I'd have to get a crimp die and shell holder seperately... Also I noticed w/ EVERY set of dies I looked at, at cabelas, NONE of the RCBS resizing dies had a centered decapping pin.... is this normal? Hornady dies, I have read A LOT of reviews about their 223 caliber dies having issues w/ the resizing die... In addition I don't want to have another 308 reszing die issue w/ the decapping/mouth sizing ball. For the 300wm, it will be loaded single stage and manually trimmed so I just need a two die set for that. So guys... what do you think? I am going to buy it all on midwayusa.com so selection is open to w/e.... the dies will be placed inside hornady LNL bushings used in the AP press well as the single stage if needed(I have the conversion) I don't want 223 precision dies or anything special as I will be reloading bulk plinking ammo and I have found standard dies to be sufficent for accuracy in my 308(sub 0.3MOA if I do my part w/ my 10FP) so I will use the same for more "precision 223 ammo" Sorry for the long post, what do you guys think, which 223 / 300wm dies? MIke. |
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Hornady's pistol seating dies seem to be a bit nicer than the RCBS dies. The sleeve with the crimping ring hangs down to keep the bullet straight in the die until it hits the seating plug. Very true... didn't think about that... but on the other hand... the taper/roll crimp of the 45acp/45colt dies aren't as good as I'd like them to be(hense the reason I went w/ the FCD on the 45acp.... they don't crimp as well as the RCBS dies do on my 38spl/357mag rounds. MIke. |
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They seem to taper crimp my .45 ACP loads just fine, and the COL is pretty consistant with jacketed bullets. With lead bullets, my RCBS 9mm and .38 Super dies are all over the place on OAL. I added a Hornady taper crimp die to my press, we'll see how well that does. |
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They seem to taper crimp my .45 ACP loads just fine, and the COL is pretty consistant with jacketed bullets. With lead bullets, my RCBS 9mm and .38 Super dies are all over the place on OAL. I added a Hornady taper crimp die to my press, we'll see how well that does. Any experience reloading 223? Recommendations for that? MIke. |
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Here's my take on dies short and to the point.
For pistol: Semi-Auto: Lee 4 die set Revolver: Lee 3 die set For rifle: Plinking: Lee 3 die set For precision and this isn't mine to own. I asked in this forum and received some awesome advice. Lee Collett neck sizer Redding full body size die Forster Micro seating die Have measured run out using above three vs Lee dies. Although I can load just as good of ammunition with Lee there is far less runout correction with the Lee, Redding, Forster trio. Have also loaded with the 190.00 RCBS competition set up to compare to the trio too. Trio does better job for less. Back to Lee carbide pistol dies. They don't make them any better than Lee's and yes I own a set of Hornady New Grade Dimension Dies and they don't hold a candle to my Lee's. But they look tacticooler . |
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Take a look at Reddings 3 die set for the 300WM. It has a full length sizer plus neck sizer die. Redding dies are finely machined and I highly recommend them. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=341655
Next I prefer the RCBS equipment but I do like Hornady's seating die with the sliding alignment sleeve. Helps hold the small .223 bullets straight when seating. Kind of takes the small bullets from your fingers and guides them into the die. I have sets from Lyman, Redding, Lee, RCBS,and Hornady and they all do the job well. I load using 2 single stage presses and use them in tandem. I use Hornady's seating die to seat .223 bullets and a RCBS seater die in the other press to crimp. One of the few who do not like the Lee FCD factory crimp. My method requires obtaining two die sets of the same caliber or ordering a separate seating die from Hornady. I do the same for pistol, seat with the Hornady seating die with sliding alignment sleeve and taper crimp or roll crimp with RCBS seater dies in another press. Hornady's sliding alignment sleeve seats 9MM or 45ACP bullets straigher in the case for me. The 300WM with the belted case should be treated just like a non-belted case when sizing. Only size to push the shoulder of the case back enough for easy chambering. You want to headspace off the shoulder also and not to just rely on the belt. If you push the shoulder back too far every sizing you'll only get a few firings before the case stretches and can separate. Check info on the web for sizing belted magnum cases. |
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I currently have a set of Hornady "New dimension" dies for my 223 and I have had issues with them since day one over twenty years ago. I know I shoulda replaced them but I just haven't gotten around to it. This past year alone I have stuck three or four cases in the sizing die and this die has a long history of doing that. Now it does produce some nice shooting ammo (sub half MOA if I do my part) but sticking cases really pisses me off. I have tried all sorts of lubes and had a thread going a while back about this and I still stuck the occasional case. Now the one thing that did NOT stick a case was cooking spray PAM, recommended by an arfcommer. A little messy but it worked like a charm in that damn die.
OK, now back to your thread, sorry about the little hi-jack. For rifles I personally prefer Redding dies. I was raised on RCBS dies and then the occasional Hornady crept into the stable but when I discovered the Redding dies I haven't looked back. They are very nice, well made and not too pricey. For the 223 you might not need the SB dies and that will save on the life of the brass. For the 300 WM use neck sizing dies, it will make a huge difference in the accuracy and brass life in that caliber. You will also need (and I can not stress this enough with bottle necked rifle cases) a good set of case gauges (Dillon, Wilson, etc.) They can be had through Midway USA. The 300 WM gauge is "adjustable" because the cartridge head spaces on the belt, not the shoulder, but for accuracy you want to head space on the shoulder. So after you fire a few rounds out of the 300 WM and set up the neck sizer to match the brass then you set your case gauge to match that as well. Just my .02 Indy |
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I currently have a set of Hornady "New dimension" dies for my 223 and I have had issues with them since day one over twenty years ago. I know I shoulda replaced them but I just haven't gotten around to it. This past year alone I have stuck three or four cases in the sizing die and this die has a long history of doing that. Now it does produce some nice shooting ammo (sub half MOA if I do my part) but sticking cases really pisses me off. I have tried all sorts of lubes and had a thread going a while back about this and I still stuck the occasional case. Now the one thing that did NOT stick a case was cooking spray PAM, recommended by an arfcommer. A little messy but it worked like a charm in that damn die. OK, now back to your thread, sorry about the little hi-jack. For rifles I personally prefer Redding dies. I was raised on RCBS dies and then the occasional Hornady crept into the stable but when I discovered the Redding dies I haven't looked back. They are very nice, well made and not too pricey. For the 223 you might not need the SB dies and that will save on the life of the brass. For the 300 WM use neck sizing dies, it will make a huge difference in the accuracy and brass life in that caliber. You will also need (and I can not stress this enough with bottle necked rifle cases) a good set of case gauges (Dillon, Wilson, etc.) They can be had through Midway USA. The 300 WM gauge is "adjustable" because the cartridge head spaces on the belt, not the shoulder, but for accuracy you want to head space on the shoulder. So after you fire a few rounds out of the 300 WM and set up the neck sizer to match the brass then you set your case gauge to match that as well. Just my .02 Indy Just a comment on the Horandy dies. They suck IMO and I have stuck many cases, busted up the de-capping assembly 3x and have only done 100 cases. I did near 2K with some old Lee dies and did get 2 stuck - but I got them off pretty easily. Lee makes decent dies and I have Redding for 6.8 - a full length sizing die. I also replace the RCBS and other rings with the Horandy. They got that right anyway. |
You can add the floating carbide expander ball to the Redding dies and they work much better than the standard expander that comes with the die, no more neck lube! I use the type 'S' FL bushing dies for .223 & 6.8SPC and they are way better dies than any of the others I have used(lee, hornady, & RCBS).
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I load on a Redding T7 turret press.
For bottleneck rifle cases, I've tried several and always come back to Redding dies. In .223, I use both Redding FL and Redding NK dies with carbide expanders for my bolt guns –– great precision. But for my AR stuff, I use a regular Dillon full length because it gives me assurance –– no chance of a failure to go into battery. If I ever make a change, it will be to go to a Dillon full length carbide die because it is even smoother. |
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I prefer Hornady dies, and 4 die sets for pistols.
I always seat and crimp in separate dies. I also have RCBS, Lyman, Dillon and Lee dies. I have never had a stuck case in the thousands of 223 cases I have sized with my Hornady 223 FL die. A tip for dies with a set screw lock ring, put a #6 shot under the set screw, no more mangled die threads where set screw contacts die threads. |
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They seem to taper crimp my .45 ACP loads just fine, and the COL is pretty consistant with jacketed bullets. With lead bullets, my RCBS 9mm and .38 Super dies are all over the place on OAL. I added a Hornady taper crimp die to my press, we'll see how well that does. Any experience reloading 223? Recommendations for that? MIke. dillon |
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