Author Topic: reloading dies  (Read 668 times)

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Offline greyling

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reloading dies
« on: February 21, 2007, 09:59:00 AM »
I'm about to place an order to midway for some dies and wanted an opinion on .223 dies. do I want a full legnth sizer die, or is the lee collet neck sizer die better? I guess with the collet I keep a fire formed case? and any thoughts on the factory crimp die? I'm moving into rifle reloading and it's a little more complicated than .357.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2007, 10:05:54 AM »
The only collet die I have is for the 22 Hornet, so I can't really comment on the .223, haven't loaded for it yet, but I do really love Hornady New Dimension dies, their bullet seater is second to none. Just a heads up, our sponsor, Midsouth usually beats Midway's prices on both shipping and item cost if you want to check em out, I haven't bought much from Midway for quite a while, the only time I do is if Midsouth doesn't have what I need, which does happen sometimes, they don't carry the inventory of Midway.

Tim

Midsouth 223 dies
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Offline bigjeepman

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2007, 10:18:36 AM »
I have reloaded several years for the .223. I started with RCBS dies and have changed to Lee's Deluxe Die Sets in .223, .243, and .308. They are easy to use, come with a Lee dipper, and a shell holder for around $30.00. I do not have any other experience with other dies in the .223 caliber.

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Offline stimpylu32

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2007, 12:10:39 PM »
greyling

I too use Lee FL dies for my 223 , as far as crimp die , the only rifle round that i crimp is the 30/30 that go into my mod. 94 Win and that is with cast bullets . Tim is right about the Hornady seater die , i have a set for my 41 Reeder and love it .

As far as FL or neck dies that is a choice that you will have to make , will you be shooting the ammo in any other rifles ? if so get the FL set . you also can part size with the FL dies by not setting them all the way down , this will give you the best of both worlds . you can FL if needed ot just do the neck .

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Offline McLernon

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2007, 12:19:36 PM »
I neck size for my .223 Handi. That seems to be enough eventhough I use a preety stout load. Lee collet dies are excellent.

Mc ;D

Offline greyling

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2007, 12:23:58 PM »
it will be in the handi only. and if I didn't have to share w/ my ar15 buddies who blow through ammo like there is no tomorrow that would be nice too.

Offline myarmor

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2007, 12:37:47 PM »
I use the Lee Deluxe set with both the Collet and FL sizer dies.
I really like the Collet, and I usually only neck size. They work great in my 223s. The FL die works, but isn't my favorite, and I am not real big on Lee's seater dies. Every now and then I get a out of line seat...
But you question was about the Collet, yes it's a good neck sizer and some use them in competition.


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Offline flitz

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2007, 12:47:16 PM »
i also use the lee deluxe set.for the money its hard to beat.like stated above the
seater die can be touchy

flitz
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Offline bluebayou

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2007, 01:12:16 PM »
I like the Lee dies for the price and that is it.  The collet die for my 270 doesn't have enough neck tension but you can get undersize mandrel for a couple of bucks from Lee.  The 223 dies are great.  Not as big of a hassle as the Hornady New Dimension that I tried.  I didn't like the Hornady seating die. 

My first recommendation is the RCBS dies.  For economy get the RGB Lee dies.  In either case I buy RCBS or Hornady lock rings separately.  The Lee ones are a joke.  My biggest misgiving about the Lee dies are that the seating stem doesn't lock in place.  It has a rubber o-ring for tension if I remember right.  I have to double check OAL.  Reed gave me this tip by the way:

"I'm no fan of Lee, but....two things you can do to solve this. #1 cut a lite chamfer on the ID of the brass. Next, do NOT set up Lee dies like they tell you, most of their dies will cause what you have shown. Run the brass all the way to the top, then screw the die down until it makes contact with the case (not the damn shellholder) then seat the bullet. If you need a light crimp and don;t have the FCD, seat all your bullets and then go back with the seat stem screwed way out and adjust the die for a light crimp. "

Now that I have typed all of this.................just buy RCBS dies, dude.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2007, 01:36:04 PM »
Quote
Not as big of a hassle as the Hornady New Dimension that I tried.  I didn't like the Hornady seating die.

What kind of trouble did ya have with the Hornady seater dies?  I have 5 sets of em, love em!! ;) I have yet to see  anyone reporting a discouraging word on them. ???

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline bluebayou

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2007, 03:41:30 PM »
Okay, two issues.  I pulled the dies out and its is the 7-08 set that is a problem.  The full length sizing die is either too small or the RCBS die and the Remington chamber are too big.  I cannot fit the fired 7-08 brass into the sizing die.  The seating die is actually the one that I use for the 150 NBT in that caliber as it has different combination of ogive and OAL than the Hornady SP and Sierra GK in that caliber.  Basically, I use RCBS seater for the other two bullets.  MAN it must have been awhile if I couldn't remember which dies were which.  Notebook says 9-05 was last time that I loaded 7-08..........

<sheepishly> the seating die works fine

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2007, 03:50:35 PM »
 ;D Been there!!
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline db22

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Re: reloading dies
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2007, 12:45:59 AM »
Agree completely with Quick about Midsouth -- I have dealt with them for 20 years, and they have never goofed up an order. Prices are good, and they ship quick.

The trick to using Lee lock rings is to remove and re-install them in the press by the lock ring, not the die body. The O-ring provides adequate tension to keep the die in adjustment as long as you remember not to twist the die body after you set the correct depth in the press. The Lee lock ring allows easy adjustment of crimp -- just hold the lock ring in place and tweak the die body to add or take away crimp.

I always keep an "index round" for each caliber I work with for checking seating depth before starting a run of loads. With revolver cartridges, I examine and tweak the crimp in the first few rounds of a run to make sure the crimp setting is correct.

No, I don't work for Lee -- just find their products to be a great value for a handloader who has to watch his budget.
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