223 & 222 Seater Die Interchangeability?

[flabbydan]

I know the neck is longer on the 222, but if the neck diameters and shoulder angles are the same on both cartridges, is there any way to use only one seater die for both the 223 Rem and the 222 Rem?

[wncchester]

Well, a .222 seater will work fine for .223 but you couldn't crimp.   NOT the reverse tho.

[LaOtto222]

I had a 222 long before I had a 223. I had a RCBS 222 Ultra die set, the kind with a micro meter adjustable seating die that has a window on the side for the bullet. I have used it successfully to seat bullets not only for 222 Remington, but 223 Remington and 221 Fireball as well. I does a good job too. I am not sure, but I would think that this type of bullet seater would work for a 222 if it was a 223. There is a shuttle that rides the top of the neck to guide the bullet in it. Since the 223 has a shorter neck, it would ride the top of the neck on the 222. Mine rides the top of the shoulder of the 223 and 221, there is a short gap between the bullet guide and the top of the neck, yet works OK. I just raise the case into the die. When the shuttle starts to raise, I drop the bullet into the window on the side. I then continue to raise the cartridge, fully seating the bullet. Not sure about a regular type die. I have since gotten a Forster micro adjustable seater for the 223 and a Redding micro seating die for the 221 Fireball. I am a little fussy about bullet seating and neck sizing. Not that the 222  did a bad job, I just wanted a die designed special for the case being used.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[flabbydan]

   Thanks for the responses, fellas!
 I've been doing a little more searching this evening, and I see that if I buy a Forster "Benchrest" seater die for 223 I can get a separate sleeve for the 222, or vice-versa.