223 dies

[mitchell]

well i got a little extra cash  so its time for dies.  i know in a handi you don't need to full length resizer but all the dies i see are full length. so my question is does it matter that much to use a full length or should i find a neck size only die?


i'm also in need for powder (all i got left is 4064) so what does your 223 like in terms of powder ( i'm thinking about a bullet in the 55 grain range)?

thank you gentlemen ,mitch

[GPWEAPON]

Midway has all kinds of dies, I burn VV 135 und 75 gr. Hornadys you might want something a little faster for the lighter bullets but I've found the slower powders usually give me a lower ES and better groups

[bgjohn]

H335 or Blc'2 are both good for the 223. Try a set of Lee collett dies. They neck size and you don't need to lube the cases.
JM :grin:

[Ditchdigger]

I don't know if its the same or not , but I just back my full length dies up until I'm not hitting the shoulder. I use a ciggerate lighter to smoke the case and then run it through the dies untill the most of the neck is sized. You can tell by the black on the neck how much is being sized. Hope this helps.  Digger

[safetysheriff]

You WILL probably need a full-length resizer sooner or later.    Neck sizing will eventually leave brass too tight in the chamber to be seated without stressing the mechanism.

I'd set up my die the thickness of a dime or penny off the shellholder and see how my accuracy is with the brass re-sized that way.    After a 'number' of reloads the brass can be put into the rifle (with no bullet or primer seated) and you'll possibly see that it hangs up outside the chamber.    Then you'll have to full-length resize.    The penny or dime thickness may not be so much, however, that you'll get to that point with a FL die.     But a neck-sizer will probably give you problems after several reloads.

You'll also need to watch your brass for overall length to determine when it must be trimmed.    It can be trimmed as much as four times, but then throw it away -- they say -- before trimming a fifth time.     I use Mobil-1 synthetic for case lube and it's not only cheap but it's effective at keeping cases from stretching.    Just don't lube the shoulder, nor overlube the neck......'cause it'll cause dimples in the brass then.  

Good luck.

[Wlscott]

Mitchell, I use Lee full length resizing dies for my .223.  I have two different rifles chambered for .223 and I'm not well enough organized to keep the brass seperated.
 
Go ahead and order a set of dies that includes a full length resizing die.  Then you can get a neck sizer eventually if you want.  You might find that your gun likes full length resizing and not need to neck size only.  If you decide you want to try neck sizing later, then you can order a NS die.

I use BLC2 and Varget in both of my .223's with very good success.

[rmtaylor]

You can get the Lee deluxe rifle set for $25 at Midway it has the full length and collet sizers as part of the set. Also get the Lee factory crimp die if you can it is only $7.50. So far I can't imagine any other dies doing any better.

Richard

[ScatterGunner]

do what rmtaylor said, get the lee dies, for $25 or so you get the collet die and the FL die. that's what i use too.

contrary to what was said, i use my shells until i see a crack or split in them.

sg

[bgjohn]

do what rmtaylor said, get the lee dies, for $25 or so you get the collet die and the FL die. that's what i use too.

contrary to what was said, i use my shells until i see a crack or split in them.

sg

I shoot mine 'til I see a light line above the web. If shot again it will split on that line. Cases don't stretch very much with the collet die setup and last a lot longer. I've been shooting the same 22 Hornet cases for more than a year. They must have been loaded 20 times. Hornet brass is very thin too.

[Deadeye47]

Another vote for the Delux Lee set and factory crimp dies...I now have one of the factory crimp dies for every caliber I reload ......

contrary to what was said, i use my shells until i see a crack or split in them."

 Me too and then I shoot um one more time to make sure I got my moneys worth out of um.. :mrgreen:

[223Shooter]

I usually just neck size my .223's. If I have cases that stick a little, I put them aside and mark them for FL sizing. I use Redding dies...they are great.  When loading my .223 NEF, I use W-748 and BenchMark powders. Both make for great shooters out of my .223.