Help me pick out new 223/5.56 dies

[Boiled Owl]

Loading for AR mainly Lake City brass. I have hornady new demension dies I have trouble with the FL sizer in that it tends to get stuck cases. Different lubes same result. The seating die isn't consistant either varying .010 to .015 in OAL. Plus it leaves a ring on the ogive of the bullet.

I'm done with them.

We're also starting to shoot Highpower and would like to strive for more accuracy.

Suggestions?

 

[chuddly]

Im using lee dies...LOVE them. They seat the same every time and stuck case is not a problem with one shot

 

[shadow6492]

I would look at redding dies, depends on what you want to spend they offer basic dies to match grade. Heard some guys talk about the Rcbs ar series dies that come with small base dies.

 

[EPD1102]

What kind of press do you have? I have the Dillon carbide dies on my Dillon 650. I've had good success with accuracy and no problems with stuck cases or anything.

 

[Brownie]

Redding standard 2die set...

Imperial sizing wax..

All problems solved

 

[sloughfoot]

I have sent many thousands of 223 downrange with Lee dies. They are just as good as the Redding and RCBS "match" dies sets that I also own. I prefer the Lee dies. Your Hornady dies are preferred by bigdaddy1427 and many others for match 223 ammo.

If the seating die doesn't leave a ring on the ogive, it needs to be modified so it does. That is precisely where the seating die should be making contact with the bullet. The OAL length is not varying because of the seating die, it is varying because the bullet maker has variations between the ogive angle and the point of the bullet. Having these variations in OAL length is not a major concern for me. These variations went away when I switched from Sierra to Hornady bullets.

I suspect you are not using enough lube. Don't be afraid to lube the inside of the neck too.

 

[TRL]

i have a set or RCBS dies and havn't had but one stuck case (my fault, no lube on case). full length size them and bullets stay consistant.

 

[Cerberus]

I have owned and used Hornady, Lee, Lyman and RCBS small base .223 dies. Still have all but Hornady. I didn't have any of the issues you had with the Hornady .223 dies, but had similar problems with their .308 dies. All the others have loaded about 200 rounds, between the three brands, without issue.

 

[sgreen3]

I use the Lee die sets and have not had any trouble at all with them.

 

[Boiled Owl]

I have sent many thousands of 223 downrange with Lee dies. They are just as good as the Redding and RCBS "match" dies sets that I also own. I prefer the Lee dies. Your Hornady dies are preferred by bigdaddy1427 and many others for match 223 ammo.

If the seating die doesn't leave a ring on the ogive, it needs to be modified so it does. That is precisely where the seating die should be making contact with the bullet. The OAL length is not varying because of the seating die, it is varying because the bullet maker has variations between the ogive angle and the point of the bullet. Having these variations in OAL length is not a major concern for me. These variations went away when I switched from Sierra to Hornady bullets.

I suspect you are not using enough lube. Don't be afraid to lube the inside of the neck too.

I've got RCBS and LEE for other rifle calibers. Haven't stuck a case in any of these ever. Only in the 223 Hornady New Dimension dies have I ever stuck this many cases. I've probably got 3000 rounds thru these dies.

I ran into a ogive consistency issue with 75gr prvi projos from Wideners before.
Right now I'm loading 55 gr Hornady Z-max (they were bought from Wideners too) Maybe Hornady's QC on their zombie bullets aren't as good a the v-max? They were cheap!

You're saying that the ring impression on the seating die is good and proper?

I might just order a set of LEE's and go from there.

 

[Slim400]

223 DIE SET

Nothing but rcbs the set i have are 20 years old load about 20,000 a year still working good

 

[Boiled Owl]

Nothing but rcbs the set i have are 20 years old load about 20,000 a year still working good

My 22-250 dies are RCBS and they're excellent.

I'n 30-06 I bought LEE to deal with the military brass after breaking the de-primer on my RCBS set repeatedly.

 

[wilianknow]

RCBS is the way to go love mine no problems here.

 

[lon]

I'm happy with my Redding 2 die set, with a buffed carbide expander ball. With good brass there is zero run-out.

 

[Tydeeh22]

lee deluxe die set + the factory crimp die = glory.

 

[dukeboy_318]

I'm running dillion dies for .223 now, was using RCBS, either one is a good choice, I've got nothing negative to say about either of them.

 

[chuddly]

lee deluxe die set + the factory crimp die = glory.

im running the same set up....absolutely great. VERY accurate and just all around cant be beat

 

[Robert Richardson]

lee deluxe die set + the factory crimp die = glory.

Never had a problem with Lee.

 

[rimfire_crazed]

Never had a problem with Lee dies in .223. If you want to spend 2.5 times more, buy the reddings.

 

[Cerberus]

Never had a problem with Lee dies in .223. If you want to spend 2.5 times more, buy the reddings.

Redding's run about $10 more for a basic set, not anywhere near 2.5x the cost. Dillon's run close to 2.5 times the cost of Lee. Still trying to figure out why Dillon dies are so high.