Newb question. Seeking help. AR loading.

[Pinebox]

Hey guys, whats the deal when buying a die set for 223/5.56 for AR loads?
Small base and full length? 2 die set?
I'm basically just wanting someone to tell me what to buy. I have the rock chucker supreme set up and was going to stick with the same brand for simplicity.

 

[contender]

You can buy the .223 Rem dies, or the 5.56 dies.
The main differences in the two is the operating pressure & chamber throating. The chamber throat for the .223 Rem is a little shorter than the 5.56.
Small base dies are often recommended for semi-auto's to assist a little in feeding. Especially if you have more than one gun in the same chambering.
Most rifle die sets are a 2-die set.

 

[clay_fv]

It's just like any rifle round. A PITA. You'll have to lube the cases no matter what die you use. Personally, I first lube the mouth with dry graphite lube (dip it in), then roll the rest on a lube pad with "wet" lube. Then you'll have to measure them and trim the ones that are over length. Semi-auto rifles "yank" the case when it extracts the round and causes it to lengthen. Then, resizing it stretches it some more. Full length that is. So you'll have to trim a lot. You won't be reloading rifle quickly like you can 9mm.

Full length vs just neck sizing: only consider neck sizing if you will forever use the round in the same exact rifle. Even then, I personally wouldn't do it. The only way I'd just neck size a case is if I was precision shooting a bolt action rifle and using the cases in that same exact rifle. Everyone else's opinion might be different.

A 2 die should be good. One resizes and opens the case mouth as well as removes the primer. The other seats and crimps the bullet. If you want super precision, get a separate micro-seating die, then crimp it in another die.

 

[Pinebox]

Alrighty. Thanks

 

[Toprudder]

Some guys swear by the small-base sizing dies, I personally have not seen a need for them, I have several guns chambered in 5.56/.223 and have never had a misfeed attributed to not using a small-base die. JMHO.

There is plenty of 223 brass around and for run-of-the-mill plinking loads. There is nothing wrong with an inexpensive set of Lee dies. I am kinda partial to the Redding dies, though, and get the optional carbide expander ball for the sizing die. It makes sizing a little easier.

 

[Dan]

When I first started reloading for 223/5.56 in 1975, I ordered small base dies. Because I thought they were necessary. I was wrong they just ate up the lower part of my brass . I sent back to rcbs and ordered regular dies. That was thousands of rounds ago, fired in many different rifles and No issues.
I would try the regular if they don't bring the base down to your liking order the small base.

 

[Pinebox]

Thanks guys. I wanted to make sure I got what I needed now, incase of a communist take over. Ha

 

[Charlie]

Plain old regular RCBS 223 two die set, #10 RCBS shell holder, and a trimmer setup by Lee is what I have used for decades with no problems. I was not aware that there are specific 5.56 dies. I know the chambers are a bit different and that some manuals give specific data for 5.56 but have always heard that the dies are identical.

The only time I have ever had chamberings problems was with a new AR that needed the shoulder on the rounds pushed back just a tad. I have never needed a small base die for any of my rifles.