AR 15 reloading

onthejon55 · May 7, 2009, 09:22 PM

I plan on buying a set of RCBS .223 dies and was wondering if i should get the small base dies or the regular ones? I hear the small base dies are supposed to feed better but are they necessary? Will one of them be more accurate?

longranger · May 7, 2009, 09:42 PM

Get the small base dies as they will work for any .223,Small base dies are meant for semi auto rifles. You can cover all of your .223 reloading bases with small base dies.

steve4102 · May 7, 2009, 09:48 PM

I load for 3 Browning BARs, 1 Ruger Mini-30, 1 Rem 742 and 2 AR-15's. I have yet to use or need a small base die.

rgitzlaff · May 7, 2009, 10:07 PM

I load for several different AR-15's and I don't need a small base die either.

PCJim · May 7, 2009, 10:34 PM

Most reloaders would recommend that you first try a full size die first to check whether it will make ammo that will consistently feed in the weapons you intend to shoot it in. If you don't have a FL die, maybe you can borrow one. The SB dies are usually considered a "last resort" if the FL sized brass does not feed in your AR's. The SB dies will work the brass more than a FL die, resulting in more effort in the sizing process and shorter brass life.

David Wile · May 8, 2009, 05:48 PM

Hey folks,

Here is another person who uses regular .223 RCBS dies for his AR-15 without any jam problems. I have at least seven semi-auto rifles that use 7.62X39 ammo, and I load for all of them with the same RCBS dies, and I don't have jam problems with any of these rifles. I guess it seems that some folks need small base dies, but I have not seen any first hand.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

CrustyFN · May 8, 2009, 06:12 PM

I only load for one AR15 5.56 and have never needed a small base die.
Rusty

hodaka · May 8, 2009, 06:19 PM

I believe the small base dies are unnecessary, plus they work the brass a little more than the standard dies. Less working means longer life they say. I try to tell my wife that also. I load for a Mini-14 and 4 different AR's and use standard Lee and Redding dies.

rg1 · May 9, 2009, 12:18 AM

I've loaded military once-fired brass, range pick-up brass, police range once fired, and once-fired given to me by friends plus my new once-fired. No need for a small base die in any of several AR's or bolt rifles I've shot my reloads in. Not saying there might be rifles out there that might benefit from using small base sizing dies but I haven't seen one. Most sizing problems are caused by improper setting of your sizing dies to properly push the shoulder back correctly. Or failure to trim the cases to length, or overcrimping causing bulging of the neck. I do highly recommend either the RCBS Precision Mic or Hornadys Lock-n-Load Headspace gauge set. With Hornady's set it will cover most all bottleneck rifle calibers.
http://www.realguns.com/archives/035.htm
http://www.inlandshooters.net/index.php?contentid=99

Dr. Strangelove · May 9, 2009, 12:58 AM

Bushmaster XM-15 loader here, regular Lee three die set with no problems.

Bboomer · May 9, 2009, 01:08 AM

Agree...SB dies are not necessary and as mentioned, it over works the casings.

kestak · May 11, 2009, 11:37 AM

Greetings,

+1 on regular dies.
I reload for RRA ar-15, SIG 556 and I have regular Dillon dies.

Thank you

30Cal · May 11, 2009, 11:49 AM

Get a regular FL die and a gage/comparitor to set it with.

ForneyRider · May 11, 2009, 02:25 PM

I bought the Lee deluxe rifle set for .223.

I use the Lee FL die for the DPMS AR and works great with al the headstamps I put through it: FC, LC, R-P, WCC, etc.

May 7, 2009, 09:22 PM	#1
onthejon55 Junior member Join Date: October 23, 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 411	AR 15 reloading I plan on buying a set of RCBS .223 dies and was wondering if i should get the small base dies or the regular ones? I hear the small base dies are supposed to feed better but are they necessary? Will one of them be more accurate?

May 8, 2009, 06:12 PM	#7
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	I only load for one AR15 5.56 and have never needed a small base die. Rusty __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded.

May 9, 2009, 01:08 AM	#11
Bboomer Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2007 Posts: 108	Agree...SB dies are not necessary and as mentioned, it over works the casings. __________________ Bboomer

May 11, 2009, 11:37 AM	#12
kestak Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2007 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 157	Greetings, +1 on regular dies. I reload for RRA ar-15, SIG 556 and I have regular Dillon dies. Thank you __________________ abundans cautela non nocet

May 11, 2009, 02:25 PM	#14
ForneyRider Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 725	I bought the Lee deluxe rifle set for .223. I use the Lee FL die for the DPMS AR and works great with al the headstamps I put through it: FC, LC, R-P, WCC, etc. __________________ When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.

May 7, 2009, 09:42 PM	#2
longranger Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2008 Location: Buffalo WY Posts: 1,056	Get the small base dies as they will work for any .223,Small base dies are meant for semi auto rifles. You can cover all of your .223 reloading bases with small base dies.

May 7, 2009, 09:48 PM	#3
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,952	I load for 3 Browning BARs, 1 Ruger Mini-30, 1 Rem 742 and 2 AR-15's. I have yet to use or need a small base die.

May 7, 2009, 10:07 PM	#4
rgitzlaff Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 524	I load for several different AR-15's and I don't need a small base die either.

May 7, 2009, 10:34 PM	#5
PCJim Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Location: FL Posts: 570	Most reloaders would recommend that you first try a full size die first to check whether it will make ammo that will consistently feed in the weapons you intend to shoot it in. If you don't have a FL die, maybe you can borrow one. The SB dies are usually considered a "last resort" if the FL sized brass does not feed in your AR's. The SB dies will work the brass more than a FL die, resulting in more effort in the sizing process and shorter brass life.

May 8, 2009, 05:48 PM	#6
David Wile Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2001 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Posts: 585	Hey folks, Here is another person who uses regular .223 RCBS dies for his AR-15 without any jam problems. I have at least seven semi-auto rifles that use 7.62X39 ammo, and I load for all of them with the same RCBS dies, and I don't have jam problems with any of these rifles. I guess it seems that some folks need small base dies, but I have not seen any first hand. Best wishes, Dave Wile

May 8, 2009, 06:19 PM	#8
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	I believe the small base dies are unnecessary, plus they work the brass a little more than the standard dies. Less working means longer life they say. I try to tell my wife that also. I load for a Mini-14 and 4 different AR's and use standard Lee and Redding dies.

May 9, 2009, 12:18 AM	#9
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	I've loaded military once-fired brass, range pick-up brass, police range once fired, and once-fired given to me by friends plus my new once-fired. No need for a small base die in any of several AR's or bolt rifles I've shot my reloads in. Not saying there might be rifles out there that might benefit from using small base sizing dies but I haven't seen one. Most sizing problems are caused by improper setting of your sizing dies to properly push the shoulder back correctly. Or failure to trim the cases to length, or overcrimping causing bulging of the neck. I do highly recommend either the RCBS Precision Mic or Hornadys Lock-n-Load Headspace gauge set. With Hornady's set it will cover most all bottleneck rifle calibers. http://www.realguns.com/archives/035.htm http://www.inlandshooters.net/index.php?contentid=99

May 9, 2009, 12:58 AM	#10
Dr. Strangelove Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2008 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,436	Bushmaster XM-15 loader here, regular Lee three die set with no problems.

May 11, 2009, 11:49 AM	#13
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,264	Get a regular FL die and a gage/comparitor to set it with.

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