I have a Lee Classic Turret. It's time to start loading 223, and I see I seem to have many more options for Dies that for some other calipers.
I was looking at getting (and would have if anyone actually had them all in stock):
Lee Deluxe 3-Die Set 223 Remington(Carbide) - Neck Sizing Die
- Full Length Sizing Die
- Bullet Seating Die Lee Auto-Disk Rifle Powder Charging Die 22 to 30 Calibers Lee Factory Crimp Die 223 Remington
Once one puts all three of those together... the price is right up there with buying an RCBS or other die set, although I suspect I would need the charging die if I bought a 3rd party die set.
Lee appears to also sell a set with the Full Length Sizing Die, Bullet Seating Die, and Factory Crimp dies, but they are not carbide, so I wasn't really that interested. Besides, I want the option of only Neck Sizing when reloading my own reloads.
I've been reading a bit on the RCBS X-Dies, and they look interesting, but do they really do that much better that just Neck Sizing with the Lee Dies?
I would be using the Full Length Sizer on Brass I pick up from others, but Neck Size only my own brass.. (assuming I can tell the difference).
Anyone have any other recommendations?
Last edited by RightWingWacko; 04-13-2009 at 07:35 PM.
Rightwing,The Lee deluxe set is all you need,unless you just want to buy the Crimping die. I have never had to crimp any of my loads in 223. And I would also suggest weighing all your rifle cartridge loads with a scale by hand and not to use the auto-powder dispenser on top of your Turret Press. The powder charges will not be as exact if you use the Auto-Disk Powder dispenser.
I am using the RCBS two-die set, and have the Lee Factory Crimp Die (but haven't seen the necessity to use it). I have all my dies set up on three-hole turrets for my Lee Turret Press - once set and locked down, I just swap out the turrets. I am loading 5.56X45 now (LC surplus brass and 62 grain FMJ-BT bullets), and the only thing I had to do dies-wise was back off the seater plug and adjust for this bullet - the FL sizer was already set. I use the Lee Perfect Powder Measure, which can be quite consistent depending on the powder.
If you really want carbide rifle dies they will cost you lots, there's nothing wrong with the basic steel ones and a little lube. I'm with the others on the full-length sizing for use in any auto. Nothing worse than a live round stuck up the pipe! (& they do get stuck, take it from me!)
The Deluxe Rifle Die Sets from Lee are not CARBIDE. I don't believe Lee makes any carbide dies except for pistol dies. To machine carbide for bottle necks is very expensive, while straight case for pistols are not. I have the Lee Deluxe Rifle die Set # 90604 for .223, #90631 for 30/30, #90615 for 30-06 and none of them are carbide.
Rightwing,The Lee deluxe set is all you need,unless you just want to buy the Crimping die. I have never had to crimp any of my loads in 223. And I would also suggest weighing all your rifle cartridge loads with a scale by hand and not to use the auto-powder dispenser on top of your Turret Press. The powder charges will not be as exact if you use the Auto-Disk Powder dispenser.
I've heard others mention that they don't crimp .223, Have you ever had a problem with the bullets being driven into the case or visa versa? Maybe I'm stupid, but seem like there would be problems. My 1st ever reloads were 9mm and I didn't have my bullet seat/post size or my crimp die adjusted right. When I went to try them out, the bullets started to creep out of the case and even had one not chamber properly and when I ejected it the bullet fell out.
many thousands of reloads thru my AR, and i dont crimp, also not for the M1, or M1A either. dillon would be happy to sell someone a .223 carbide sizing die, but they are about $110.
Even with carbide dies, they recommend lubing the case before resizing. There are no shortcuts for this.
Since no one has mentioned this, and please correct my process if it needs it, but this is what I do for LC brass I pick up.
1. Tumble overnight
2. Sort cases, spray case lube, let dry for 5 minutes
3. Screw in resizing die, resize all cases
4. Get lube off. I wash mine in degreasing dishwashing soap, put them in a collander, shake out the water, then let dry for an hour.
5. Sort out the LC brass from the non crimped brass
6. Remove the resizing die, screw in the RCBS primer pocket swager, and go to town on the LC brass
7. Remove the PPS, screw in the bullet seating die.
8. Prime all brass with the Lee hand held primer gadget
9. Fill cases with appropriate amounts of powder
10. Put case in press, put bullet in mouth of case, run case through bullet seating die
11. Keep doing this until I run out of brass or bullets
I need to find my case mouth chamferer, you can use one, I don't all the time.
If you're using LC brass, how are you removing the primer crimp?
Jim
I'm not. I just decapped, sized, and loaded 150 fired surplus LC cases - not a problem. The CCI 400 primers went in pretty-as-you-please. When I do my other surplus cases, I may have to rean the pockets. Easy job with the Lyman powered deburring tool and the primer pocket reamer tip. I do the same with my 7.62X51 brass.
I'm not. I just decapped, sized, and loaded 150 fired surplus LC cases - not a problem. The CCI 400 primers went in pretty-as-you-please. When I do my other surplus cases, I may have to rean the pockets. Easy job with the Lyman powered deburring tool and the primer pocket reamer tip. I do the same with my 7.62X51 brass.
I do most of my reaming with a standard screwdriver type countersink reamer in my electric screwdriver.
I did that too, and burned out the reamer. Plus I got tired of cutting my hands up on the case mouths.
Jim
I've always thought that unskilled people should not be allowed anywhere near power tools. It is a rechargeable battery operated screwdriver I use and then only gently. Cheese & rice, how much chamfer does one need? I tend to use boat tailled bullets in my rifle cartridges so very little chamfer is required. The primer pockets on the cases only need a light ream to remove the crimp ring and then only the once.
I've always thought that unskilled people should not be allowed anywhere near power tools. It is a rechargeable battery operated screwdriver I use and then only gently. Cheese & rice, how much chamfer does one need? I tend to use boat tailled bullets in my rifle cartridges so very little chamfer is required. The primer pockets on the cases only need a light ream to remove the crimp ring and then only the once.
You'll get used to some of the comments by people with absolutely no experience. (maybe)I use a reamer in a power tool too.Never burnt anything but time. sam.
