223 case neck wall thickness

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oldscot3

New member
I'm thinking of buying a Redding type S set for 223 and the bushings are ordered seperately; so, to determine which bushings to buy, I've been checking all the brass I can find. I'm finding .011" as the thinnest (RP) and .0115" as the thickest (PPU) so far.

Are these measurements consistent with other 223 loaders findings?

If so, it appears I can get by with, perhaps, just two bushings a .243 and .244.
 
I've found that Lapua has thick neck walls - at least that's what I've found with recent 223 case purchases. If you are going to use the bushing die, I suggest that you turn the case necks to a consistent thickness. And, buy a range of bushing sizes.
 
Ok I'll add a .245 and .246 to the list.

Thanks gents.

Edit: I didn't have any Lapua 223 brass but I found some 222 Lapua match cases. Wow! They are thick... I can see where I could end up spending a bunch of money on bushings to be ready for anything.

I think I better settle on one or two brands of brass, stock up, and then order the bushings I need.
 
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Oldscot3
Measuring for bushings are the same no matter what caliber. Your numbers are correct based on your numbers. A 223 bullet is .224 adding neck thickness of .011- .0115 totals being .246 if you order a 246 bushing the bullet would have no neck tension. Shooting from a bolt action .002 tension from a auto .003 to play it safe up & down being .244 is in the middle , I would order .243 , .244 & .245 would cover all bases. Could use a .246 bushing to check distance in seating of ogive with a sized case or to soft seat a bullet, used in some benchrest reloaders. Hope I Helped. I didn't like the Redding S Type bushing dies, gave me an average of .003 runout. Went back to the standard RCBS standard F/L dies. Ave. runout .001 & better with .001 headspace. I shoot benchrest only. Hope they work better for you.
 
Consider the Lee collet die as it can be set and left in a collet so it doesn't require adjustment for plug/play in the Lee classic cast single stage press.
 
cw308

I didn't have any 223 Lapua brass to measure, but I did have some Lapua 222 match cases. The necks on those are .0125". If their 223 is the same, and I used those without turning, I would have to have a .248 bushing to provide the proper tension since loaded rounds measure .249".

I'm not sure what I'm going to do since those bushings are about $24.00 each. I've seen some good deals on PPU, IMI and Creedmoor Sports loaded ammo which use Sierra 69gr. MKs bullets. (Not sure about the PPU). I think I may just shoot a bunch of that stuff and then start sorting, weighing and measurement checking brass. Unless I change my mind, I'll probably settle on one or two makes of brass for reloading and just buy whichever bushing they require.
 
I didn't like the Redding S Type bushing dies, gave me an average of .003 runout.
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That has been exactly my experience. Tried the bushings numbers up, numbers down, I free float my dies and yet I can never get any better than about 0.003" run-out. I do find uses for the S type dies (they can be used as body dies) and if I need to size the neck of a primed case.

I hone the die necks of my FL sizing dies and have less than 0.001" TIR on either the FL sizing dies or my collet dies. I'm certainly not bashing bushing dies or Redding. Redding is my first choice on sizing and bullet seating dies. Just have always been disappointed with the run-out numbers with the bushing.
 
oldscot3
Reloading for accuracy using a bolt action rifle. What works for me F/L sizing with any name brand die, using the precision shell holder set of 5 for minimum headspace, measured with the RCBS Precision Mic to .001 Seating with the Redding Competition seating die. Proper case prep, the right powder & bullet combination, uniform primer pockets to bottom your primers. Runout & headspace will at a minimum, the rest is up to you.
 
I have found that the Lee Collet Die works great for my 223 and Lapua cases (and any other cases I have). They are inexpensive also. Since it's a neck die, depending on how hot your loads are, you'll eventually need to FL size the cases when they start to chamber snugly.

I never got much happiness with the Redding bushing die, so now I use the Lee collet die and after a few reloads I resize with the RCBS FL die set to bump the shoulder back a touch.

No lube needed at all with that collet die. I like that.
 
Thanks again gentlemen... the bushing die idea is crossed off my list.

Redding's Premium series (black box) is now under consideration. At $123.00, it's a bargain compared to approx $190.00 plus $23.00 per each bushing you need to buy the bushing set.
 
oldscot3
Where do you get your dies. MidayUSA & Midsouth Shooting Supplies are two good company's to order from. The RCBS standard F/L die & a Redding Competition Seating die will be a hard combo to beat for accurate reloads. I tried different dies and a S load of measuring gauges. Using the Competition Shell Holder Set of 5 & the RCBS Precision Mic is all I need. A caliper is also needed from time to time. What press do you have? This is what works for me, hope I helped .
 
I shop around, but lately most of my supplies come from either Midway or Natchez. My press is a Rockchucker and all of my dies are either RCBS or Redding. I've got good measuring equipment; my Starrett dial calipers do the lion's share of the work.
 
I've got good measuring equipment;
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Taking measurement will tell you that most standard dies size the neck area down, way to much. Then the expander rips it back open to the correct inside diameter. Work harding of the brass is the results, shorting brass life. The Redding type s fl die lets you use the expander or not.
 
The Rockchucker is the press I use also, did you check out the RCBS Precision Mic, l found it to be the most accurate & easiest gage out there in measuring headspace and ogive settings.
 
243winxb
F/L sizing will not oversize brass when adjusted correctly. If your not neck turning, l would not remove the expander ball, leaving the expander ball shaft with a little movement helps center the ball in the neck, l also use a #17 O- Ring under the die lockring on my RCBS F/L die, find it helps in self centering.
 
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oldroper
L.E. Wilson are well know for high quality products. I use use RCBS , never had a problem. Didn't know of a difference between dies. What is the difference. I use a Lyman case gage, has steps cut to check headspace & case OAL. Busing dies never improved anything, the reason I tried them was to control neck grip on the bullet, .002 felt the same as my standard RCBS die that I now only use.
 
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