Reloading dies

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Txbonecollector75

New member
I was wondering what would be a better reloading die to start with, I'm wanting to load .223 rem and not 5.56NATO. I know RCBS has a Small Base dies set and then they have a SB T/C die set for the AR series.

My question is if I wanted to load .223 rem for my ar15, is it ok just to use the RCBS Small Base die set? Or does hornady make a .223 rem small base die set and if so which one would be better? Or do I have to use the SB T/C dies? I've read in my Lyman books that the none T/C bullet seats more uniformly and the neck walls hold the bullet tightly, and the fiocchi ammo I have shot through the my ar15 is not a T/C.

My ar15 is a diamondback, 16" barrel, 1:9" twist rate. And I have been shooting fiocchi 55gr FMJBT.
 
I've been loading for AR's awhile now and have not needed a small base die to date . The small base die does have it's place but I've been lucky enough not to need one and I load for 4 different AR's . I never like the idea of suggesting standard die over SB die just in cases that's actually what you need but I'd say there's a good chance you won't need the SB die .

Not sure what you mean by T/C ( taper crimp ??? )
 
Yes RCBS makes a small base taper crimp die for the the ar15 I'm guessing for loading 5.56NATO rounds. I'm doing my own reloading now because I bought some aguila 5.56x45mm ammo brand new at cabela's and when I fired off a few rounds it started hang firing because it blowed the primer out of the case and lodged under my trigger assembly, I took the shells and found out they were all compressed loads. So now I want to load my own so I know for sure what I'm firing.
 
On the whole compressed loads are not dangerous and should not cause that issue . I shoot/load at least 2 different compressed loads in my AR's . It's pretty hard not to get a compressed load in 223 when shooting the heavier bullets do to the fact you must seat the bullet so deep in order to have then function in the mag .

I suspect there is something else that caused the blown primers .

Was this the first time shooting the rifle ?

Was this the first time using that ammo ?

Have you tried the ammo in another firearm ( friend or fellow shooter's gun )
 
Not knowing how much you’re willing to put down for a set of dies I would suggest a higher end than the RCBS standard. You should look at the Redding national match dies. It’s a 3-Die Set and they come with a full-length sizing die, competition seating die, and taper crimp die.
The seating die has very fine adjustment using a feeler gage type head. This make setting depth so easy it’s mindless. If your 5/1000 to high, just turn it down that much.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/246918/redding-national-match-3-die-set-223-remington
 
It wasn't the first time firing my rifle.

And yes I have used the ammo before in my rifle. I contacted the company who made the ammo and they admit that they are looking into some of their ammo that went out overly compressed.

And yes my brother tried it in his ar15, he has an Anderson arms ar15 and it started handing up in his rifle and his extractor was nearly pulling the head off the case, we got the shell out and saw it started to split the case from the over pressure in these rounds.

I've used Fiocchi .223 ammo, Federal American Eagle 5.56x45, and a lot of other makers of ammo and never had this happen before and I've put about 1500 rounds through my rifle and never had anything like this ever happen before.
 
Over charged which seems to be what these specific rounds are can in fact cause a compressed load . How ever you can have a compressed load that is not over charged and well with in pressure tolerances . I'm only pointing that out because you can have a safe compressed load . What appears to have happened is they over charged the cartridge resulting in high enough pressure to blow the primers . There is a difference between compressed and over charged . If you put a fast enough powder in the case . You can be nowhere near compressed and blow your gun into pieces . Keep that in mind when you start reloading . How full the case is has very little to do with what your peak pressure will be . It's all about burn rate , sectional density and a whole lot of rocket science ;) Get your self some manuals and read up . Lyman 49th , Hornady and even the ABC's of reloading are all good .

Do not reload the brass that was fired with the over charge and blew the primers . They are ruined , primer pockets are likely enlarged and the web and head area has likely been stretched a bit . Just not worth reloading that stuff now when 223 brass is so cheap .

When you talked with them did they offer to exchange the ammo for you ?
 
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Yes they offered to exchange it for new ammo but I declined, I'm not that trusting for a second time. I went to the gun shop that I bought my rifle at and had them look at my bolt carrier group this morning and they told me everything looked ok in it, but they sent back over 1000 rounds of the same ammo because the local sheriffs department were having the same problem as me and the company sent me an email today stating that some of the ammo with certain lot numbers were sent out with double charges, and they offered to replace my bolt and I took them up on it so they are going to let the gun shop that I do business with know that they are paying for a new bolt for my rifle.
 
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