Thread: Dies for .223

Im going to start loading for 223 and will buy dies in the next couple of days. Which brand of dies? I really like my Hornady dies for 270, any reason to change to lee or RBCS? This is for a hunting rifle not target so not wanting to spend huge amounts.

Hi,

The lee neck sizing collet die (and their crimper die) is I think the best and extends brass life but its possible you go to chamber a round with a deer in front of you and find you cannot (this can happen with any neck die), so I suggest full sizing might be more reliable.

I think the Lee dies are well good enough for any shooting so the ultimate 223 set is what I'd suggest for this use. That is unless you want to use bullets with different ogives like a-max in which case you might as well stay with Hornady and get the right insert. I have both Lee and Hornady (so I can use the amax insert) in 308w and I'm thinking of getting the hornady seater die with the amax insert for 223 or I might just get the Lee 223 RGB set as my ultimate set is in my 650 so I dont want to disturb its settings.

Powder, I find the ADI BM2 meters very well, better than the ADI 2208 but no difference in accuracy I can see. What I have done is I have a Lee powder dropper in each calibre/load as at $50 they are cheap and this way I have and never alter them back and forth.

i use hornady dies and benchmark 2. works well

Lee dies are best value for money imo, as said above the collet die appears the best on the market. I neck size only and have never had an issue in 223 with not chambering but I do case trim as needed.

I just use the lee rgb set, which is full length only. Works well for me, and very affordable

What are you loading for on my ar I just got a 223 fl die and use my 222 case holder and bullet seating die

I have always used Lyman 223 dies, but had a Lee neck collet die arrive last week but haven't used it yet. I usually neck size, but the Lee needing no lube was a big plus for me as no longer need to tumble after sizing, and no stretched cases from a sticky expander button.
I have the Lee Ultimate set for the 243, only complaint is the shellholder doesn't work with my Lyman hand primer.

lee,hornady.rcbs, they are all good. love all the other lee gear except the toothpaste/lube craphola..... lee is cheap and has good warrantee to why spend any more????
BM2 ar2206h or win 748 they all go good but the ball powder sure meters easy,set of lee spoons worth the few $$$$ as its piece of cake to chuck a few loads together scoop measure onto scales..dribble to right amount and away ya go. and they make trail boss loading (done by volume) super easy.

Lee neck die and the bullet seating die, comes with shell holder, powder scoop , loading info and a case. I think about $74 from Reloader Supplies.
Easy to use, no lube and produces good ammo.
I am going to have to start .222 reloading and I will be getting a set of these again.

Lee is good stuff ivy never had a problem with their lube in a tube for neck sizing I've got a little container with lead shot and graphite in it I just dip the neck in before sizing

Well I have a shell holder and a Hornady neck sizing die, so I think I'll just get the lee RGB set. Thanks for the comments guys.

I used to hate hornady dies I just couldn’t get them to work right
But last year I brought a howa mini in 6.5 grendel and at the time hornady was the only die option in nz
So i was forced to buy a set
Glad I did I read the instructions and i Realised that I’ve been setting up the dies worng
Set them up correctly and bugger me they work well wont buy anything else now love them

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

I used to hate hornady dies I just couldn’t get them to work right
But last year I brought a howa mini in 6.5 grendel and at the time hornady was the only die option in nz
So i was forced to buy a set
Glad I did I read the instructions and i Realised that I’ve been setting up the dies worng
Set them up correctly and bugger me they work well wont buy anything else now love them

Who has the Hornady Grendel set? I am thinking of building a Grendel AR15 upper but right now bringing the Lee dies in from titan seemed the only possibility.

Ordered them from Reloaders same with the lapua brass
Had them within 2 day’s so holesaler must of had them