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.223/.556 Nato "small base" dies or not?
.223/.556 Nato "small base" dies or not?
Son just purchased a Sig tactical ar platform rifle which I will probably reload for. Are these small base dies necessary for this .556 NATO chambered rifle? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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- Vaquero
- Ranch Boss
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Re: .223/.556 Nato "small base" dies or not?
Not sure what small base dies are.
I just have a regular 2 die set from Lyman.
And I have a RCBS universal decapping die just so I can deprim without sizing before I throw them in a tumbler.
RP
I just have a regular 2 die set from Lyman.
And I have a RCBS universal decapping die just so I can deprim without sizing before I throw them in a tumbler.
RP
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Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care".
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Re: .223/.556 Nato "small base" dies or not?
they are designed for tactical and other semi autos which rely on a slide spring to extract and seat the next round. Not needed for bolt actions as the closing of the bolt is enough to "resize" the base. The small base dies resize the whole case to the rim which normal resizing dies don't. They essentially restore the brass to originally manufactured dimensions. They make chambering and extraction supposedly easier and less likely to jam. The downside is they reduce brass life.This is especially an issue on a tactical rifle on full auto where proper cycling is important. That would not be an issue for most shooters as there are not too many legal full-auto tacticals in civilian hands.
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- Vaquero
- Ranch Boss
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- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:56 am
- Location: Somewhere between Memphis & Nashville
Re: .223/.556 Nato "small base" dies or not?
Well then you may have answered your own question.
If you don't already have a set of 223/556 dies, then I guess unless they are extremely expensive.
Why not?
I have a bolt gun and two AR's and the Lyman's have worked for me.
But No full autos.
RP
If you don't already have a set of 223/556 dies, then I guess unless they are extremely expensive.
Why not?
I have a bolt gun and two AR's and the Lyman's have worked for me.
But No full autos.
RP
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Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care".
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Re: .223/.556 Nato "small base" dies or not?
My concern was more about case life as if they reduced it greatly it may be just as well to buy new rounds versus reloading and also dealing with crimped primer pockets. He just bought 500 rounds of hornady frontier rounds for $300.
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- Vaquero
- Ranch Boss
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- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:56 am
- Location: Somewhere between Memphis & Nashville
Re: .223/.556 Nato "small base" dies or not?
My problem is that I don't want to be dependent on the factory stuff.
Right now I'd be afraid to guess, but I'm sure I have in excess 5-6 thousand .224 bullets, nearly 1000 primed pieces of brass, and
another 5k of small rifle primers.
As we can see right now, besides with a little time I can generally make more accurate ammo than I can buy.
RP
Right now I'd be afraid to guess, but I'm sure I have in excess 5-6 thousand .224 bullets, nearly 1000 primed pieces of brass, and
another 5k of small rifle primers.
As we can see right now, besides with a little time I can generally make more accurate ammo than I can buy.
RP
0 x
Monte Walsh "You have No idea how little I care".
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Ain't No Apologies for My Temperament
Si vis pacem, para bellum
H001, H006, H012
Re: .223/.556 Nato "small base" dies or not?
I’ve loaded .223 with standard FL dies and used it across three different AR’s and a Mini 14 and I have never had a problem. If your AR has a .556 or a Wilde chamber you shouldn’t need to use small base dies. If the AR has a .223 only chamber, particularly if it’s a match chamber then maybe. All my AR’s have a .556 chamber as does the Mini 14.
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- Cattle Driver
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Re: .223/.556 Nato "small base" dies or not?
That isn’t a big deal at all unless you are really short of time.
John Davies
Spokane WA
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Re: .223/.556 Nato "small base" dies or not?
Sometimes a small base die is required for mil surplus brass that was fired in a full auto only weapon. I have a Henry Long Ranger in 308 that requires small base for all reloads. So YMMV.
For crimp removal- get a cutter that has depth control and can be chucked in your favorite hand drill, feed a case with a gloved hand:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1165253550?pid=617234
For crimp removal- get a cutter that has depth control and can be chucked in your favorite hand drill, feed a case with a gloved hand:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1165253550?pid=617234
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You're born & you die. In between you get to shoot a bunch guns. Kind of sums up life to me. - Colorado Bob