.223/.556 Nato "small base" dies or not?

[Vaquero]

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

[Vaquero]

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

[Vaquero]

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

[Hatchdog]

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.

[John E Davies]

dealing with crimped primer pockets.

That isn’t a big deal at all unless you are really short of time.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[wingnut]

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