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Die ? for 308,223
hdcolt51
Member Posts: 4,584 ✭✭✭
I have RCBS two die set for the 308 and Lee three die set for the 223
Iam getting small base dies for both should I also get taper crimp dies for them since I will be shooting them in AR style rifles.Also have some black tip 30-06 ammo that came in en blocs and some that the brass looks like it was pulled from a clothe belt would they be safe to shoot in my M1917.Used to shoot them in my Garand but know longer have it [:(] Thanks
Iam getting small base dies for both should I also get taper crimp dies for them since I will be shooting them in AR style rifles.Also have some black tip 30-06 ammo that came in en blocs and some that the brass looks like it was pulled from a clothe belt would they be safe to shoot in my M1917.Used to shoot them in my Garand but know longer have it [:(] Thanks
Comments
AS for the black tip ammo, it's armor piercing 30-06. Yes, safe to shoot in your 1917; the 1917 will take anything that you can shove down it within reason of course, whereas the garand needs a very specific powder and bullet weight range.
CC
Zedicker wrote a very good book if you haven't seen it yet - bunches of good info. Also mentions the alternative neck sizing method that I personally ascribe to.
Tubb and Sierra put out a good (dated) video too about accurate handloading.
Both sources have worlds of experience you can glean from.
SB dies are helpful (in my experience) if you are reloading once fired brass from a chamber that may be tighter than the one previously fired in. Might suggest looking into annealing too if you're going that route.
Typically FL dies should be adequate though, and now RCBS even sells a AR series die set, if you haven't run into it yet.
Always look at the source, and their intents, of any info.
Folks thinking about loading for the 6mmBR Norma which Savage has begun to sell, might want to look at 6mmbr.com for guidance as to whether a small base die will be needed. SAAMI may have specs published recently on this cartridge, I don't have it in my SAAMI book of chambers and cartridges. The brass has apparently not been standardized.
Lucky you. Sooner or later you WILL have a bullet pushed back which may be disastrous.
"Small base dies are not necessary to load for factory rifles, auto, bolt, single shot, or lever. They are necessary when loading for custom chambered rifles cut smaller than SAAMI specs. Factory rifles that have been custom rebarreled could possibly require using samll base dies to form cases."
If you haven't found the need for small base sizer dies, you're in the minority.
I agree that crimping is not necessary for AR chambering.
"I have fired 1000's of rounds of reloaded 308 from a match grade M1A and 100's of rounds from a match grade AR15 and have never crimped bullet for either. I have never experienced the bullet being "set back" from hitting the "feed ramp?" on those two rifles."
Lucky you. Sooner or later you WILL have a bullet pushed back which may be disastrous.
"Small base dies are not necessary to load for factory rifles, auto, bolt, single shot, or lever. They are necessary when loading for custom chambered rifles cut smaller than SAAMI specs. Factory rifles that have been custom rebarreled could possibly require using samll base dies to form cases."
If you haven't found the need for small base sizer dies, you're in the minority.
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