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.223rem dies

GTRiemGTRiem Member Posts: 309 ✭✭✭
i have recencly purchaced a prog. press that will load rifle,for the .223 rem, i bought a rcbs 2 die set from my local,for a taper crimp die does rcbs or another(lee,hornaday,)make sence?part no.?especially for rounds going thru different guns?till now i've never loaded anything but pistol.
thanks GTR

Comments

  • GTRiemGTRiem Member Posts: 309 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    well my backordered 49th edition finaly got here,and it answered my taper crimp ?
    GTR
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by GTRiem
    well my backordered 49th edition finaly got here,and it answered my taper crimp ?
    GTR


    You do not taper crimp rifle ammo, it will shove the shoulder back during bullet seating and prevent the round from chambering. Lee makes a collet crimp die that may work for you. Personally, I shot tens of thousands of reloaded 223 rounds and never had any issues with bullet movement.
  • GTRiemGTRiem Member Posts: 309 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    thanks,i just didnt seem to understand it ,brain no work i guess.so with theses 2 dies set(this is for neck cases)the first die does the decap/sizing,second die seats bullet and if wanted crimps.
    what would be the purpose of a collet crimp die verses the crimp that can be done in die#2? or is this a process that would be used for larger caliber and not nesassary for .223 ?
    my apoligies for my ignorance on this,i just want to make sure i have all the stuff to load when i sit down to do it.
    GTR
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by GTRiem
    thanks,i just didnt seem to understand it ,brain no work i guess.so with theses 2 dies set(this is for neck cases)the first die does the decap/sizing,second die seats bullet and if wanted crimps.
    what would be the purpose of a collet crimp die verses the crimp that can be done in die#2? or is this a process that would be used for larger caliber and not nesassary for .223 ?
    my apoligies for my ignorance on this,i just want to make sure i have all the stuff to load when i sit down to do it.
    GTR

    No apologies are needed; once you understand the issue it helps a lot. The second die; the seating die CAN supply some crimp to a bullet, IMHO crimp is generally not needed nor helpful. The problem with doing a crimp is unless EVERY SINGLE case is the exact same length with a + - of .0015 you can over crimp the longer cases. Understanding that forces within the die will move the most plastic or malleable metal first; once the crimp is applied to the bullet, to the point it can't compress the case into the bullet further, and the case is too long it will shove the case downward, bending it at the shoulder/body junction. That is the hump you see that prevents chambering the round.

    By setting the seating die into the press JUST FAR enough to support the neck during seating you eliminate pushing the shoulder back. Bullet depth can be controlled by the seating stem. One good way to set the seating die is to take a sized case you know is just a bit long and place it into the press and lower the ram. Unscrew the bullet seating stem way up out of the way. Screw the seating die DOWN until you feel it just touch the case with a touch of resistance. Lock the die ring in place. You have now set the die to the LONGEST case you may have. Use the bullet seating stem to adjust seating depth.

    Let us know how you are progressing!
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by GTRiem
    thanks,i just didnt seem to understand it ,brain no work i guess.so with theses 2 dies set(this is for neck cases)the first die does the decap/sizing,second die seats bullet and if wanted crimps.
    what would be the purpose of a collet crimp die verses the crimp that can be done in die#2? or is this a process that would be used for larger caliber and not nesassary for .223 ?
    my apoligies for my ignorance on this,i just want to make sure i have all the stuff to load when i sit down to do it.
    GTR


    To answer your collet crimp question. The bullet get a collet squeeze around the parimeter of the neck, adding tension to the bullet. Again, from my experience, it is not needed in normal shooting applications. SOme folks feel it is vital. I would rather not mess with it.
  • GTRiemGTRiem Member Posts: 309 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i will go ahead and try without the crimp,atleast until i get a setup to trim cases.with the collet crimp die is it less sensative to case length differece? meaning does the die crimp by pushing into the cannelure from side or does it still force downward resulting in a crush/deformed case?
    GTR
  • GTRiemGTRiem Member Posts: 309 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    also what powder do you like for 223(this is goofin off ammo for now for my mini14)of course i see many diff loads with alot of powder choises in the manual,and who knows what powder i can get local anymore.
    GTR
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by GTRiem
    also what powder do you like for 223(this is goofin off ammo for now for my mini14)of course i see many diff loads with alot of powder choises in the manual,and who knows what powder i can get local anymore.
    GTR


    You won't need a crimp for your mini-14 IMHO. Any powder is fine. I like IMR 4895 in the 223 but ball powders load easier, especially on progressive presses. There are surplus ball powders available at Pats reloading in Ohio that are good for blasting ammo.

    The collet crimp may be less sensitive, but shoving the shoulder back is still going to be an issue using a progressive press unless case trimming is done after the sizing station.
  • GTRiemGTRiem Member Posts: 309 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    thanks for the help,looks like im stalled until i can find primers...
    wish i would have started this quest last year!
    GTR
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