223 sizing die

[Cory porter]

I am going to start shooting 223 at a few matches. What fl bushing dies are you guys using

 

[GLShooter]

Redding all the way.

 

[1911mag]

Redding

 

[Bill K]

I use RCBS, but any of the upper name brands will work, just fine.

 

[SecondsCount]

Redding is what I have used in the past. I'm just a weekend shooter but I'm starting to really like the Mighty Armory Gold Match resizing die with the built in mandrel expander. Seating pressure feels more consistent.

It is not a bushing die but the mandrel is handling neck tension anyway.

 

[PracticalTactical]

I am going to start shooting 223 at a few matches. What fl bushing dies are you guys using

For the most part I agree with the comments above, Redding is what I mostly use as well. But you might also consider Whidden custom dies. They can be made according to your fired brass or to your reamer spec. Best to use your fired brass.

What I personally like about Whiden dies is the enhanced ability to refine the neck tension via custom expander balls. This allows you to balance the ying and yang between bushing size and ideal INSIDE neck diameter.

Alot of guys are adding a separate operation where they run the cases through expander mandrels after neck sizing but these Whidden dies will save you that step. Not only does it save you a little time (no big deal) But what I like is that the pulling out of the expander ball pulls along the natural axis of the case, whereas pushing an expander mandrel down into the case does not necessarily as it applies different forces going in and then again when retracting. (Although there may be some benefit to the scrubbing or polishing effect that may have)

Also, don't fall into the trap where you think you can get by with just one bushing. You will inevitably require a range of sizes, so commit to that mindset up front.

BTW, I do plan to order one of these custom Whidden dies for my self before long. While I have no direct experience with them, the concept is sound.

 

[55fairlane]

You guys are gonna laugh and I'm certain make fun of me, but use plain old Lee FL dies, use them for my service rifle, use them for my match rifle.......

Worry less about your equipment , you need trigger time. Matches aren't won on the reloading bench, matches are won on the line by the guys who know how to shoot!

Aaron

 

[SecondsCount]

You guys are gonna laugh and I'm certain make fun of me, but use plain old Lee FL dies, use them for my service rifle, use them for my match rifle.......

Worry less about your equipment , you need trigger time. Matches aren't won on the reloading bench, matches are won on the line by the guys who know how to shoot!

Aaron

The Lee offers a lot of die for the money. My experience is that they are good but if you want to play with neck tension, there are better options.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Check out the relatively new Wilson bushing FLS. I got one for my up and coming 6 Dasher project on the recommendation of some of the guys here and it is a nice looking die. You might call Wilson directly and see if they have a die available that is particularly suited to your chamber. Another possibility might be Harrell's but don't know if they do 223. Nothing wrong with any of those other recommendations either but I would look around and see what is available. If you have the information, you might post a copy of the reamer print or what kind of factory rifle you are going to use for more precise recommendations.

 

[Longtrain]

223 Redding SB & Regular.
Dasher & 223AI Whidden

 

[Ned Ludd]

Redding Tye S Match Die Set #36111

I would recommend also buying a few different size steel bushings to start out. I'd probably go with 0.247", 0.246", and 0.245". You can get other sizes if necessary, but one of those will probably work if you're after about .002" neck tension (interference fit) to start out. Once you know with certainty the bushing diameter that works for you, then you can think about buying the more expensive titanium nitride bushings if you want. I've always used the steel bushings and they work just fine.

 

[K22]

You guys are gonna laugh and I'm certain make fun of me, but use plain old Lee FL dies, use them for my service rifle, use them for my match rifle.......

Worry less about your equipment , you need trigger time. Matches aren't won on the reloading bench, matches are won on the line by the guys who know how to shoot!

Aaron

Amen - Amen - Amen - The most significant variable is the shooter - When I shot competitive precision pistol, I saw it a lot.

A skilled marksman will almost always out shoot a guy who focuses totally on equipment who is trying to find a short cut to championship shooting. Case in point, in rim fire competition, one guy in our club with quite a bit of disposable income bought the most expensive and best at the time, kept trying different pistols in search of the "silver" bullet but never made the "Gold Team", top five shooters in on the pistol team. Whereas our top shooter shot a stock Ruger.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I have the Wilson bushing die in stock.

I'm sorry, the Redding is not as nice.

 

[jlorenzo]

Redding is what I have used in the past. I'm just a weekend shooter but I'm starting to really like the Mighty Armory Gold Match resizing die with the built in mandrel expander. Seating pressure feels more consistent
It is not a bushing die but the mandrel is handling neck tension anyway.

Forgive my ignorance, does the mandrel go in before the decaping pin or do you have to switch from either or? Like the looks of that die though. Would be cool if it decapped, sized and ran a mandrel all at once. Not sure if thats possible though.

 

[SecondsCount]

Forgive my ignorance, does the mandrel go in before the decaping pin or do you have to switch from either or? Like the looks of that die though. Would be cool if it decapped, sized and ran a mandrel all at once. Not sure if thats possible though.

It can do it all at once or you can change out the tip and just have it size and mandrel.

 

[jlorenzo]

It can do it all at once or you can change out the tip and just have it size and mandrel.

What would be the benefits of doing it in two stages?

 

[PracticalTactical]

Worry less about your equipment , you need trigger time. Matches aren't won on the reloading bench, matches are won on the line by the guys who know how to shoot!

Aaron

Advice is put forth thru the lens of ones own experiences, so I can appreciate this point if it is in a certain context.

I do not agree with it if you are a competitive shooter, especially F Class where the bull is small, the distances long and the competitors competent. (Or other such precision sports.)

Certainly a balance is always required and gear alone does not make a great shooter in any variation of the sport, but as the quality of your competitive peers rises, so must everything else.

In F Class, I can say that when I cut corners on the bench I fade in the pack. When I do it all on the bench I rise in the pack. Sooner or later corner cutting will cost you points.

 

[55fairlane]

Advice is put forth thru the lens of ones own experiences, so I can appreciate this point if it is in a certain context.

I do not agree with it if you are a competitive shooter, especially F Class where the bull is small, the distances long and the competitors competent. (Or other such precision sports.)

Certainly a balance is always required and gear alone does not make a great shooter in any variation of the sport, but as the quality of your competitive peers rises, so must everything else.

In F Class, I can say that when I cut corners on the bench I fade in the pack. When I do it all on the bench I rise in the pack. Sooner or later corner cutting will cost you points.

I am a CMP & NRA high power guy....admittedly I know nothing about Fclass, how ever marksmanship fundamentals are kinda universal, nothing replaces practice/ trigger time

 

[Laurie]

I am going to start shooting 223 at a few matches.

There are matches and matches with very different requirements on ammunition specifications and consistency. I'm surprised nobody's asked you what type of rifle / barrel + chamber / competition is involved in your case. 223 Rem in competition is a chameleon number and covers so many different chamber and cartridge specifications that SAAMI standard specifications are only of any relevance to mass manufacturers of factory rifles.

What weight of bullet do you use or plan to use - the heavier the bullet in a suitable chamber in 223 Rem, the greater the demands on ammunition consistency and the handloading process if decent results are to be achieved in the likes of F-Class. Do you want or need to use a magazine? ........... and so on, and so forth.

If you're shooting a gas gun in XTC type matches, then the late Glen Zediker's advice in The Competitive AR15 is very apposite - don't shoot barrels out trying to achieve tiny group results; instead get a reasonable working combination then get practice in, especially on the offhand and sitting/kneeling stages. Benchrest and F-Class and a bit of pleasurable 'fun competition' at short ranges with club members each has its own very different standards and needs (and costs), and these differences affect the loading tools standards too.

 

[JSH]

I won’t get into the discussion of what one needs to do to compete.
Cory has been around I believe to know a thing or two, and never to old to learn.
As mentioned Redding is hard to get away from. You don’t mention if this is a gas gun or a bolt rig though.
jeff