Lake City brass is a higher quality than commercial, this is one of the changes made after 1967 to help prevent jambing.
Small base dies are not needed unless you have a small diameter chamber, and military chambers are normally larger in diameter and longer than their civilian counterparts.
WW748 and H335 meter well and will speed up your loading, both these powders under military numbers were used to load the military 5.56.
Primers, Winchester and CCI #41 with ball powder, the CCI #41 is designed for use with the AR and its floating firing pin and are thicker to prevent slam fires.
Buy your bullets in bulk and be prepared to have your AR throw perfectly good brass away and then go find it. :'(
A2 HBAR 1 in 9 twist
If your AR leaves marks on the base of the case your AR is over gassed and you will need to lower your pressure. The ammo pictured below is is M855 and loaded hotter than SAAMI specs (5,000 cup) and you can see what over gassing does to the brass.
Over gassed, the bolt is beginning to open while the case is still gripping the chamber walls and damages the base as pictured below.
http://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra223ar.pdf
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/