Lurker with legit sizing question...

[stevewix]

Hello all, I've enjoyed the wealth of knowledge on this site for years, and finally have a question I haven't found answered anywhere.

Companies like RCBS manufacture and market 'Small Base' die sets for autoloading military rifles to aid in feeding and add a measure of safety. Hornady's 223, 308, and .30-06 dies are small-based to begin with.

I've recently discovered the immense value in prepping cases with the Rapid Trim 1200B. I decap in one station, and use the Rapid Trim to size and trim (of course setting up the die with a headspace comparator).

My question:

Is the Dillon Rapid Trim die 'small-base' enough to use with tight-chamber AR15 and M1A match rifles? I would certainly hate to make a large run of match ammo and find out none of it works. Please help.

Steve

[ckell101]

I use a lyman case gauge to check all of my sizing and finished product. It has tighter tolerances than the Dillon and the JP (Dillon being loosest). If it fits in there I have no qualms running it in my JP-15. However if you have a real zoot suit rifle, you might contact the manufacturer and see what case gauge they reommmend.

So in a roundabout way of answering your question - I nor any of my buddies have had problems getting our rapid trims to create rounds for our "tight-chamber" ARs. We are all using the die that came with the trimmer and haven't experienced issues.

[benos]

Dillon told me that all of their trim and sizing rifle dies are made to small base specs. But you might run off 20 or so and check them in your chamber...

be