bigarm Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 What dies do you suggest for loading .223 on a Dillon 550 b? I see that Dillon has two different sets, one with a full length carbide sizing die and the other not. Is that the only difference and is the more expensive set needed? I have looked at other brands and many of them are two die sets/ Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 I think Dillon recommends the carbide one for people who load commercially. Meaning many thousands of rounds. Three die sets usually have separate seat and crimp dies, two die sets have the seating and crimping in one. I never crimp .223/5.56s, just don't run the die body down and it won't crimp, just use it to seat bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbauer67 Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 99% of people use dillon's steel rifle die's. they work great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigarm Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 99% of people use dillon's steel rifle die's. they work great Good to hear since I just bought a set from a member here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDA Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 99% of people use dillon's steel rifle die's. they work great Wow, not sure how any of the other die maker's stay in business based on all of the rest only sharing 1% of the market... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dauntedfuture Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 I think he is saying that of those that use Dillon dies, most use the steel ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbauer67 Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 99% of people use dillon's steel rifle die's. they work great Wow, not sure how any of the other die maker's stay in business based on all of the rest only sharing 1% of the market... There's always a joker in the crowd, but seriously Dillon is the way to go for progressive rifle loading Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDA Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 99% of people use dillon's steel rifle die's. they work great Wow, not sure how any of the other die maker's stay in business based on all of the rest only sharing 1% of the market... There's always a joker in the crowd, but seriously Dillon is the way to go for progressive rifle loading Well, not really, I am just a fact based finance and statistical guy and when people throw out numbers I pay attention. I am in the proverbial 1% though, I use the Forster dies and really like them for .223 and 300 BLK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakobi Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 I just bought the RCBS small base X-die set and a LEE Factory crimp die. I'll see how the X-die works. I liked the idea of not needing to trim my rifle brass (assuming it works, the reviews were favorable). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiggerJJ Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 as far as I know, the x die does not eliminate the need to trim, it just foregoes it. the 1st pass in the reload process the brass is trimmed shorter than normal, and then the mandrel in the x die is supposed to keep the brass from stretching after that in subsequent reloadings. you have to keep your brass separate, ie, one piece gets thru that didn't get trimmed shorter than normal, and that case will probably get damaged to the point of unusable if you don't catch it before sizing it. then after a couple of passes/firings, the cases need to be trimmed again. by then I would have lost it anyway... I don't use one, so I am sure an x die fan club member will jump in here and tell me I am totally all wet... I just run everything thru a processing head with a trimmer, then load it later as needed. tumble to clean in-between heads. minimal handling, easy peasy. JMHO jj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakobi Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Right. I don't have any issues with processing a large batch and then only using that brass until it wears out. If I get to the point where I'm reloading really large volumes, I'll look at other alternatives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiggerJJ Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 (edited) and to add, I would be surprised if anyone gets more than 4-5 reloads with 223 brass anyway... Edited August 21, 2014 by RiggerJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigedp51 Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 and to add, I would be surprised if anyone gets more than 4-5 reloads with 223 brass anyway... That would depend on how far you bump the shoulder back and how hot you load, I use a RCBS case mastering gauge to measure stretching and thinning in the web area. And if it doesn't stretch and thin you can shoot it far more than 4-5 times. You do not need max loads for practice at or below 100 yards, and the load below is very easy on brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiggerJJ Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 100 yards and in is for shotgun slugs and pistol, not rifle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiggerJJ Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 ...unless it's chambered in 22 long rifle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbauer67 Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 100 yards and in is for shotgun slugs and pistol, not rifle... Amen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitty79 Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 100 yards and in is for shotgun slugs and pistol, not rifle... Amen Anything the stage description says is a rifle target is a rifle target. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 (edited) The X-die does what it says on the tin, but that doesn't mean it "works" if process is broken. What I mean by that is that keep track of every case you've used and when and making sure no other random brass gets in there and so on, its just a pain. I can't figure out a process that keeps that straight with zero failures so my x-die is there now as a final check and popping media from the flash hole. I size/decap with a lee die on a turret press, clean the brass of lube (sometimes), check it for length with the dillon gauge, trim it if needed, then run it through the 550 with an x-die in place. I need a better method, but it is what it is for now. Edited August 26, 2014 by Vlad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgt Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Just bought rcbs 2 die set. Steel... put on the rl550b. Setting up still. Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now