Correct Lee die set for .223 Remington

[jvberryjr]

OK - so I've successfully reloaded a small batch of 9mm and now I'm moving on to .223 Remington. I'm on the Midway site and they have two die sets for sale. They are:

Lee Deluxe 3-Die Set 223 Remington - $30.99 (description below)
"The Lee Deluxe Rifle 3-Die set is perfect for the beginning or experienced reloader. The set is made of steel and includes a full length sizing die, collet neck sizing die and bullet seating die. Use the full length sizing die to produce ammunition to factory-new specifications using cases fired in other guns. The collet neck sizing die will allow you to produce ammunition that is fire-formed to the chamber of one rifle. Shellholder, powder measure, storage box and load data included."

(I corrected my error on the Pacesetter description below)

Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 223 Remington - $25.99 (description below)
"Each Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set includes the exclusive Lee Factory Crimp Die, Full Length Sizer Die and Bullet Seater Die. Each set is made from steel and includes the appropriate Shellholder, Powder Measure, load data, plastic storage box and a two year warranty. Adjustable crimp from slight taper to full roll."

This is first time with .223 and I'm reloading shells fired from my AR-15

Which die set should I get?

 

[TX expat]

You copied the description of the Deluxe set twice. I would suggest that you get the Pacesetter set. It comes with a Factory Crimp Die, not a neck sizing die. Shooting an autoloader pretty much requires that you do a full resize, not just a neck size. Plus the FCD is pretty nice.

 

[243winxb]

These will work. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=554943 But when depriming GI brass, the decapper kept slipping for me, needed readjustment, maybe Lee has changed the dies from years ago??. Using RCBS now.

 

[MrOldLude]

If you're just loading for your AR, the Pacesetter set will best with your AR.

With semi-auto, bolt action, or slide-action, you'll need to full-length resize your rounds.
Then seat the bullet, then hit up the FCD if you are loading cannelured bullets, or if you need a tad more neck tension.

A collet-die only sizes the neck of the round. This is fine for a case fire-formed on a bolt-gun, but not as much for your AR. And if you one day get a .223 bolt-action, just buy a collet die.

Oh btw, if plan to reload military brass, the primer pockets are crimped. So I'd consider picking up the lee universal decapper. Sometimes a crimped primer can cause damage to a standard decapping and resizing die. The pin is designed to slip before breaking, but sometimes it does happen.

 

[jvberryjr]

I could not see anywhere where Lee had carbide dies for this caliber...???

 

[kludge]

No. The cost is prohibitive, and you would still have to lubricate.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Order that Pacesetter set.


In an AR you don't use the neck-size only. You do want the Factory Crimp die.

 

[coyotehunter223]

I've deprimed about 500 rounds of the 5.56 brass that my unit shot on our range days (primer crimp still intact), and haven't had an issue with the Lee Pacesetter dies. I know 500 crimped rds isn't much, but there didn't seem to be much if any difference in resistance depriming crimped 5.56 versus factory 223.

 

[cfullgraf]

I could not see anywhere where Lee had carbide dies for this caliber...???

Dillon makes a 223 Remington carbide die. It is expensive. It does not eliminate the need for case lubricant.

Dillon markets the die for volume reloaders to extend the life of the die.

Don't worry about it and just get a standard steel die.

For an AR, you do not want to neck size. You should only full length size otherwise the rounds won't chamber.

Also, you don't need to crimp with an AR.

 

[MrOldLude]

Also, you don't need to crimp with an AR.

You don't need to crimp IF your cases have good neck tension.

 

[kennedy]

I have the pacesetter set for my AR and I use the crimp die, I also added a powder charging die so I could use my lee double disk powder dispenser. It really speeds up reloading.

 

[cfullgraf]

You don't need to crimp IF your cases have good neck tension.

If you don't have good neck tension, you need to figure out why and fix it.