I agree with
rcmodel. I have never needed to use a small base die either, as long as I don't get sloppy sizing (leaving the shoulder too far out), or sloppy crimping. (buckling the shoulder just a hair, which is all it takes).
I had a tight chambered AR where it was necessary to check these things, but most chambers are pretty tolerant unless one is just careless in their loading.
Get a case gauge and check your sizing, then check them after seating/crimping. If they pass the gauge, they should chamber in any rifle. If not, unless it is grossly undersized or buckled, it will still chamber in many of them. My Mini 14 will take rounds that fail the gauge by a few thousandths, no problem at all.
This round in the pics is one of 500 assorted cases I loaded not long ago. This case happens to be an FC case, but there where many LC cases (assorted years), and a few other brands as well. Plinking/blasing ammo.
All the case heads were at least flush with the inner cut on the gauge, showing me that I had none with artificially induced (over sizing) headspace.
Most (97ish%) were in between the two surfaces of the gauge meaning they were within specs. Not too much or to little headspace.
A few really hard/springy cases (a few LC cases) did not size down as much and were sticking out past the gauge a few thousandths, meaning they had too little headspace, but I know they will all chamber in the .223's I have now, both AR & Mini 14.
A handful out of 500 (3ish%) were more than .005 over (I had one that was .016 over), but will still chamber easily in my guns. Your guns may have a tighter tolerance. I could cull these, but I know they will work in my guns and this is plinking ammo for my guns which doesn't have to meet the same strict requirements as other ammo I might load. (Rainy day ammo which would need to work in any .223 out there)
Those who do not gauge their .223 reloads, if they bought a gauge and checked their reloads, might find the results very interesting.
Gauge and loaded round - Roll Crimp
Case Length OK. Started at 1.750 before crimp.
Headspace OK. Not too much, or too little.