7mm mag die to decap .223 w/o sizing?

[silicosys4]

Hi all,
Quick question,
Can I use a 7mm mag die or .300 winmag die to decap .223 without sizing?
Just picked up a Dillon rt-1500 trimmer
Consensus seems to be that brass should be unsized going into the trimmer so the trimmer has something to grab on to. The trimmer sizes but does not decap.
The ideal setup on a progressive seems to be;

1. Universal decapper first station
2. Trimmer second station
3. Sizing die third station to reset neck tension.

Got a universal decapper on order. In the meantime,
Can I use a larger die with a .223 expander ball replacement?
Or should I just cool my jets and wait for the universal decapper?

Or...can I just skip the universal decapper and just run the trimmer first station, then a .223 sizing die second station to decap and expand neck?
The trimmer is a small base die, my .223 dies are standard

 

[burrhead]

The answer to the question is yes that will work but, I would trim after sizing. The brass dimensions will change upon sizing.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

Unless directed otherwise by the trimmer instructions.
(Which I can't imagine!)

You have to trim after sizing.

Rc

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Most people who run a rt1200 or the now new rt1500 size in two stages. First stage use a regular size die and size the case about 75% and use the trim die to do the remaining 25%.

For example on 223 for my AR, am bumping the shoulders back .004, so the regular die is set up to bump back .003 and the trim die is set up to do the last .001.

Some guys don't size at all with the trim die, the trim die being small base and it squeezes the neck down slightly is what holds the case in place. So you would set up your regular die to do all the sizing, and set your trim die up so that it doesn't touch the shoulder .

On my Dillon 650 running 223, a Redding regular FL size die with carbide expander in station 1, station 4 is the trim die.

 

[joem1945]

I still use the RT1200 trimmer. I have always decap &size and then trim. I have never had any problems doing it that way. I leave the case lube on the cases.. All my trim dies hold the cases very well and have never slipped one bit. I have my trimmers set up in a single stage press because it a bit messy with brass shavings.

 

[medalguy]

^^^ Same here. I size/trim on a Rockchucker, then deprime, and swage new brass. Once swaged brass goes right into the 550.

 

[Cemetery21]

If you use a 7 mag or 300 WM sizing die to decap 223 you will end up with a crushed neck or a 7mm/300 diameter neck on your 223 due to the expander in the sizing die. Maybe there is a decap pin retainer for the die that replaces the expander ball, but it and the shaft would need to be a smaller diameter than your 223 neck.

 

[BCRider]

The true answer will be "it depends".

The rod that holds the decapping pin on many of my larger size dies is too large to fit in the neck of a .223.

Oddly enough while even my "universal" decapping die proved itself to be less than universal when faced with .223 an old 500S&W handgun die came to the rescue as it was set up with a smaller than normal pin rod.

I thought "Wha.... ? ? ?".

 

[burrhead]

In the OP's first post he said he's going to use a 223 expander/decapper in a 7 mag die. Ya gotta read the whole post.