Carbide .223 Rem dies?

[SIRVEYR666]

Does anyone make them?

I have the Lee handgun dies in carbide, but they don't make them in rifle dies. I'm just trying to get out of lubing .223 the cases, that's all.

Thanks for any help.

 

[dmftoy1]

I'm not sure but I "think" you still have to lube bottleneck cases even if they are carbide.

FWIW - Dillon has carbide .223 dies . . .they are awfully proud of them though.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[1911user]

Dillon makes carbide rifle dies in a few calibers, but they are for very high volume loading. You still have to lube the case for full-length sizing. For neck-sizing, the lee collet sizing die requires no lube. I'm not sure about other neck sizing dies.

The easiest lube is probably a spray on like dillon case lube. I'm not sure the hornady one-shot is up to rifle sizing. Run the sized brass in a tumbler for 15 minutes to get the lube off; not a big deal.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

1911user hit it:

One-shot for pistol(straightwall), dillon spray lube for rifle(bottleneck), regardless of die type. Loaded 10's of thousands of rounds that way. Works well.

The carbide 223 dies do require less effort but still require some lube.

 

[fineredmist]

If you are loading for the same rifle (auto loaders excluded) then use the Lee Collet neck sizing dies. All you need to do is to clean them up in a case cleaner (vibratory type) and then work the cases. The Lee Collet neck sizer deprimes, sizes the neck only and does it without streching the cases. I load for 5 different bolt and single shot rifles and I use these dies exclusively. INHO they are the best on the narket.

 

[Car Knocker]

I'm not sure the hornady one-shot is up to rifle sizing.

It is OK for .308 Winchester on a progressive.

 

[jmorris]

as noted above, dillon has a carbide size/decap die, it's over $90 and works great. I use dillon case lube on everything I load. pour cases into feeder apply one pump, mix them up and one more pump. Let it sit while you load up the primer tube then have at it.

 

[Rico567]

I have the Dillon carbide .223 size die. It works fine. But, as has been said, plan to lube the cases. I use Midway spray lube, a VERY minimal amount. I think the purpose of the carbide in this case is to have a die that's much more durable.

 

[SIRVEYR666]

Thanks guys!

I've never reloaded rifle ammo before, only handgun (9mm, 45ACP, .38/.357). Many of you think I'm crazy for wanting to reload .223, but my free time doesn't cost a dime.

I'm gonna open up a can of worms here, but here it goes:

What would be the most cost effective powder to use for .223. I don't want any special load, just a good plinking round. Any good loads you'd like to recommend? How important is case trimming with .223 loads? I'm not planning on loading them super hot or anything.

Thanks.

 

[landon74]

FWIW I bought a carbide sizer button for my Redding .223 dies, lubing the inside of the necks always was the big pain to me, cut down the time involved a good bit. For an economical powder H335 is one of the cheaper powders at the local gunshop.

 

[dmftoy1]

I don't think you're crazy at all for reloading .223. I value my time exactly the same and can pretty easily stay on top of my .223 needs. (There's always cold or rainy days and days when the inlaws visit. ) I use H335 . . .with a good quality bullet it gives me pretty good velocity and very good accuracy.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[treebeard]

H335 or 2230. I just got into reloading .223 and the Lee dies work for me fine.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Another vote for H335. Why?

1. It meters easily and consistently.
2. It works very well in both 223 and 308.
3. If you load 30-30, try 33 grains under a sierra 150 grain flat point.

Did I mention that I keep about 16 pounds of H335 on hand for the above purposes?

 

[jmorris]

For lowest cost go to your loading manual and find the lightest powder charge (7000grains in 1lb), then compare with the price of the powder. Buy large amounts at a time of everything. I don’t know what kind of powder measure you have, but if it’s a Dillon stay away from IMR and other “stick” powders. Winchester 748 is my all time favorite in .223. Berry’s bullets have 55grain FMJ for the best price I’ve found.