RCBS .223 X-Die

[mongoose33]

I'm trying to adapt my reloading of .223 to the X-die, which is supposed to prevent brass from growing too long during repeated resizings, thus requiring trimming. This would eliminate a significant step in the reloading process.

The instructions say that brass should be trimmed .020 shorter than maximum to start after full-length resizing, which I presume means .020 shorter than the listed 1.760 in the two manuals I've referenced (Sierra and Lyman).

So, obviously, that would imply 1.740 as the length I should initially trim to after resizing. What's slightly confusing is whether they mean max of what I should be trimming to (1.750) or truly the max listed (1.760).

Is this what those of you using it are trimming to, 1.740?

I have about 1100 twice-fired .223 brass I need to process; any issues of using the X-die w/ such brass, or does it work best w/ new brass?

Any suggestions as to how to get the X-die to work best? I have the Small Base X-die (and load w/ Small-Base dies), and have already successfully full-length resized several pieces of brass using that X-die.

TIA!

 

[Steve in PA]

Skip the small base.

I trim to 1.740".

Works with any brass.

I use the X-die for .223 and .30/06 (M1 Garand). I've reloaded thousands of cases for both calibers.

 

[rc109a]

I use the small base since I reload for several AR's. The xdies work as advertised. I like them. I am reloading LC brass and it is all once fired MG brass. Works great...

 

[BADUNAME37]

I used to automatically throw all my brass through the case trimmer. Lately, I caliper-measure the cases and if the majority of the lot of cases is within specified length, then I quickly proceed to measure each with the dial caliper to determine which cases go through the trimmer and which ones don't (sorted into two batches).

With my start of reloading 380 Auto, the cases are so small that I found it is easier to "caliper" them first, as I was finding that about 80% of the cases did not need trimming at all. The rest I trimmed to the approximate average length of all the cases that fell in between minimum and maximum case lengths.

I quickly found the "caliper method" to be a lot quicker than actually "colleting" each tiny case and performing the trim steps for most cases which did not, in fact, even need trimming at all!

 

[243winxb]

For the
best results, full-length
resize each case and trim
to .020” under maximum
case length. This is a
“one-time only” preparation
of any and all cases to
be used in the X-Sizer die.

On the 223/5.56mm your finished trim length is 1.740" Online instruction are here> http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/instructions/XDieProductInstructions.pdf