Taper crimp die for 5.56?

[harmonic]

I'm just getting the equipment to load 5.56. I understand I can use 223 dies to reload 5.56mm, right?

The loads are for a S&W M&P 15 target, so I'll be using small base dies. Is that correct?

Plus, do I need a taper crimp seater die? Those things are about $100 each.

 

[Walkalong]

I use roll crimps and taper crimps in 5.56/.223. The Redding stand alone Taper Crimp Die is relatively inexpensive.

You probably won't need small base dies.

$100?? Spend that on some competition dies from Forster and buy a separate crimp die, or don't crimp at all, which many people don't.

A simple RCBS standard seater can roll crimp in a separate step, or the Redding die can taper crimp in a separet step.

Were you talking about this overpriced die?

Any plain jane two die set will load good ammo for you, and roll crimp if desired. It only goes up in price, and hopefully performance, from there.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

No small base die should be necessary.

No crimp is necessary either, unless you just want to do it.

I have loaded .223 for about 38 years now, with standard RCBS die set, and very seldom ever used the crimp during seating. Loading for AR's, Mini-14's, and bolt guns, and have never felt the need to crimp with any of them.

I do have a LEE FCD die now, that I prefer if I was to crimp.
It is not case length critical like other crimp dies. It uses a collet to squeeze the crimp in place. It can even be used with bullets that do not have a cannulure. Limited testing I have done indicates it improves accuracy slightly.

rcmodel