[vtducrider]

I hope to be reloading 223's this summer. I have a Dillon RL550, although have only been reloading handgun cartridges up to this point. I think I need to order the following, but thought to check GT to see if I am missing something...

223 die (prob going with Dillon 3-die set)
223 conversion kit (shell plate and locator pins)
Quick change kit (tool head, powder funnel/dispenser)
Case trimmer (is the 1200B worth the money? Looks I have buy the trimmer die separately)
Super Swage 600
223 case gauge
Ammo boxes

Anything else?

 

[vtducrider]

Adding a spare tool head for the trimmer.... Brings the grand total to $670.64 shipped.

 

[jmorris]

Bullets, powder, primers and brass.


If your loading pistol with your 550 now you can use the rifle bar for .223 and just swap them out and use the same measure on both tool heads, will save some money. You will still need the die, just not the measure.

The case trimmer is an expensive and loud one but it's the fastest one I have ever used. Of you go that route you will want to put it on it's own tool head too.

You can ream them for less but the super swage is a good tool too.

 

[vtducrider]

I already have a large powder bar, and I think when I order the quick change I will have the option to go with a small or large bar.

I know I am spending more than the bare minimum. I have a complete tool head with powder measure for each caliber I reload, and really like how quickly I can convert the machine.

I have a ton of 223 brass that I have been saving for years. Just ordered 5000 62 gr bullets (SS109 equivalent) from Widener's. $625 shipped, which was probably 20% higher than what I should have paid, but at least I will have enough for this summer and well into the next season probably. Got screwed a little on a box of small rifle primers at LGS at $45/K. I have not bought powder yet. Any suggestion? I will be shooting the reloads in my AR's and SCAR-16.

 

[F106 Fan]

I have not used the trimmer die for resizing, probably because it won't also decap. On my trimming toolhead, I have a standard decapping/sizing die and the trimmer setup. I need to check my setup because I don't want the trimmer die to bump the shoulder.

On my reloading toolhead I have a universal decapping die in station one to clean out the flash hole. It might get plugged if I tumble after trimming.

I'm doing the trimming on a 650 and I can crank through about 1400 cases per hour. Pretty nice!

Swaging is a PITA. I really should be doing .223 and 9mm on the 1050 and move the .45 ACP to the 650. Someday...

Richard

 

[fredj338]

IMO, the Dillon dies aren't worth the $$, you still have to lube the cases. To avoid trimming I use the RCBS 'X' die set. I trim once, then never trim again. The Dillon trimmer is a great tool, but as noted, on a 550, you need to use a separate tool head & make it a separate step.

 

[F106 Fan]

Fred's mention of the RCBS X-Die is notable.

I bought the die for .223 but I haven't used it yet. The idea is to trim the cases to MIN one time only and then use the X-Die for resizing. The die won't allow the neck to extend beyond a certain point and trimming will never be required again.

I really need to try mine! The reason I haven't is that I have so much brass that I will be years working through just the first reloading. I just don't shoot a lot of .223.

I just about bought a Mini-14 yesterday in the great hope that it wouldn't hit California's soon to be announced ban list. Apparently, that hope is about to be dashed. I really wanted a socially acceptable .223 semi-auto but I guess that's not going to happen.

Richard

 

[fredj338]

Fred's mention of the RCBS X-Die is notable.

I bought the die for .223 but I haven't used it yet. The idea is to trim the cases to MIN one time only and then use the X-Die for resizing. The die won't allow the neck to extend beyond a certain point and trimming will never be required again.

I really need to try mine! The reason I haven't is that I have so much brass that I will be years working through just the first reloading. I just don't shoot a lot of .223.

I just about bought a Mini-14 yesterday in the great hope that it wouldn't hit California's soon to be announced ban list. Apparently, that hope is about to be dashed. I really wanted a socially acceptable .223 semi-auto but I guess that's not going to happen.

Richard

I did a test run of 8 reloads, the cases never varied much beyond their trim length of 1.750". It seems to work & & prefer it to trimming repeatedly.
As to Kalif messed up guns laws, the only answer is to move as this state is sliding deeper & deeper into the socialist abyss. I do plan on taking my retirement out of state, really, screw the great weather.:steamed:

 

[JP22]

If you load pistol and have carbide dies, you may need something like this for rifle. It's what I use.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/672826/rcbs-case-lube-kit

 

[dkf]

I am still gathering stuff to reload .223/5.56 for my AR but I am going to use the RCBS small base Xdie set. Already bought a Lee Quick Trim. Hoping to only have to trim brass once throughout its life with the Xdie.

You will most likely want a different setup for an AR vs a bolt gun for accuracy.

 

[shotgunred]

is the 1200B worth the money?

YES!


You might add a universal decaping die.

You only need Super Swage 600 if you are going to use military brass.

 

[F106 Fan]

YES!


You might add a universal decaping die.

You only need Super Swage 600 if you are going to use military brass.

And maybe Wally World Federal... I swear there is something strange around the pocket. It doesn't look crimped but it is certainly swaged around the primer. In any event, repriming is made considerably more difficult.

Richard

 

[shotgunred]

Being my brass is mostly from law enforcement I swage everything. But if you bought commercial ammo and saved your own brass then there is no need to swage it.

 

[vtducrider]

I have mostly shot commercial 223's, and saved as much brass as I could recover. I also pick up whatever other people leave behind at the range. So my stock of brass is pretty mixed. I started to tumble clean a box of this stuff, and saw probably 20% military brass that have the crimp in the primer pocket. I set those aside. So I probably don't need to get the swage right away...

I am going to check out the RCB Xdie set, and other trimming tools that have been mentioned. I did not think I needed to lube the case if I use carbide resizing die, very good pointer... Thanks for the feedback guys! I will try to get the order placed with Dillon this week. I have decided to use ball powder like the BLC2 and H335, since stick powders do not work well in progressive loaders... Although nobody around here has any suitable powder in stock at all. I'd like to try a can before ordering bulk.

 

[jmorris]

FWIW the Dillon rifle dies are the easiest to remove stuck cases from. Not that it is important, if you lube properly but with some of the stuck case threads I have read, some folks would have loved the feature.

You can see a spring loaded clip on the size die. Remove the clip, run the small hex on top down and back up with a wrench, then reinstall the clip.

Gives me a headache thinking about some of the "tricks" folks use to remove them from other brands of dies.

 

[Boxerglocker]

If you load pistol and have carbide dies, you may need something like this for rifle. It's what I use.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/672826/rcbs-case-lube-kit

Dillon case lube works a million times better for small rifle lubing, just spray the brass on a old cookie sheet, roll around a little and load away. Dillon dies have a carbide ball in the stem so no need to lube the necks.

 

[vtducrider]

FWIW the Dillon rifle dies are the easiest to remove stuck cases from. Not that it is important, if you lube properly but with some of the stuck case threads I have read, some folks would have loved the feature.

You can see a spring loaded clip on the size die. Remove the clip, run the small hex on top down and back up with a wrench, then reinstall the clip.


Gives me a headache thinking about some of the "tricks" folks use to remove them from other brands of dies.

I am leaning towards the Dillon die, after reading more about the RCB Xdie... I like the idea of not having to repeatedly trim the casings, but realistically I will be picking up whatever brass I can find at the range, and won't be able to keep them separated from my own spent casings. I will just end up measuring every brass. Might as well put everything through the trimmer. I will go with the 1200B setup. It looks pretty slick.

Dillon's phone line is permanently busy, by the way.... Will you guys stop calling??? lol!

 

[ColoCG]

I have mostly shot commercial 223's, and saved as much brass as I could recover. I also pick up whatever other people leave behind at the range. So my stock of brass is pretty mixed. I started to tumble clean a box of this stuff, and saw probably 20% military brass that have the crimp in the primer pocket. I set those aside. So I probably don't need to get the swage right away...

I am going to check out the RCB Xdie set, and other trimming tools that have been mentioned. I did not think I needed to lube the case if I use carbide resizing die, very good pointer... Thanks for the feedback guys! I will try to get the order placed with Dillon this week. I have decided to use ball powder like the BLC2 and H335, since stick powders do not work well in progressive loaders... Although nobody around here has any suitable powder in stock at all. I'd like to try a can before ordering bulk.

As Fred said, the RCBS X die works great. Although you still need to trim the brass initially .020" under max according to RCBS. After that I've not had to trim them again.

I also use mostly BL(C)2 and some H335 in 2 AR's with great success mostly with 55gr. Hornady bullets but also have used some 62gr. bullets from Wideners and 69gr. HP's from Nosler with good results.

 

[fredj338]

I am leaning towards the Dillon die, after reading more about the RCB Xdie... I like the idea of not having to repeatedly trim the casings, but realistically I will be picking up whatever brass I can find at the range, and won't be able to keep them separated from my own spent casings. I will just end up measuring every brass. Might as well put everything through the trimmer. I will go with the 1200B setup. It looks pretty slick.

Dillon's phone line is permanently busy, by the way.... Will you guys stop calling??? lol!

Again, carbide dies in rifle offer little for the extra cost. I mark all my brass w/a fat SHarpie. When I shoot it at a range & there is other brass, I can keep it sorted that way. So I never measure a case gain either.:dunno:

 

[vtducrider]

Again, carbide dies in rifle offer little for the extra cost. I mark all my brass w/a fat SHarpie. When I shoot it at a range & there is other brass, I can keep it sorted that way. So I never measure a case gain either.:dunno:

That's a good point... I signed up at Midway to get notified with the RCB Xdie is in stock. I will use whatever I can get my hands on first. It looks like I was optimistic about how quickly I can get all the equipment. Hardly anything is available right now. Sigh...