.222 rem/ .223 rem

[Woody3]

Hi all,
I've been loading pistol for some time now and want to branch out to rifle. Anyhow, a buddy of mine gave me some .222 rem RCBS dies a while back. I'm looking into loading .223 rem in the near future. I was looking at my manuals and noticed that "most" of the measurements for the two calibers are the same. I also noticed that the crimp die said .222 or .223 rem but the size and seat die did not. Is it safe to assume that I can't use the seating die on the .223? I'm pretty sure I can't use the .222 size die on the .223. Is this correct?
Thanks for your help,
Woody


Keep your head low and your powder dry.

 

[Jim Watson]

If the crimp die is marked for .222 and .223 then I assume you could use it for both.
But since I don't crimp .223, it would not matter to me.

You might could get by with the .222 seater for .223 but the .222 sizing die would not work at all for .223.

Thing is, individual dies are relatively more expensive than sets and it would not save you much money to buy just a sizer so as to be able to use the wrong seater. Just buy a two die set of .223 and move ahead.

 

[Steve Koski]

I agree with Jimbo!

 

[Walkalong]

You might could get by with the .222 seater for .223 but the .222 sizing die would not work at all for .223.

Thing is, individual dies are relatively more expensive than sets and it would not save you much money to buy just a sizer so as to be able to use the wrong seater. Just buy a two die set of .223 and move ahead.

Exactly right.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also agree, but the correct dies and be done with it...

 

[WyrTwister]

Lee sells their RGB 2 die sets very reasonable . Did you get the shell holder too ?

God bless
Wyr

 

[Woody3]

Thanks for the help guys. The set did come with the shell holder however, it's useless to me since I'll most likely be doing all case prep (decap n size) on the lee 1000 and then do all the other steps on the Dillon.

Woody


Keep your head low and your powder dry.

 

[D51208]

any ideas if Lee 222 crimp die will work for 223? It doesnt say 222 and 223, just 223.

 

[MachIVshooter]

You could use a .222 sizing die for .223 or .222 Rem Mag, but you'd have to be very careful not to set the shoulder back.

However, FL die sets are only about $25, so why bother with the headache?

 

[Sport45]

I agree with the others. Get the Lee 2-die set and don't worry about crimping.

I'll go out on a limb and assume you're loading for an AR or Mini-14. (You could tell us these things, you know. ) If that's the case, you want to full length size every loading and a .223 sizing die is the best for that.

While you are ordering, pick up a Wilson or Lyman case gauge and check every case after sizing and again after seating/crimping. Then chances are you will never have to deal with a case stuck in your chamber.

 

[Walkalong]

any ideas if Lee 222 crimp die will work for 223? It doesnt say 222 and 223, just 223

If it is the collet type factory crimp die they are set for a certain case length. Max for .222 is 1.700 while .223 is 1.760 (IIRC), so it probably won't as is. You could shorten it to work on .222, but then it would not work on .223.