Which Lee 223 Rem dies is better?

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actionflies

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I reload for my pistol cal. using the Lee classic turret press and looking to start loading 223 Rem. This will be my first rifle caliber, so which dies do I need - Lee pacesetter or Lee deluxe rifle dies? Also, what is the purpose of a pocket swager and what extra stuff do I need to start? Thanks.
 
The deluxe set has a neck sizing die and a full length die, the pace setter set trades out the neck sizer for a factory crimp die. Unless you're reloading for 1 bolt gun you probably want the pace setter.
 
The pacesetter dies include a full-length sizing die, a bullet seating die, and a factory crimp die. The deluxe set includes a full-length sizing die, a neck sizing die (for bolt actions,etc.), and the dead length bullet seating die. The set you get depends on the gun you're reloading. For bolt actions, I usually get a deluxe set and buy the factory crimp die separately. For everything else, you'd probably want to get the pacesetter dies.

A pocket swager is to remove the crimp on the primer pockets of military brass. If you reload commerical brass, you usually don't need one - I think PMC is crimped. I don't own a swager, but the major consensus seems to be that the Dillon super swage is the way to go if you need to process a lot of cases.

As for extra stuff, it might be kind of obvious, but make sure to use case lube. Follow the directions with the dies. You might want to start off using your turret like a single stage to start off until you get comfortable with the process because rifle reloading is a little different animal from what you're used to since the charges are bigger and the pressures are higher.
 
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