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I'm sure this has been discussed here, but my search yesterday turned up nothing.
Is there a real need for "AR" series dies? Or will a standard match set of dies work fine. Gonna be full-length sizing of course.
I've used RCBS and Redding dies to this point and would prefer to stay with those. Considering the RCBS Competition or Gold Metal Match series. Or Redding Master Hunter or National Match sets.
Plan is to start with Lapua brass, fed primers, 168 and/or 175 SMK and IMR4064. And make adjustments as needed.
Any suggestions or other things I should consider?
Thanks fellows.
David
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2003
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any 308 dies will work, even Lee. Anyone that brings ups small base dies either has a problem gun or they just don't know what they are talking about. Currently using Redding.
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Thanks Jimmy. This is my first time reloading for an AR of any sort, so I needed to ask. I am a Redding fan. But I'm good with RCBS as well. Can't say that either has shown to be much different for me. Little things make the Redding in my eyes, like adjustments, etc. I'll likely go that route.
Thanks again
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I use RCBS and Hornady, no complaints.
John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
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Joined: Oct 2014
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
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+1, no need for any special dies for an AR, in 308 or any other caliber.
My 308 dies are Forster and Lee, both work fine for the AR.
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Thanks fellows. Got 50 rounds of Lapua match ammo ordered up for break in and a few groups and function testing. So I need to get some dies and components stocked up for this thing. She should be ready for testing by next week.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Islam is a terrorist organization.
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Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
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I have used both. You don't need the small base dies. I check every piece in a Wilson case gauge. If the brass will fall in the gauge, you will never have a problem. I loaded 500 pieces of once fired Speer 223 for an AR with out trimming. Dumass mistake! Had to shoot it up in a bolt gun. You might want to check length. Dont learn the hard way. Case gauge good for length also.
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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It's going to depend a lot on the gun whether you need small base dies. I would say that probably 80+% of M1As need small base dies to get the fired brass to subsequently chamber in a minimum chamber. AR-10s usually do a little better. I would still personally use small base because a) that's what I've got and b) it injects some extra margin into the system. But if you're not having problems with other dies there's no reason to switch.
DPMS AR-10s have more of a reputation for needing small base dies. Not sure if that's changed over time.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
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Thanks fellows. Got 50 rounds of Lapua match ammo ordered up for break in and a few groups and function testing. So I need to get some dies and components stocked up for this thing. She should be ready for testing by next week.
Spending the dime on Lapua and not having a case gauge is a waste of good brass....
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Campfire Regular
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That will work. I prefer the Sinclair bump gauge though. It attaches to calipers and inserts will work with an entire case family instead of one particular cartridge.
John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
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That will work. I prefer the Sinclair bump gauge though. It attaches to calipers and inserts will work with an entire case family instead of one particular cartridge. I'll check into that. I was actually just looking for one of these in 264 WM as well, so that might be the answer. Thanks!
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Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I have a palmetto, and it needs small base dies, it has a very tight chamber. I use the RCBS dies and they work great.
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Joined: Sep 2016
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Sep 2016
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Consider the RCBS X-dies, they have a shoulder that prevents the brass from flowing into the neck. Larry Gibson, noted reloader and on-line author, has run some tests in M-1As and he got over a dozen or more reloads per case.
Follow their case prep instructions VERBATIM!
All of my MZL'drs will shoot into ONE ragged hole ALL day long ... it's just those darn 2nd & 3rd+ shots that tend to open up my groups!
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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If you use X-dies, make sure you chamfer your case mouth. The feature that keeps the case from growing also flattens the chamfer.
Islam is a terrorist organization.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Most dies should work fine.
I've had to buy small base dies for some brass I was given that was evidently fired from a M60.
I prefer classic. Semper Fi I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
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If you're full length sizing consider a Forster die with the neck custom honed to be a good fit with the brass you're using.
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