RCBS .223 dies

epj · #1 04-20-2009, 07:57 PM

My LGS has a set of RCBS FL .223 dies in stock at a reasonable price. I have some much less expensive Lee dies on order from Midway, but the are out of stock and are now at least a month out. Looking at the customer reviews on the RCBS dies, several folks are really dissatisfied witht he RCBS dies. Seems the seating die punch is nothing more than a dimple in the stem itself and bullets that are not perfectly aligned get between the seating punch and the wall of the die. This obviously leads to disaster. I use a Dillon 550, and while I don't plan on any speed records the progressive press doesn't lend itself to carefull alignment of each bullet prior to insertion into the seating die. I plan on using BT bullets, and most of the complaints were regarding plain base bullets. Anyone using these dies to load .223? If so, are you pleased with them, recommend?

Paul5388 · #2 04-20-2009, 08:19 PM

I've never seen anything wrong with RCBS dies and I have about 20 sets to judge by. Even if there is a problem, just call RCBS and explain it so they can send you a proper seating stem.

I haven't used them on a progressive, so I don't know if they have enough bevel so it doesn't have to be perfectly aligned to work right.

epj · #3 04-20-2009, 08:34 PM

Apparently no problems at all with the sizing die. No real worry about a bevel either with a bottleneck case. Only problem is the seating stem, and that may be a design deficiency if I read the reviews correctly. I, too, have used many different RCBS dies in assorted calibers with nary a problem, but I am a little comcerned since there were multiple complaints on this problem. I'd like to hear from someone using the dies on a .223 specifically.

Paul5388 · #4 04-20-2009, 08:43 PM

I have a set of RCBS small base .223 dies. I'll go out and look and get back with you.

Abflyboy · #5 04-20-2009, 08:52 PM

I just pulled out my RCBS .223 die set and looked at the bullet seater in the seating die. There is a very pronounced cup in the seater. I hadn't looked very closely at the seater prior to now, but I don't see where there would ever be any kind of problem like in the OP. I've loaded many thousands of rounds with this exact die set with no problems at all. In fact, every die set I own is RCBS and I've never had any problems with any of them.

Bruce51 · #6 04-20-2009, 08:53 PM

Your post made me real curious as I have been using the RCBS dies since about 1979. I have never had a problem but I don't use them on a progressive. I took a picture of the seating die with the seater plug removed. Here it is FWIW. Bruce

Paul5388 · #7 04-20-2009, 08:58 PM

OK, I went out and removed the seating stem and found the depth to be close to 1/2". These dies are new enough to not have a date code, but I don't know how old they are.

Anyway, I certainly wouldn't call it a "dimple".

BTW, you can shine a light into the seating die and see if it has something other than a dimple on the stem.

ohiococonut · #8 04-20-2009, 10:48 PM

I've relied on RCBS for many years but my seating die in .223 Remington just plain sucks. Apparently there's too much run out between the seater stem and the die body and locking the nut in place only locks the seater off center. Someone must have been having a bad day when they threaded the seater because it is very sloppy in the die body. If you've never been concerned about bullet run out it isn't an issue but .008" run out just isn't acceptable to me. I replaced my seater with a Redding competition seater.

Paul5388 · #9 04-20-2009, 11:12 PM

Is .008" an unacceptable amount of run out when you use a progressive to load it? If it is, why can't you run a perfectly centered loaded round in the die and lock the stem on that bullet to force it to center?

Of course, the die could have been sent back and RCBS would have made it right, even if was something that wasn't their fault.

ohiococonut · #10 04-21-2009, 12:26 AM

Paul I was using an RCBS Rock Chucker. The threads on the seating stem are too sloppy. I tried as you suggested AFTER buying the Competition seater. No amount of force is going to make sloppy threads align straight. How do I know this? I did mic the shank and it is too small for the diametral pitch.
Yes, I could have returned it but RCBS standard dies aren't known for accuracy otherwise they wouldn't be selling competition seating dies. And, I didn't want to be bothered with the return so I cut my losses. epj was asking for someone's experience with this particular set of dies and I gave him mine. I may not have the same problem he's referring to but my seating die certainly has a problem.

David Sinko · #11 04-21-2009, 06:35 AM

I am loading .223 on a Dillon RL550B using RCBS dies. I have not had any problems or inconveniences with their seating die and it has never slowed me down one bit. I have noticed that the RCBS sizing dies need to be screwed down deep into the Dillon press but I have never run out of room with the six or so cartridges that I load in high volume on that press.

Dave Sinko

Paul5388 · #12 04-21-2009, 08:40 AM

Coconut,

My main question really had to do with loading precision rounds on a Dillon, which I think isn't the norm for that type of load.

ohiococonut · #13 04-21-2009, 09:46 AM

Paul,

After reading all of the post again I understand and agree with you.

epj · #14 04-21-2009, 05:08 PM

Well, I may give them a try. If the seating stem is off center and there is a gap between the seating punch and the die body, I can see a lot of trouble. RCBS has been making dies for a long time, and surely some of their folks use their dies. If it's a big problem, I would think they would have addressed it. After all, it's "only" $35.