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Semi Auto Reloading: Small base or regular ?

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  • MTA

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    To our seasoned semi auto rifle handloaders here, have you found a small base die to be necessary while sizing brass for an auto loader (AR15 & AR10)?
    Military Camp
     

    Nicholst55

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    Normally, they are not needed for ARs or other military-style rifles - unless you are using milsurp brass that was originally fired in machine guns. If I were loading for a sporting semi-auto or pump action rifle, then I would definitely consider the use of a Small Base sizing die.
     

    rotor

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    I use a case gage and an ammo checker for completed ammo and all works fine with regular dies and I use Lee dies.
     
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    noylj

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    I have never needed a small base sizing die nor understand why one would.
    If your chamber is too small for a normally sized case, I don't see how one a mil or two smaller would help--and your chamber is totally unsafe.
    If you think a smaller diameter will remove bulges, the die won't go any further down the case, so unreachable bulges are still unreachable.
    Bulge busting would a lot more useful and not overwork your cases as much.
    I have never had a bottleneck case that had a bulge...
    If 99.9+% of folks are happy with standard sizing dies, that should tell you all you need to know.
     

    Dawico

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    Regular Lee dies have served me well for my 5.56 and 7.62 ARs. Many rounds through many rifles with brass from many sources.

    Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
     
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    MTA

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    Thanks mates. I was a few hundred rounds of 5.56 deep before I started testing what I was doing (not too bright). My test shots worked fine but I just wanted to make sure I wasn't in for a shit storm if I actually had to use these rounds for killing something other than paper or steel
     

    Dawico

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    The biggest thing is making sure you are fully sizing them. While not really a recommended practice much anymore I prefer a touch of cam over mainly for the feel of knowing I am sizing the brass as much as possible.

    I also size all my rifle brass on a single stage press. I may finish plinking rounds on my progressive but I still like to keep sizing as a separate step.

    Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
     

    MTA

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    The biggest thing is making sure you are fully sizing them. While not really a recommended practice much anymore I prefer a touch of cam over mainly for the feel of knowing I am sizing the brass as much as possible.

    I also size all my rifle brass on a single stage press. I may finish plinking rounds on my progressive but I still like to keep sizing as a separate step.

    Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
    Yea I only use a single stage since I typically just handload for my bolt guns.
     

    popper

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    All I use is MG fired 308 LC, several years. Standard die but use a single stage Lee press and lots of RCBS lube. Works fine in my dpms ar10. Never have trimmed any either and I don't shoot lite loads.
     

    Charley

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    For semi-autos, I load 223, 30 Remington, 6.5x55, 7.62x39, 7.5x54, and 8x57. Never had an issue with my rifles in those calibers, but YMMV. Depends on the rifle, and to a much lesser degree, the dies.
     

    Fullretard

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    I HAVE to use a small base die for my Daniel defense AR as it has a tight chamber. I also use a Sinclair slotted gauge checker.

    Resize a few with a regular full length die, take the firing pin out of your AR and chamber check a few rounds.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    Coyote9

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    To our seasoned semi auto rifle handloaders here, have you found a small base die to be necessary while sizing brass for an auto loader (AR15 & AR10)?
    Absolute requirement for 5.7 FN in the PS-90 the 5.7 pistol a little more forgiving...I have not heard that 5,56 chambers in ar platforms need small base dies.
     

    msharley

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    To our seasoned semi auto rifle handloaders here, have you found a small base die to be necessary while sizing brass for an auto loader (AR15 & AR10)?
    Hey MT,

    CH4D makes a fine SMALL BASE DIE.....(I have loaded in excess of 25,000 '06 rounds with the TiN Coated CH4D Small Base Die not sure if they still offer the TiN Coating? Worth a call?)

    If loading for multiple rifles, I highly recommend one.....unless chambers were done with same reamer, there will be small differences...

    I use H'Day One Shot AND a slight dab of IMPERIAL SIZING WAX....

    That precludes getting stuck cases.

    The way that CH4D dies are made....if one were to stick a case....simply wind the expander ball "down" and it will push the case out of the die.

    Hope this helps.

    Later, Mark
     
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