RCBS X DIES

[FNARSHOOTER]

Anybody use the x die for 7.62 or 5.56 ? I have over 20k of 5.56 and 3k of 7.62 all LC that need prossesing to be used in my semi auto weapons FNAR and ar 15 . the x die also comes in small base is it the better way to go or just the standard x die?I want to trim all to 1 spec and then just use the x die.Anybody doing this ?
Scot

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: RCBS X DIES

In the reloading game, you generally get what you pay for. RCBS can sell their "X" dies so cheap because they haven't taken any "pains" with them. Some may have a "not so slick" finish. But I'm sure they conform to SAAMI specs for handloading dies. But you are correct. They will do what you want.

 

[bohem]

Re: RCBS X DIES

I've tried to find out what's special about the X dies, why are they supposed to be so special?

EDIT: I just read the Midway description, interesting concept but I think I'll pass for precision stuff.

 

[FNARSHOOTER]

Re: RCBS X DIES

I read the instructions and after sizing your once fired cases you trim .020 shorter than max lenght, This is a one time trim for the life of the case. After this the x die contacts the case mouth when resizing to stop the case from growing past max lenght.For volume semi weapon reloading I think this may be just the ticket. For my bolt gun I think I will stay with "normal" Dies. I can't decide on small base or not as all my brass is Lake City the small base may be good insurence but I get mixed replys on this I am going to call RCBS and see what they say.
Scot

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: RCBS X DIES

On the small base dies. Some semi auto rifles almost HAVE to have. But also a lot don't. That is going to depend a lot on your individual chamber.

 

[FNARSHOOTER]

Re: RCBS X DIES

I guess the real question is does it hurt anything to use small base dies for all my semi (cheap insurence) or is there a down side the x dies are avalible either way .I only have 1 FNAR(for now) but I have 3 ar15 all with 1/7 twist barrels(2 colt 1 YHM)and would like my loads to be able to run in everything ( hunting acurate 1 moa) I have standard Dies for both If I want to twist up some percision stuff with match brass the small base x dies will be for my Lake City mass batches(which was probally fired in machine guns before I got it.By the way Thanks for you insight on this matter Victor you are always constructive and I value your input.
Scot

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: RCBS X DIES

Something to file in the back of your mind. When you trim brass cartridge cases excessively, you are causing undue wear on the throat of your chamber. That's why I try to trim the length for a specific chamber. If that isn't possible I stick to the "trim to" length in the book.

 

[FNARSHOOTER]

Re: RCBS X DIES

Good point I guess I'll stick to the trim lenght in the book and use normal dies . What about the small base question?
Scot

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: RCBS X DIES

That's going to be up to the chamber in question. Like I said above, some almost have to have it. Others not so much. I haven't been able to point to a specific rifle or brand and say "that one needs a small base die". There are some rifles that you can get away with a standard die. Others have to go small base.

 

[1lnbrdg]

Re: RCBS X DIES

I would try someone's regular die if i could, see if it works. I hate the thought of working the area down near the case head if you don't need to, that's where case head separation happens.

 

[81Z4ME]

Re: RCBS X DIES

My wife got me 3 sets of X dies a couple of years back for Christmas. I had not used them until about a month ago.

I'd been using Pacific dies for my Rem. 700 (.223) and Mini14 with no issues. My brother bought a set of Lee dies for his Savage varmint rifle (also .223) and had no issues with the reloads.

I'd been using his Lee Dies and my Pacific dies to reload for my AR15 (20" flat top) and my son's AR15 (also a 20" flat top) and the reloads have worked fine.

I just finished a 16" AR15 build and found out my reloads (with the Pacific and Lee dies)will only chamber in the new rifle about 6 times out of 10.

I got out the RCBS X die set, the Lee die set and the Pacific die set. I lubed the pad, put 30 .223 empties on it and with the Lee die 10 empties resized/deprimed just fine - only about 5 or 6 would chamber in the new rifle. I changed to the Pacific .223 resizing die and resized/deprimed 10 more cases. This time they were so hard to resize I thought I was gonna break the corner off my bench, man they were tough to resize. Again, only about 6 or 7 of the cases would chamber in the new rifle. I put the X die in the press and resized the last 10 cases. They were as easy to resize as the 10 with the Lee dies were and every one of them chambered easily in the new rifle.

They are not "small base" X dies but they are different enough that they will produce cases "better" for the new rifle than either my tried/true Pacific dies or the newer Lee dies.

YMMV but all my .223 brass is going through the RCBS X-dies from here out.

 

[Lawmaker]

Re: RCBS X DIES

Thanks 81Z4ME, I was on the fence myself after reading about these dies. I have heard conflicting reviews. 223 in RCBS was what I was looking into.

 

[Bobcape]

Re: RCBS X DIES

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'"> <span style="font-size: 11pt">I use the X-Dies for .308 and 5.56 in my gas guns. They work as advertised as far as not needing to trim again. This is a big plus to me. I don't use them for my bolt guns because I neck size for them.

Bob </span> </span>