I have so far only reloaded straight walled handgun and I am looking to start loading 223. I was considering a Redding competition die set. what do you all think? I have a Redding 3 die set for 9mm and I really like the micrometer adjustment on the bullet seater. What is the process and how is it different from straight walled cartidges when dealing with a shouldered cartridge? after seating the bullet, how does the crimping process work?

You can't go wrong with the competition seater dies from redding, its a great set up. However, you may also want to look at the new hornady dies, because they have a micrometer seater that is interchangeable amongst all their dies and therefore cheaper. The micrometer is not really "necessary," but it does make seating different bullets much much easier.

What kind of rifle will you be shooting? If its a bolt action you don't need to crimp for a 223.

Redding competition dies are very nice, but also very expensive.
Typically I wouldn't worry about custom dies, unless you are loading for a custom rifle.

Not to be rude but if I were you, I'd get a couple of load books and read them cover to cover at least once. That will give you a good grasp of your reloading basics which will serve you better than trying to get your info piecemeal in cyberspace.

Unless you are going to be seating VLD-type bullets at longer than magazine lengths, I wouldn't bother with the fancy seater.

For a normal 223 hunting rifle I would not worry about fancy dies. If it is an AR platform I would lean towards small base.

I do agree with Wasbeeman read several good loading manuals will do more for you than a series of questions.

I agree that it can depend on what gun. An AR has magazine length restrictions that take away some of benefit you get from the fancy seating dies. Bolt guns can be a different story depending on internal mag well size (they are all over hte place). Single-shots are a no-brainer, especially if you plan to shoot different bullets in it.

Lee dies I have loaded many tens of thousands of 223 with mine.

The Redding Competition seater is a nice one, very well finished. It is, however, also pretty pricey. If you want exactly the same functionality at lower cost, look at the Forster seater. The Redding is supposedly a copy (albeit better finished) of the Foster - the Forster patent having expired.

I tried the Redding comp dies for a while, but was not so impressed with the results - in particular at the price the dies come at.

If you are happy to settle on using one brand of brass, buy a Forster FL sizing die, and have Forster hone the internal neck diameter to loaded neck diameter - .003" (or so). Then size without the expander with the die set up to PFL size (use search function here). That is about as smooth a sizing setup as you'll get - plus no runout!

- mike

If you are loading for a gas gun get the RCBS X-Die 2 die set. Get the standard X-die not the small base die.

If you are loading for a bolt gun and want the Redding dies then get the 2 die neck size competition set. Also get the RCBS X-die (satandard FLSer only) to FLS when you need to.

The X-die will full length size (FLS) and eliminate case stretch so you won't have to trim. Of course if neck sizing (best for accuracy in the bolt gun) you won't have to trim either.

Suggest you carefully read the sections in Sierra's, Hornady's, Speer's or Lymans manuals on reloading bottle neck cases. It will answer any questions and get you started correctly much better and more thoroughly than any answers you get on forums.

Larry Gibson

I use the Redding comp. die set for my AR .223 and it works very well. Never had a problem needing a small base die. I bump the shoulder and neck size and it works great. The micrometer seater is super for getting the exact length desired.
C.G.B.