I need to buy a small base die for my AR platform 308. During deer season this year I had a round get stuck in the chamber. It took some force to get it out. I ran a few more rounds into the chamber and had the same issue. The cases were on their 2-3 reload. It was just the very bottom of the case that stuck, which is why I am going to get a small base die.
I know that a small base die over works the brass, in comparison to a neck or full length die. I am not worried about over working the brass, I need to be able to easily eject a round and load another, in a tree stand, with a deer out in front of me.
I load all 308 rounds on a single stage press. I was wondering if I should get an RCBS X-Die Small Base Sizer or a regular small base die. One of the questions I have is, does the neck thickness grow as the die is forcing the brass rearward. I will anneal the brass to extend the life of the neck.
Another question is, If the brass flows forward when you size the brass and the dies pushes the brass rearward does the neck tension increase? If the neck tension increased, would it effect accuracy. Or, could I end up with the neck getting stuck in the chamber? The brass that flows forward has to go somewhere or be compressed in the neck.
I am wondering if there is a down side to using a the X-Die in comparison to a regular small base die. The fact that I would not have to trim the brass every time I reload it would be a positive. The time it takes me to trim the brass with a regular die is not a concern to me.
I can see a major advantage in using an X-Die when reloading 223 on a progressive press. I normally reload 223 on a single stage press because I have to trim and prep every case. The fact that you do not have to prep the brass, after the first reload would allow me to use the progressive press for 223.
If the X-Die is awesome, why doesn't all sizing dies form all manufactures do the same thing an X-Dies does? What's better compressing the brass or trimming it off. When you use the X-Die the brass has to be trimmed short the first time you reload the brass.
I know that a small base die over works the brass, in comparison to a neck or full length die. I am not worried about over working the brass, I need to be able to easily eject a round and load another, in a tree stand, with a deer out in front of me.
I load all 308 rounds on a single stage press. I was wondering if I should get an RCBS X-Die Small Base Sizer or a regular small base die. One of the questions I have is, does the neck thickness grow as the die is forcing the brass rearward. I will anneal the brass to extend the life of the neck.
Another question is, If the brass flows forward when you size the brass and the dies pushes the brass rearward does the neck tension increase? If the neck tension increased, would it effect accuracy. Or, could I end up with the neck getting stuck in the chamber? The brass that flows forward has to go somewhere or be compressed in the neck.
I am wondering if there is a down side to using a the X-Die in comparison to a regular small base die. The fact that I would not have to trim the brass every time I reload it would be a positive. The time it takes me to trim the brass with a regular die is not a concern to me.
I can see a major advantage in using an X-Die when reloading 223 on a progressive press. I normally reload 223 on a single stage press because I have to trim and prep every case. The fact that you do not have to prep the brass, after the first reload would allow me to use the progressive press for 223.
If the X-Die is awesome, why doesn't all sizing dies form all manufactures do the same thing an X-Dies does? What's better compressing the brass or trimming it off. When you use the X-Die the brass has to be trimmed short the first time you reload the brass.