Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: Stirling XD"I've got my first AR on the way and I'm turning my attention to reloading dies. I saw that RCBS has a set for reloading for ARs. So I'm wondering if anyone has used them. Are they worth a few dollars more? "
Yup, they are worth it. Some people get by without them (unfortunately, then they tell everyone else what they "don't need").
... but if you become a "Rabid" AR shooter, you will start scrounging for brass, or buying bulk fired GI brass, cuz it is addicting. Then is when you MUST have a small based die - so get it now, up front, instead of buying another die later - which you will, if you shoot a lotta 223/5.56.
As far as working the brass too much - garbage - it is the neck area that you need to be concerned with working too much, and there is nothing you can do about it except anneal the necks from time to time, when they need it. Small based dies don't work the body too much.
Many many years ago, I bought a bunch of dies (unwisely) on bad advice, and had to replace them later with dies that were more suitable.
Also, if you care about what your ammo looks like, then a SB die is needed to remove the bulge in the bottom of the body of the case.
My 223/5.56 brass looks brand new (actually better than new), cuz I use a SB die and then polish it real pretty. Last year, I (and my employees) loaded and sold almost a million rounds of 223. And a large part of the saleability was the visual appearance of the ammo, and the fact that it will chamber into ANY 223/5.56 rifle. no matter what chamber it has.
I was having trouble with my reloads (which were from Full Length RCBS Dies for .223) seating all the way in the chamber. That is, until CatShooter recommended I get some Small Base dies. Haven't had a failure to feed since then.