17-223 dies value? A new question?

W

William Suter

Well-known member
Pretty much decided to avoid this rabbit hole so I may sell my dies. Set includes a FL sizing and a seating die, a neck die, a form die and a trim to length. Five dies total. Dies were made in the 70's but seem to be in pretty good condition. I made a few pieces of brass and they look pretty good. The decapping rod was broken in the neck die but I got a new one and a few extra lock nuts so all five dies are fully functional. Any idea of a fair price for all five dies??? Prices of dies are hard to find but what I did find was not what I call cheap.
 
Based on my experience selling used reloading equipment....people don't like paying more for used dies (even custom/wildcat/fancy ones) than what they can buy a new set of dies for in a standard caliber.

My guess is that if you post them for 70% of actual cost of a new set in that caliber....you'll be lucky to sell them within 3 months. (unless you find the right buyer, which does occasionally happen)

If you post them for $20 they would probably move pretty quick.
 
What few pieces I found searching, the prices were crazy expensive. Way more than $20. I've decided to just not worry about value and put them on the shelf. Who knows, maybe I'll get froggy and buy a barrel and build a 17-223. I've done crazier things.
 
If it was a new popular super duper longrange wildcat, they would be worth more.
Second hand market for an obscure niche round, 30-40 if you find the right buyer.
 
So, I have a question. (May as well make this post educational.) From what I have gathered so far, the difference between a 17-223 and a 17-5.56 KAK is the 223 version uses a civilian 223 case and the KAK version uses 5.56. True or false? All the cases I formed were LC and being range brass, I'm assuming it was ball ammo. It made nice neat little 17 caliber cases. So, did I make a 17-223 case or a 17-5.56 KAK case?
 
External 223 & 556 case dimensions are the same, 556 is built for higher pressure, so brass thickness is thicker. That's why you always hear to reduce powder for military brass vs commercial 223.

I think you made 17-223 Bill.....;)
 
To the best of my knowledge, saying this with a smile, there are now three chambers for the 223. the 223 Remington, the 5.56 and the 223 Wylde. The 5.56 is dimensionaly the same as all the others with exception of thicker brass and higher pressures. I was forming LC brass so basically I was making 17-5.56. If I had been using 223 Remington brass I would be making 17-223. Correct??? My point was the dies doesn't know the difference.
 
Load a 223 to higher pressures and you have a 5.56. The idea that it is two different rounds is preposterous, its the same dimension in everything but freebore. A guy on here years ago, proved that the differences in brass was not consistent, not all military brass is thicker. Its the same round, when I load 223, I can develop a load until pressure signs appear, doesn't matter what the headstamp is. The pressure is the pressure, that doesn't mean its a different round if one is loaded hotter than the other.

As for 17-223, its a great round. But most all the brass I use is Lake City. OH NO, its a 17-556. Or NOT!
 
It is my understanding that the 17-556 that KAK is making is different. I have dies but have been waiting since November for barrels to get in stock. I am real close to giving up on this project and finding something that is more readily available
 
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