The Pro1000 can be used to reload the 223 Remington. Order the 223 Rem Pro Die Set, the Double Disk kit (#90195), a #4 Shell Plate (#90653), Primer Attachment (#90660) (if you don't already have a Small Primer Feed), and the Rifle Case Feeder (#90663). The Rifle Case Feeder could be eliminated if you feed cases by hand, which in our experience works best. You can also eliminate the Double Disk Kit, if you use the Auto Drum Powder Measure, instead of the Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure.
Case preparation is different with rifle cases. Trim length must be checked more often on rifle cases. Particularly cases that are being full length resized as your 223 cases should be. Full length resizing is the main reason for case lengthening in rifle cases. The rifle case mouth needs to be chamfered on the inside and deburred on the outside. This need to be done every time you trim the case. If you don't you may buckle the case neck. Rifle case necks are not flared prior to bullet seating. The chamfer on the case mouth provides a lead in for the bullet during seating. Flat base bullets in particular.
You are very likely to run into crimped primers. Used military and police brass will have the primer crimped in place. If you run into crimped brass it is best to use a Universal Decapping Die to de-prime the cases. After de-priming, the primer pockets need to be reamed out before a new primer can be seated. This can be done with the Lee Chamfer Tool. Crimped cases that have not been reamed will cause all sorts of problems like bent primer pins, primer detonations and smashed primers.
The cases have to be lubricated before full length resizing. It works best if this process is separated from the rest. It keeps resizing lube out of the Charging Die and Bullet Seating Die. Resizing rifle cases takes a bit more force than pistol cases, and this extra force requirement tends to mask the feel you get through the press lever on bullet seating and powder charging steps. Resize using the press as a single stage, toss the cases in a tumbler to clean off the lube, do your case prep, then complete the cartridge with both the charging die and bullet seating die in the press.
The Double Disk Kit simply allows you to stack two disks (the smaller cavity always on top of the larger) so as to increase the quantity of powder that can be delivered into the case by the Pro Auto Disk powder measure. Most charges for the 223 require a greater grain weight than can be delivered by the 1.57cc disk cavity. One important thing to remember is that when charging 223 cases you need to pause at the top of the stroke. This allows time for the large quantity of powder being delivered by the double disk to flow through the small case neck of the 223. If you lower the case from the rifle charging die too quickly powder will spill on the shell plate carrier. Also, larger stick type powders are prone to bridging in the case mouth of the 223. We recommend using a ball or other smaller grain powder.
Video on how to Install the Double Disk Kit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZPJnxDeUUw
