The RCBS X Die Small Base Die Set (RCBS part no. 38862) lets .223 Remington handloaders trim a bottleneck case once and effectively never trim again. Its specially designed mandrel has an expander ball and decapping pin attached, and this patented design eliminates the need for repeated trimming after an initial trim of .020 inch off the maximum case length. Rather than shortening the case, the mandrel reduces the growth caused by the case mouth contacting it during sizing, and the extremely close mandrel-to-neck-wall tolerance means the neck does not thicken as case length is pushed back. Built by RCBS, this Small Base Sizer is recommended alongside a Standard Seater Die for handloaders just starting to reload .223 Remington, and cases sized in the X-Die will grow only a few thousandths of an inch before stabilizing below maximum length with no discernible loss of accuracy or case life.

Key Specifications

• Configured for the .223 Remington cartridge as a Small Base die.
• Mandrel includes an integrated expander ball and decapping pin.
• Patented design eliminates repeated trimming after the initial case trim.
• Close mandrel-to-neck tolerance prevents neck wall thickening over repeated firings.
• Cases stabilize below maximum length with no discernible loss of accuracy or case life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Small Base mean on this die? It resizes the case body down to a slightly smaller diameter than a standard full-length die, useful for cases that need to chamber reliably in tight or worn chambers.

Do I still need to trim cases after the first time? Rarely; the X Die mandrel controls growth so cases stabilize below maximum length after the initial trim.

Who should start with this Small Base Set? RCBS recommends it for handloaders just starting to reload .223 Remington, paired with a Standard Seater Die.

Buy the RCBS X Die Small Base Die Set for .223 Remington

Cut down on case trimming with a smart set of reloading dies. Order through our Lubbock, Texas gun shop for fast, insured shipping to your reloading room.