Carbide Expander Balls for Resizing

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Originally Posted by Mike_Mills

Then again, you are using a punch or knife sharpener to perform the very same operation. So, in that sense, you do have an "expander ball", it is just different than the one RCBS and Redding provide.

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The difference being, that with an expander ball coming out of the case body and thru the neck, you are pulling on the neck and shoulder after you have resized the case. Using a tapered tool to remove a dent in the neck is done prior to resizing the case, and does not impact the neck or shoulder in any way. I also have an expander mandrel, and I suppose in a severely "dinged" neck, I could resize the neck with a small bushing and then use the mandrel on it.

Don

So, tell me, why not use the precision machined mandrel you already own? Why use a manually operated, (tapered?) punch or knife sharpener, or worst of all, your bullets?

Mike,

Well, 99.9% of my cases do not have "dings" in the neck. While there has been alot of internet "chatter" about the need to neck size brass when using a bushing without an expander ball, my experience in reloading for 1,000 yard F Class competition has found this simply not to be the case. And, if any accuracy problems were to arise, I have to believe they would show up on target at 1,000 yards.

Don

Still, you didn't answer my question. When you need to expand a neck, why not use the expander mandrel you own instead of the manual method you use.

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Originally Posted by Mike_Mills

Still, you didn't answer my question. When you need to expand a neck, why not use the expander mandrel you own instead of the manual method you use.

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Sorry, Mike, but I thought I explained that 99.9% of my cases don't need to be expanded at all. For example, in .308, LC Match brass comes out of my FN SPR with neck OD's of about .346". I resize the case body with a Redding body die, and then use my Redding competition necksizing die to reduce the neck OD to .337", which gives me about the .001" of neck tension that I want. It's the rare case (no pun intended) that has a dinged up neck, and using the tapered tool is simply quicker and opens up the leading edge of the neck to allow for using the bushing die properly on the neck.

Don

Okay, message received - minimal usage, Flared neck perceived as benefit.

Because this is the CSP web site I was thinking more in the context of auto-loading rifles (AR, M1, M1A,...) where dinged case necks are quite common. Also, the original poster is obviously needing to do neck sizing quite frequently, as he is sick of it.

This differs from your F-class shooting. Perhaps you've taken us off on an F-class tangent? Perhaps the wind blew us off target. :)

When I have a dinged neck, I just "round it out" with an RCBS expander ball (just in/out, not size it at all), and then use the Redding neck dies as normal.

Actually I am neck sizing 6MM, 308 and 223 for bolt rifles. I have found if I dont lube the neck it will squeek and chatter and I am afraid it is distorting the case size too.

You guys are way deeper into accuarcy than I am as I am just playing. My goal is hitting the 6 inch gong at 500 yards which isn't that hard. I would like to hit an egg eventually but my rifles are factory.

I assume after reading these comments I can get a neck sizing die with different bushings that allow me to not have to use an expander ball and will allow me to vary the ID of the neck diameter.

Thanks for the help.

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Originally Posted by GrinerBros

Actually I am neck sizing 6MM, 308 and 223 for bolt rifles. I have found if I dont lube the neck it will squeek and chatter and I am afraid it is distorting the case size too.

You guys are way deeper into accuarcy than I am as I am just playing. My goal is hitting the 6 inch gong at 500 yards which isn't that hard. I would like to hit an egg eventually but my rifles are factory.

I assume after reading these comments I can get a neck sizing die with different bushings that allow me to not have to use an expander ball and will allow me to vary the ID of the neck diameter.

Thanks for the help.

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Yes. Redding makes both FL bushing dies (Type S) and necksizing bushing dies. I use a necksizing die in conjunction with a body die, so I am basically full length resizing my brass in two distinct operations. The nice thing about the Redding necksizing bushing die is, you can easily resize just a portion of the neck if you so wish. And, if you use the Redding TiN (titanium) bushings, you do not need to use any lube at all for the neck (inside AND outside). Bushing size needed will vary according to brass make (different thicknesses) and amount of neck tension desired. In .30 caliber, I have .332" (for Winchester brass), .334", .336", and .338" (LC Match and Hornady Match brass). Hope that helps.

Don

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Originally Posted by USSR

Yes. Redding makes both FL bushing dies (Type S) and necksizing bushing dies. I use a necksizing die in conjunction with a body die, so I am basically full length resizing my brass in two distinct operations. The nice thing about the Redding necksizing bushing die is, you can easily resize just a portion of the neck if you so wish. And, if you use the Redding TiN (titanium) bushings, you do not need to use any lube at all for the neck (inside AND outside). Bushing size needed will vary according to brass make (different thicknesses) and amount of neck tension desired. In .30 caliber, I have .332" (for Winchester brass), .334", .336", and .338" (LC Match and Hornady Match brass). Hope that helps.

Don

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Yes that helps, alot. Thanks. I have a ton of LC brass but currently I am using Remington brass in the 308 size. Any idea on the bushing size or do I just experiment?