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He may need to back out closer to 1 or 1 1/4 rounds off of shell holder to be sure not to engage crimp curl... If his die has one.
But... I really don't think that's his tight neck problem.
What am I doing wrong here!!
- Thread starter Ucsdryder
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He may need to back out closer to 1 or 1 1/4 rounds off of shell holder to be sure not to engage crimp curl... If his die has one.
But... I really don't think that's his tight neck problem.
Ucsdryder
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I found my problem. And possibly have a different one. 
A buddy let me use his Wilson expanding mandrel. It instantly worked and solved my issue! Some of the virgin brass was really tight going through the mandrel!
here's my potential issue… I think the mandrel is opening the necks up too much. I was able to hand seat about half of the bullets 1/8" or so and they took almost no pressure to seat in the press. When I ran them through the magazine and into the chamber of my rifle they were actually lengthening in COAL by about .002", even though they were well off the lands.
Would a potential issue be to polish the mandrel Slightly to make it a little bit smaller? The mandrel is .263.
A buddy let me use his Wilson expanding mandrel. It instantly worked and solved my issue! Some of the virgin brass was really tight going through the mandrel!
here's my potential issue… I think the mandrel is opening the necks up too much. I was able to hand seat about half of the bullets 1/8" or so and they took almost no pressure to seat in the press. When I ran them through the magazine and into the chamber of my rifle they were actually lengthening in COAL by about .002", even though they were well off the lands.
Would a potential issue be to polish the mandrel Slightly to make it a little bit smaller? The mandrel is .263.
QuietTexan
Well-Known Member
LE Wilson "new" expanding mandrel should be 0.0015" under caliber, so should measure to 0.2625". No problem polishing it down some if that's what you want. FWIW I use the same mandrel on new Lapua brass in 6.5CM and seating pressure was fine for me. What is the neck thickness of your brass?
21st Century makes mandrels in 0.0005" increments if you want to match your neck thickness when reloading the cases after they've been fired:
21stcenturyinnovation.com
21st Century makes mandrels in 0.0005" increments if you want to match your neck thickness when reloading the cases after they've been fired:
Caliber Specific Expander Mandrel Kits
Our caliber specific expander mandrels are available in .0005” increments in calibers 22 to 338 and will range from .001” above bullet diameter to at least .003” below bullet diameter depending on caliber. This will allow the reloader to find proper neck tension to fine-tune their loads. The...
21stcenturyinnovation.com
QuietTexan
Well-Known Member
Found it in post #41, looks like .0135".
Ucsdryder
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LE Wilson "new" expanding mandrel should be 0.015 under caliber, so should measure to 0.249". No problem polishing it down some if that's what you want. FWIW I use the same mandrel on new Lapua brass in 6.5CM and seating pressure was fine for me. What is the neck thickness of your brass?
21st Century makes mandrels in 0.0005" increments if you want to match your neck thickness when reloading the cases after they've been fired:
Caliber Specific Expander Mandrel Kits
Our caliber specific expander mandrels are available in .0005” increments in calibers 22 to 338 and will range from .001” above bullet diameter to at least .003” below bullet diameter depending on caliber. This will allow the reloader to find proper neck tension to fine-tune their loads. The...
The website says .263" for the mandrel.
OD of the neck pre-seating was .290" and post was .291".
Attachments
QuietTexan
Well-Known Member
You're correct, the size of the mandrel is .263. I was remembering this from Ultimate Reloader:
ultimatereloader.com
NEW Expanding Mandrel Die from L.E. Wilson – Ultimate Reloader
ultimatereloader.com
Ucsdryder
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- Jan 23, 2016
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LE Wilson "new" expanding mandrel should be 0.0015" under caliber, so should measure to 0.2625". No problem polishing it down some if that's what you want. FWIW I use the same mandrel on new Lapua brass in 6.5CM and seating pressure was fine for me. What is the neck thickness of your brass?
21st Century makes mandrels in 0.0005" increments if you want to match your neck thickness when reloading the cases after they've been fired:
Caliber Specific Expander Mandrel Kits
Our caliber specific expander mandrels are available in .0005” increments in calibers 22 to 338 and will range from .001” above bullet diameter to at least .003” below bullet diameter depending on caliber. This will allow the reloader to find proper neck tension to fine-tune their loads. The...
virgin brass
Neck ID .260
Neck OD.2885
virgin brass FL size
Neck ID .261
Neck OD .2895
Hugnot
Well-Known Member
Bullets are stuck in the seating stem as shown by radial distortion on ogive - like jammed tight.
This would indicate excessive force in seating bullets. Have I missed seeing any actual neck ID measurements?
.263 - .2615 = .0015 or the .263 expander is .0015 bigger than the .2615 expander. The .263 expander use has exceeded the neck yield strength resulting in inadequate neck tension ("almost no pressure to seat in the press").I found my problem. And possibly have a different one.
A buddy let me use his Wilson expanding mandrel. It instantly worked and solved my issue! Some of the virgin brass was really tight going through the mandrel!
here's my potential issue… I think the mandrel is opening the necks up too much. I was able to hand seat about half of the bullets 1/8" or so and they took almost no pressure to seat in the press. When I ran them through the magazine and into the chamber of my rifle they were actually lengthening in COAL by about .002", even though they were well off the lands.
Would a potential issue be to polish the mandrel Slightly to make it a little bit smaller? The mandrel is .263.
Neck walls thicken upon use from back to front, this would account for variations in neck ID. Assuming no brass spring back a .264 bullet using a .263 expander, would only have .001 neck tension. I think the .2615 expander would work with neck turning & annealing.
Of note:
Best to turn necks and periodic anneal vs. polishing expanders
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I found after a few loadings, the neck wall thickness gets smaller by a tiny amount or something changes. (Bushing die & neck turned brass, with lite drag from expander.) The .001" become to little. I like .002"
Most of my experience is with 243 Win.
Standard factory FL dies can & will thin neck walls by over working brass, under some conditions. It happens slowly & can be measured in about 3 loadings. But there is enough neck tension to still hold the bullets.
DUSTY NOGGIN
Well-Known Member
what does the expander button in your rcbs die measure ???
i wouldnt polish down your buddy tools
polish down your own ,
heres one for a 277 , that you can sand/polish down to whatever works ... on the cheap
www.midwayusa.com
i wouldnt polish down your buddy tools
polish down your own ,
heres one for a 277 , that you can sand/polish down to whatever works ... on the cheap
RCBS Replacement Expander-Decapping Unit (270 Winchester, 270
Factory replacement parts for your RCBS dies. Using factory replacement parts ensures a perfect fit and proper function in your reloading dies. These...
www.midwayusa.com
Ucsdryder
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Haha I wasn't going to polish my buddies. I'll call Rcbs and see what they say. I might just go further down the rabbit hole and get the expanding mandrel then bushings to size down exactly where I want it and be done with it.what does the expander button in your rcbs die measure ???
i wouldnt polish down your buddy tools
polish down your own ,
heres one for a 277 , that you can sand/polish down to whatever works ... on the cheap
RCBS Replacement Expander-Decapping Unit (270 Winchester, 270
Factory replacement parts for your RCBS dies. Using factory replacement parts ensures a perfect fit and proper function in your reloading dies. These...
59FLH
Well-Known Member
Wilson expanding mandrel............ is opening the necks up too much.
How does that solve your problem?
How does that solve your problem?
DUSTY NOGGIN
Well-Known Member
recommend cheap route first ,
keep in mind some of the guys on these forums are elite level and would pay 4000 for a machine that would guarantee their powder was to the 100th of a grain
the rabbit hole , is deep and expensive ...
< evil voice > you'll never be done with it ...... ahh hha hha hha hha hha haaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa < evil voice />
keep in mind some of the guys on these forums are elite level and would pay 4000 for a machine that would guarantee their powder was to the 100th of a grain
the rabbit hole , is deep and expensive ...
< evil voice > you'll never be done with it ...... ahh hha hha hha hha hha haaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa < evil voice />
DUSTY NOGGIN
Well-Known Member
RCBS (800) 533-5000
the problem with rcbs dies is that they are universal ,in that they oversize at the neck by reducing wayyyy too much on the down , then have to open it back up on the up , spring back happens
if your gonna go down rabbit hole getcha a neck turner and all the pilots for every caliber you own. chances are that if ya turn down the neck wall thickness , your rcbs die will still push the outside in the same, BUT the inside will size inward less . many things will help your situationand other problems you havent even had yet ... thinner moves easier , trues up wall variations , make all brass require same seating pressures . plus, ill bet you , you have one in a year anyway ,
i think most that do, would agree neck turning is the biggest upgrade to reloading... neck cutters are cheaper than bushing dies... it can essentially make it so you do NOT have to get/pay a bushing die ( depending on measurement of your chamber/ once fired brass ) -- because you can sometimes turn you necks down to match the inexpensive dies internal neck dimensions rather than buying bushings to match the brass
the problem with rcbs dies is that they are universal ,in that they oversize at the neck by reducing wayyyy too much on the down , then have to open it back up on the up , spring back happens
if your gonna go down rabbit hole getcha a neck turner and all the pilots for every caliber you own. chances are that if ya turn down the neck wall thickness , your rcbs die will still push the outside in the same, BUT the inside will size inward less . many things will help your situationand other problems you havent even had yet ... thinner moves easier , trues up wall variations , make all brass require same seating pressures . plus, ill bet you , you have one in a year anyway ,
i think most that do, would agree neck turning is the biggest upgrade to reloading... neck cutters are cheaper than bushing dies... it can essentially make it so you do NOT have to get/pay a bushing die ( depending on measurement of your chamber/ once fired brass ) -- because you can sometimes turn you necks down to match the inexpensive dies internal neck dimensions rather than buying bushings to match the brass
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