[Montanagopher]

I recent bought a Lyman carbide neck sizing die for .204. I think I have a problem with it, but being fairly new to reloading I wanted to ask the experts. The sizing stroke is not as smooth as I would have thought and the final result is a neck that is too big for the bullet. The bullet can be more or less dropped in the case.

It is my determination that that the sleeve that sits right before the button is too big. I measured .208 for the diameter of the sleeve and .203 for the diameter of the button. The button should be the sizing mechanism, not the sleeve which is suppose to only act as a spacer. I am guessing I need to call Lyman and have them send a replacement, or am I missing something?

[Blue68f100]

Montanagopher Welcome to THR

On neck sizing dies the button is not doing any expanding, depriming only. All sizing is done by the bushing. This is why it's a good idea to get the bushing set so you can compensate for brass variations due to different wall thickness.

[Scimmia]

On neck sizing dies the button is not doing any expanding, depriming only. All sizing is done by the bushing. This is why it's a good idea to get the bushing set so you can compensate for brass variations due to different wall thickness.

No, most neck sizing dies work exactly like full length dies, they just don't touch the shoulder or body. Bushing dies are a whole different class.

Montanagopher, you're right, no part of the expander should be anywhere near .208". I would be calling Lyman, they probably put the wrong expander in. A lot of companies use the same equipment with minor changes for everything 22 cal and up, but have different ones for the smaller calibers, I'm guessing you got one of the 22+ cal expander rods with a 204 button.

[T Bran]

Often I read that people dont realise that you need a bushing insert on certain types of dies and therefore do not order one with the die.
I dont own one but blue68f100 seems to be barking up the rite tree.
T

[Scimmia]

Guys, Lyman doesn't even make bushing dies.

[hentown]

Problem would be solved pretty quickly with a Lee Collet Die!!! :D

[T Bran]

Yeah guess my ignorance is showing again lol.
The majority of my dies are Lee with a sprinkling of RCBS.
Luck
T

[cfullgraf]

I recent bought a Lyman carbide neck sizing die for .204. I think I have a problem with it, but being fairly new to reloading I wanted to ask the experts. The sizing stroke is not as smooth as I would have thought and the final result is a neck that is too big for the bullet. The bullet can be more or less dropped in the case.

It is my determination that that the sleeve that sits right before the button is too big. I measured .208 for the diameter of the sleeve and .203 for the diameter of the button. The button should be the sizing mechanism, not the sleeve which is suppose to only act as a spacer. I am guessing I need to call Lyman and have them send a replacement, or am I missing something?

There sounds like there is a description and nomenclature problems here. Rifle resizing dies do two steps at one time, they resize the outside of the case on the up stroke and then expands the mouth on the down stroke. The expander button is part of the decapping rod.

A neck sizer dies only resize the neck portion of the bottle neck case. Generally, there is an expander button to expand the case mouth to the correct size. This expander is the same as with the full length sizing die and installed on the decapping rod.

These types of dies reduce the case neck smaller than needed and the expander ball expands the neck back to the desired size for proper neck tension.

There is a category of dies called bushing dies, or something similar, where one can replace a bushing of different inside diameters in the neck area of the die. These dies do a minimum of resizing to the desired size and generally do not need an expander button.

Carbide rifle resizing dies are few and far between, very expansive, and generally used only by high volume reloaders. They still require the use of case lubricant. (Note, carbide pistol resizing dies are a different kettle of fish and are widely available)

There are kits available for rifle dies that have carbide expander buttons. Lyman and Redding make some. I find they still work better with a bit of lubricant.

So, to answer the OP's question, it sounds like the cap that holds the carbide expander button on the decapping pin may be too big. It should not touch the case mouth, ever. Only the expander button should contact the case mouth and only after the neck size has been reduced by the resizing die.

I would give Lyman a call or reduce the size of cap.

Hope this makes sense.

[Montanagopher]

Weeding through the answers it sounds like my thoughts were right and I need a smaller sleeve. It is frustrating that this is my second problem with this die. Lyman was very good about replacing one of the parts already.


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[243winxb]

Lyman sleeve to large, interesting. http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/Firearms%20%20and%20%20Reloading/Lyman204a.jpg

[kingmt]

It doesn't sound like the die. If the ID is .208" even if the brass was only .005" thick it would reduce the brass ID to .198 with some spring back it shouldn't be .200". The expander is .203" so you should end up with a neck ID no more then .202".

How are you measuring the die?

[Scimmia]

It doesn't sound like the die. If the ID is .208" even if the brass was only .005" thick it would reduce the brass ID to .198 with some spring back it shouldn't be .200". The expander is .203" so you should end up with a neck ID no more then .202".

How are you measuring the die?

He's measuring a part of the expander assembly, not the part of the die. Look at 243winxb's post, the red arrow points to the part in question. It should definitely not be .208".

[kingmt]

He's measuring a part of the expander assembly, not the part of the die. Look at 243winxb's post, the red arrow points to the part in question. It should definitely not be .208".
"It is my determination that that the sleeve that sits right before the button is too big. I measured .208 for the diameter of the sleeve and .203 for the diameter of the button."

I guess I didn't read what I thought I did.

Sorry for the useless information. I agree that the sleeve would be to big now that I reread your post.