Bushing dies and size buttons.

[BGD]

I am trying to figure out what the size button does on the decapping rod. If you use a bushing die do you still need to use the size button?

Thanks

 

[steve4102]

Good Question. If you are using a special sized bushing to set the outside diameter of the neck to a specific dimension why would you drag a sizing button back through it to destroy what your bushing has just created? Select your desired bushing and forget the expander button. If you are going to use the expander you might as well just use a standard die.

 

[cfullgraf]

Standard resizing die resizes the neck down smaller than needed and lets the expander button bring the inside diameter back to the desired size.

While convenient and accounts for varying neck thicknesses, the process works the brass a little more and there is some thoughts that it upsets the overall length of the case by stretching it when the button is extracted.

Bushing dies are meant to be used without an expander button, although you could if you want. The idea is to select the appropriate bushing diameter so that the finished resized neck is the correct size without using an expander button.

Bushing dies resizing uniformity is best when all of the cases have the same neck thicknesses. You may need different bushings for cases from different manufacturers or maybe even different lots.

I guess you could get a compromise and use a bushing that is a little larger than standard full length die neck and let the expander button touch up the inside diameter of the case mouth.

Bushing dies can get expensive if you end up buying several bushings.

So what ever lights your fuse. Hope this helps.

 

[243winxb]

Redding Type-S FL Sizing Bushing Die

http://www.redding-reloading.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=118%3Atype-s-bushing-diesNeck turned brass-no expander button. Factory brass-maybe, if there is a large variation in neck wall thickness when seating a flat base bullet.
A boatail bullet will act as its own expander button. Redding Type-S bushing dies lets you expand or not while decapping primers. Just cut my die in half so walkalong could see.

 

[Walkalong]

Bushing type dies do not come with an expander ball on the decapping rod because it is not needed/wanted. That is the whole idea of a bushing die, to do away with the expander ball and give us the ability to size the neck to different neck tensions.

 

[steve4102]

I have a few Redding Type S FL bushing dies and they all came with both the expander button and the the thingy(technical term) to holds the decapping pin that does not expand. I do not use the expander button with any of my bushing dies.

 

[Walkalong]

Interesting. Mine did not. Here is the last one I bought. It's for .22 Hornet.

 

[243winxb]

Neck size only, or FL, maybe thats the difference?? I would guess not many are made in 22 hornet. Possibly in a different die group. Only listed in group A as a standard dies, not bushing. Must be special order for 22 hornet in a bushing die.?

 

[BGD]

Thanks fro the explanation. I have been out of the reloading seen for about 15 years and was thinking about reloading again. I didnt remember anything like a bushing die back then and when I was reading about them didn't think they needed the expander button. I used to neck size only but I think I will try the neck size only bushing dies when I get setup again. I had to get rid of all my reloading equipment so I will have to start over. I am thinking about starting again with the Hornady lock and load classic kit. It has started getting expensive with this 270 WSM as 2 bucks every time I pull the trigger.

 

[Walkalong]

Neck size only, or FL, maybe thats the difference?

Must be. Didn't think about that. AC

 

[Walkalong]

It has started getting expensive with this 270 WSM as 2 bucks every time I pull the trigger.

Dang good reason to start reloading. For $100 you can get everything you need. That will pay for its self soon enough. Then you can start adding goodies until you are broke like us.

 

[Offfhand]

My Redding bushing dies have all come with expanding buttons as well as an undersize pin retainer. I toss the expander plug because dragging it through the neck after sizing would be counter productive.

 

[Walkalong]

Are they neck size only, or FL?

 

[allen4150]

I knew that bushing dies worked the brass less without the expander ball, but I thought the real advantage was reduced runout on case necks.

 

[Walkalong]

Just cut my die

Thanks.

I thought the real advantage was reduced runout on case necks.

The two big advantages of bushing dies are the control over neck tension, and the fact that they eliminate the need for expander buttons which when drug back through necks are detrimental to fine accuracy due to the fact that it can cause concentricity issues.

 

[USSR]

I believe the FL sizing bushing dies come with an expander ball, although it can be removed (and should), and the necksizing dies come without an expander ball.

Don

 

[steve4102]

My Redding bushing dies have all come with expanding buttons as well as an undersize pin retainer.

That may be the correct term, but "Thingy" sound more professional and technical dontcha think.