Why not control neck tension with the expander ball?

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Considering the cost of powder brass Bullets and the misc reloading equipment, why not have good Dies?
They size brass like a hot knife through butter
Example- Wilson F/L bushing type dies are $59 and the bushing $12 at Brunos
Gotta agree on that, in the long run the price of the dies is minimal.
 
I'm in no way saying the dies are not worth the price, it's just that the rifles I own/shoot would not benefit from them. I'm happy with standard RCBS dies.
And they can load very good ammo, no doubt, as good as most guns can benefit from, but even RCBS has the "better" set of "match" grade dies.

Question is will the gun shoot the difference and does the application need it.
 
I have not read the whole thread so I'm just throwing this out.
Use a micrometer to determine the size of your expander ball. If you think it's too large compared to the size of your bullet, chuck the expander ball into your drill press and use emery paper to remove some of the diameter. I have resized cases without using the expander ball but with flat based bullets it's easy to crush a shoulder when trying to seat the bullet. I like my expander ball 4 or 5 thousands smaller than the bullets I'm loading. I like to use V-Max's and I based the measurement of the ball on their diameter.

kwg
 
I like my expander ball 4 or 5 thousands smaller than the bullets I'm loading.

Isn't that past the brass' yield limit?
And, it's only one page, we're worth it...


I'm in no way saying the dies are not worth the price, it's just that I'm happy with MATCH HORNADY dies.

:D

If you like the Wilsons, you'll love these.

https://www.warner-tool.com/product/wtc-sizing-die-one-caliber-complete/

Oh. Did you need a seater with that? That's extra...as in "addition to" the six hundred.:what:

As the maker of Flatline Bullets, they most likely know what there doing.
But TWO ARs for a die set?!:confused:
That would be awesome.

More on topic, I have sanded and polished an expander ellipse a thousandth or so. You can also use them after sizing, like a mandrel. I figured it sizes it first and may not pull it off centre on the way back out, but I didn't notice a "paper difference". (both good)
 
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As an aside, one of the uses that i ahve found for bushing dies is reforming cases to another cartridge.

I have a rifle that is chambered in 22x6.8. I use a bushing die with several bushingns to reduce the neck size from 6.8 to 22. Then, I use a 6.8 SPC bushing sizer die with the appropriate bushing for resizing my 22x6.8 cases.

More recently, I have been building a Savage action chambered in 22 Benchrest for prairie dog shooting. Since 22 benchrest cases are not currently available, I use a 6mm Benchest bushing die to reduce the neck to 22 caliber and then use the die for re-sizing the 22 Benchrest cases.

The bushing sizing dies provide some other options not easily available at a reasonable cost from other single purposed dies.
 
My loading/shooting buddy uses dies from Whidden Gunworks. They are extremely accurate with a price tag to match! (some over $200 for a 2 die set) I think he is now playing with the 6x47mm Lapua.
 
Some have stopped using the expander balls due to increased chance of pulling the neck off center, and less working of the brass. If your die allows you to "float" the expander ball, this may be minimized. Bushing dies allow adjustment for differing makes (thickness) of brass. Especially useful in 308, and may also improve the concentrically of the finished round. Especially if used in conjunction with a good comp seater.

If you want to deprime but not expand the neck, you can just buy the next size down expanding ball, depending on your make/construction of die.

Is all this necessary? That depends on your own specific purpose/reloading technique. Lots of ways to skin a cat.
 
If you want to deprime but not expand the neck, you can just buy the next size down expanding ball, depending on your make/construction of die.

Some dies also allow removal of the expander and others you can substitute a decap rod from their pistol die sets because they don’t have expanders built into them.
 
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