A question for the bushing die guys.

Neck turned , no expander.

Unturned needs testing both ways. But light drag when pulling the expander button up out of the necks seems to work ok. With no expander, the bullet becomes the expander. Not a problem if neck tension is .002" or less, when using the correct bushing.

My bushing does not size to the shoulder. This unsized part expands to the chamber after a few firings. Ok with turned. Not as good with unturned. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?media/redding-fl-size-type-s.544/

I see others using an expander die, that enters the case mouth from above. Different size expanders are availible. Have not tried it.

I’m a conscientious objector to expander balls.

I do use “conventional expanders” when I don’t care as much about maximal precision, but if I’m caring enough to bushing size, I’m caring enough to not use the ball.

In instances I care enough...

No turn, bushing size, mandrel expand, seat.

Or

Turn, bushing size, seat.

I never used a bushing die until I started loading on my new seven station progressive. One of the things that intrigued me about having extra stations is using a bushing die with an "M" style expander, an original Lyman invention copied by RCBS now, in their new tube rifle bullet feeders.

Here's how it works on a 7 station press:
Station 1 sizes the brass with the proper bushing.
Station 2 expands the brass and adds a "step" "M" style, that captures the bullet firmly, nice and straight when it is fed by the bullet feeder which can resist the rotation torque to the next station.
Station 3 is the powder drop
Station 4 is the powder cop die (or in my case, the video powder cop)
Station 5 bullet feeder
Station 6 Seater
Station 7 Crimp

Only problem I have is getting healthy enough to get to actually shoot some of these new loads.....and find out whether accuracy is any better than using the ole expander ball....

If I don’t use expanders, the cases are turned and the die is custom or correct bushing is chosen.

If I want the best result but don’t want to turn, I use the Sinclair similar to the one Walkalong posted.

That said, I shoot lots more rifle rounds using the regular decapping pin expanders and the collet style both with acceptable sized groups, can get less than MOA out of decent rifles, without the extra work.

Walkalong said:

The new Matchmaster dies from RCBS use a Titanium Nitride coated expander ball, which is a good thing.

Click to expand...

I've read Gavin's review of that die, and he reports that you can barely feel it pull out.....if it's true in all cases that WOULD be good.
I have 2 Gold Medal sets (spensive) in .308 and .223, and so wrote to RCBS to see if their new Matchmasters were all that different. Reply said that the Titanium Nitride expander ball was the only difference in the sizer. And that a slight mic scale change (along with the new markings on the die, was the only change on the Seater. He suggested the Gold Medal set was not one he'd replace......except for the expander ball.

So my next question is ....will they sell me the new expander ball? Right now I don't use the expander....just the bushing....since the die comes with a primer pin without the expander ball as well as the one with the expander.

I have Dillon carbide dies/expanders but the Sinclair gives better uniformity.

If you are sizing your neck down from fired to loadable more then .008 or so you will need the expander . I could explain why but reading my old thread over at the Firingline would be easiest for both of us

This has email exchanges from me and Redding in it . Also keep in mind that the pics were taken in such a way to really show the problem . In reality you can barely see the flare by just looking at them . I mean you can but you have to be looking for it , at a glance it's easily missed .
https://thefiringline.com/forums/sh...&highlight=does+your+redding+type+die+do+this

243winxb said:

light drag when pulling the expander button up out of the necks seems to work ok.

Click to expand...

That's my method since I don't turn necks (anymore) and I load at least 2 headstamps of brass for multiple rifles in the calibers that I use bushings for.

Walkalong said:

I don't know if they will sell the TIN expander balls. Redding does, or did, sell carbide ones that work in their dies, but I have made them work in RCBS standard sizers.

Click to expand...

Redding also makes an "M" die but with one improvement...... TiN coating on the expander (mandrel?). For twice the cost of the $20 Lyman "M" die without the coating.;

So does the "M" stand for mandrel?.......same thing but with a step and an optional flare for lead bullets?

Maybe I'm wrong, but the only difference I see in mandrels vs. expander balls is the direction of the expansion......balls can stretch case length... mandrels compress....?

Metal God: .....interesting thread...thanks! I've never stuck a case in a die yet.....I attribute that to cowardice. I don't want one so I stop when the going gets hard.
Like the moderator there, I also found that Imperial wax isn't the lube of choice when the going gets hard. The old fashioned messy lube pad is safer by far (higher lubricity). And inside the necks, you can't beat a generous coat of dry mica.

I've done a lot of LC brass too....but only by expander ball...and the process gravitated to lube pad and mica by trial and scary. Am anxious to try the TiN expander balls for that. Hope they sell those separately soon.

I've never stuck a case in a die yet.....I attribute that to cowardice. I don't want one so I stop when the going gets hard.

Click to expand...

With some of the “broken linkage” threads I have read, it’s refreshing to see one doesn’t get their man card revoked for knowing when to check things out.

Speaking only for myself; I’ like the bushing die , with decapp pin only.

I use a Sinclair expander mandrel for virgin brass neck ID
J

I use my Lee collet dies for Mandrel die seems work pretty well after bushing size no neck turn. Have turned necks on my rifles factory doesn’t seem help much. I do use Lapua Normaand Peterson brass a lot to that helps with consistency a lot