Removing Expander Ball Redding - Type S Full Length Bushing Die

If the bushing is undersized for the brass being sized.
If the neck thickness varies in the brass being sized.

If brass is not outside neck turned, keep expander in. Lube inside case necks so expander provides very light drag.
Out of a box of factory ammo/brass, 1 case has thin neck wall. The expander will not drag on it. Case will not hold a bullet. Have to go 1 bushing smaller.

Or no expander & let the bullet do the expanding. Just brush necks. Method for Rem 600 Mohawk.

Test both ways.

For accuracy, i neck turn & size only 1/2 of the neck. The unsized neck expands to the chamber, aligning neck in chamber. No expander. For Rem 40X.

Testing is the only way to know.

MR WICK said:

I do not see the point in keeping the expander ball in the FL Bushing Die if I'm using a Bushing. Is there a reason to keep it in?

Thanks.

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If you have not neck turned your brass, then the bushing will push any anomalous high points to the inside, putting it in contact with the bullet, making the brass’ grip on the bullet inconsistent around the circumference.

So if we’re using bushings, but not neck turning, then we need to use a mandrel expander like Walkalong shared above to push those imperfections back to the outside of the neck, allowing more consistent contact between neck and bullet.

Walkalong said:

No reason to use it, that's the whole idea, get rid of the built in expander which is the work of the devil, use a bushing to size down just enough so the expander you will use does just a hair of work on all of the case necks.

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My method as well; bushings to limit over sizing, mandrels to adjust tension slightly.

Varminterror said:

If you have not neck turned your brass, then the bushing will push any anomalous high points to the inside, putting it in contact with the bullet, making the brass’ grip on the bullet inconsistent around the circumference.

So if we’re using bushings, but not neck turning, then we need to use a mandrel expander like Walkalong shared above to push those imperfections back to the outside of the neck, allowing more consistent contact between neck and bullet.

Click to expand...

This IME is one of those things that is reallllly tough to see improvements or decline on paper, I can’t name a single person that can shoot the difference between back sizing with a mandrel or one direction sizing. Even turning necks, the brass will have imperfections so in my little corner I think that if a fella believes it helps then great but some of the top shooters in the world don’t use a mandrel or turn necks.