223 expander mandrel

[KY DAN]

I would like to know what the standard size should be for a 223 rem expander mandrel?

My brand new lee full length sizer mics at .2206, I will confess my mandrel was polished with scotch Brite to remove scratches from maching which were marking my cases

 

[AJC1]

Your question is difficult as application matters. My expander for 80s out of a bolt will not necessarily fit yours for ar???? I like 223 or 222 but that is to specific neck tension

 

[jmorris]

I don’t know what you are loading for but .002-.003 neck tension (ID smaller than the bullet) isn’t a bad place to be.

Your brass is going to have some spring back to it (unless you have annealed it to dead soft) so I would expect your case neck ID to be less than the OD of the expander.

For example my .223 OD Sinclair mandrel, in a properly annealed case will expand the ID of the neck .001” under the bullet diameter but then will spring back another .001” once the expander is removed, leaves me with .002” press fit (neck tension).

 

[243winxb]

.2225" Both RCBS . Seating a bullet should expand the OD by a minimum of .002". The gives a bullet pull of 35 lbs, the minimum standard.

The expander is hard to pull thru the lubed neck, some times. New or once fired brass may have a donut. I outside neck turn the brass to get rid of it. A bushing die also works.. The latest is an. Expanding Mandrel Die.

 

[jmorris]

The latest is an. Expanding Mandrel Die.

That’s the exact opposite of another way, the Lee collet die.

 

[243winxb]

Lee collet die

Does not provide enough bullet hold for an AR15 . But, smaller mandrels are available.

I tried one in 243 win.
Plus applying 45 lbs on the press handle (following instructions) was not to my liking & ending up with minimal neck tension. The over working of the press linkage can't be good for press life. Did not try the cam over method.

Bushing dies, much better Imo.

 

[Kaldor]

I would like to know what the standard size should be for a 223 rem expander mandrel?

My brand new lee full length sizer mics at .2206, I will confess my mandrel was polished with scotch Brite to remove scratches from maching which were marking my cases

The 4 thou tension your getting from your Lee is a little tight, but will probably be OK in an autoloading rifle. However, it might drive up pressure slightly, and effect accuracy.

I do not use an expander ball at all anymore, opting to go with a Lyman M-die or a Sinclair mandrel die. Both are .222, which yields 2 thou neck tension. In a bolt gun, I might be tempted to go with 1 thou neck tension, but I run everything at 2 thou so Im the same across the board.

 

[KY DAN]

I only load for an stock carbine /rifle ar15 so I figured this much neck tension was a positive attribute to have. If I can make 62 frain hornady fmj get within a inch at 100 yards I will be a happy camper.