Bullet loose in the neck

[offthepaper]

I'm just getting into reloading.
I started loading last month for my K31, 7.5x55.
When I went to seat a 150gr FMJBT into some once fired Privi brass, the bullet seemed to go into the neck with little resistance. After repeating this several times I realized that a couple of the bullets were actually loose in the necks.
I'm thinkingI had the decap/sizing die turned too far into the press when I was removing the primers.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Also, is there anything I can do for the now over expanded necks on several pieces of brass to make them usable again?

 

[longdayjake]

If this is happening it could be 3 things causing this.

1. The die walls are too big in the neck area.

2. The expander ball/button is too large and is thinning the neck walls too much.

3. The bullets are too small.

What dies are you using and what bullets are you using?

 

[falldowngoboom]

I reload .30-06 and my necks (after firing) are so loose that a bullet will slip right in without resistance. I don't see why another cartridge would be different, so I doubt the necks were actually expanded. In fact, they sound like they've been shrunk at least a little since (I'm assuming) the bullet will actually sit there instead of falling in.

 

[loadedround]

Longdayjake basically nailed it. Your sizing die is not properly resizing your fired case, especially it's neck to the proper diameter to hold your bullet. It could be your expander button or misadjusted or defective die. I would have a knowledgeable reloader take a look at your sizing die or contact the manufacturer regarding this problem. The bullet should fit tightly in your case mouth. Good luck to you.

 

[Canuck-IL]

I'm thinkingI had the decap/sizing die turned too far into the press when I was removing the primers.

Other way around - the die might not have been screwed in far enough - you should feel a slight 'cam-over' at the top of the stroke.
/Bryan

 

[offthepaper]

What dies are you using and what bullets are you using?

I'm using Lee collet dies with a 150 gr FMJBT Hornaday bulk bullet in a once fired Privi brass.
Is there any hope of reusing the brass that was "over-expanded"?

 

[243winxb]

Loaded Round Neck Diameter See Note.

Lee collet dies- you need to make your mandrel smaller, or buy a custom made one from Lee.

is there anything I can do for the now over expanded necks on several pieces of brass to make them usable again?

What Longdayjake said. Full Length Resiziing (FLRS) should return the necks to the correct inside diameter. But it would seem you die is not doing this. Size the cases without the expander, see if bullets fit better. Measure your expander button. It should be .307" or smaller.

I reload .30-06 and my necks (after firing) are so loose that a bullet will slip right in without resistance.

A fired case neck may Not expand if the load is very light. A maximum loaded case neck will Always let the bullet fall into the case before sizing. If the bullet does Not easly fall into the case(maximum loaded) before sizing, there can be 2 things wrong. The neck wall thickness it to large for the loaded round, the chamber is not letting it expand. Or the brass is way to long and needs trimming. The diameter of a loaded rounds neck can be found here. These are the maximum diameters allowed.http://www.stevespages.com/page8d.htm More loading info can be found here, with MORE LINKS at bottom of page. http://www.realguns.com/Commentary/comar108.htm *NOTE. There seems to be a difference in the neck diameter of a loaded round. Steves pages .330" compared to Real Guns .335" This would mean there is a big difference in brass neck wall thickness causing your problem. Just a guess on my part.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Pull the expander and resize your cases without it. You only need the expander to open the mouths up and to hold the decapping pin. I use a universal decapper and size often with no expander in my FL dies.

 

[steve4102]

Pull the expander and resize your cases without it. You only need the expander to open the mouths up and to hold the decapping pin. I use a universal decapper and size often with no expander in my FL dies.

It's a Lee Collet die, no expander to remove. The mandrel is too big, chuck it in a drill and polish it down to your desired size or call Lee. They will sell you a reduced mandrel for $5. This is very common with the Lee Collet Die. Don't give up on this die, it is one of the best neck sizing dies you can get.

 

[Fumbler]

I also had that problem with my 308 collet die.

All I did was chuck the mandrel in a drill and take 0.002" off of the diameter using wet-dry sandpaper and oil.

 

[Steve C]

I'm using Lee collet dies with a 150 gr FMJBT Hornaday bulk bullet in a once fired Privi brass.

New reloader so check the obvious first. Is the die adjusted so that the collet completely and tightly closes around the case neck? Pull the mandrill and check to see that its no greater than .308" dia at the case mouth. Compare resized case with cartridge dimensions (see attached).

If the mandrill is too large or the case neck isn't sized properly when the die is adjusted correctly then contact Lee for the fix.

 

[rcmodel]

Heres an idea!

Throw the Lee collet dies in the trash and buy a set of FL reloading dies and lean to reload with them.

It seems an awful lot of new reloader are having problems with the Lee collet dies before they learn how to reload using normal FL dies.

IMO: For a beginning reloader, the collet dies are an Answer looking for a Question.

rc

 

[243winxb]

It's a Lee Collet die, no expander to remove.

Yes i know, he posted later what die he is using, so i edit and left the rest.

 

[loadedround]

Rcmodel nails it once again! Scrap those Lee dies and buy a set made by Redding or RCBS and never look back. Lee dies are POS as far as I'm concerned. :banghead:

 

[okokie]

the only thing wrong with Lee collet dies is the person not following the instructions on how to set them. I have 14 different calibers of collet neck sizing dies from LEE and all of them work fine.

 

[longdayjake]

I have bought 2 sets of lee dies and they were garbage. The carbide dies still require lube in my .30 carbine and the 6.5 grendel die worked but it was crazy tough on my brass.

 

[Steve C]

The carbide dies still require lube in my .30 carbine

RCBS says to use lube with their 30 carbine carbide dies also, not a Lee issue only but a cartridge issue.