Carbide Expander Buttons

[JimKirk]

Those of you who own RCBS and Redding rifle dies , have you upgraded the expander to a carbide button?

Hornady makes a replacement stem with carbide button for RCBS dies.

Redding makes a replacement stem with carbide button for their dies.

I have replaced most of mine and was wondering if any else had.
They eliminate having to lube the inside of the neck and really help brass stretching.

Jimmy K

 

[kelbro]

I have the Reddings on my two higher volume dies, 308 and 223. They work great.

 

[loadedround]

Like Kelbro, I use carbide bottoms on my 223 and 308 cases also and for the same reasons. Also eliminated that screech of metal on metal.

 

[ranger335v]

I bought a couple of them several years ago. Like 'em okay, sure are smoother. But, I really didn't see any difference in case lenthening or straighter necks due to reduced expander drag so I haven't bought any more.

 

[rcmodel]

I never bothered.

I clean & lightly lube all case necks with a bore brush rolled on a lube pad as part of the case inspection process, and would continue to do so even if I had carbide buttons.

It's a great opportunity to look for split necks and other defects.

If you are getting a screech & stretched necks now, you probably should too, even with carbide.

rc

 

[JimKirk]

I still do lube the inside of about every 4th or 5th case and yes it make the carbide even slicker. I've never really had brass stretch problems, but it would seem that less friction would keep the drag even lower. The dies that I have that do not have carbide buttons, I have polished the steel buttons to a very brite shine and lube good, so that is one reason my brass stretch is limited. I do a close inspection on each case when I clean the primer pockets(I know I'm wasting time according to some). As far as straighter, I've saw no difference either.

I guess I was just asking to see who else used them, I not recommending them or condemning them.

Jimmy K

 

[Walkalong]

I clean & lightly lube all case necks with a bore brush rolled on a lube pad as part of the case inspection process

I do the same thing with .223, even though I have a carbide expander ball.

 

[kelbro]

Dip the case necks about 1/16-1/8" in graphite or mica and you won't even feel the carbide ball go through. No muss, no fuss.

 

[JimKirk]

Good feedback!
I have a Forster mica case dipper I need to pull out and try again!

It was messy first go around.

Jimmy K