Carbide vs steel expander ball

[highlander 5]

Here's a real head scratcher I plan on loading 6.5 Grendel,bought a set of RCBS dies and a carbide expander from Lyman. New Starline brass if I use the steel expander of the RCBS dies inside case mouth diameter .260 using the Lymzn carbide expander .250. Yes I know there is spring back and I did check the ball diameter on both expander and there .262. I've been loading my own for 50 years and this is a first for me,I use carbide expanders in my other rifle dies but they are Redding die. I would have bought Redding dies but the price for them stopped me in my tracks. Anyone else run into the same problem cause I'm stumped

 

[AJC1]

Are both expander balls exactly in the same place or they in different heights in the die

 

[forty_caliber]

I've got some of the carbide expander balls but they are all Redding dies. I've quit buying Recycled Chinese Bull Stuff dies. I've had nothing but trouble with them.

I suspect that the problem you are seeing involves to where the ball rides in relation to the die body. Redding dies are said to support the neck during expansion.

As to the cost of Redding dies, I read somewhere that they closed their doors for the duration of the Covid-19 issue. I've noticed that costs of remaining stocks have gone up dramatically. I paid $110 dollars for a two die set today that I was $60 two weeks ago.

.40

 

[highlander 5]

I can try to measure the heights of the threaded rods from the top of the die,have to call Redding tomorrow then have to return a die that has the expander that's stuck case broke off just below the shoulder. Figures if it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all

 

[highlander 5]

Played with the 2 expanders earlier the Lyman rod/ ball assembly is shorter,going to wait till I have some fired brass to play with to get things straight. The neck is being sized before I can get the expander thru the case mouth,the cases I have are new unfired. Haven't got the rifle as the FFL I had it sent to is closed per order of Gov. Baker. Hopefully May 4 will allow the shops open again. There is a suit going forward to get a TRO that will get the shops open before May 4.