Neck sizing possibility?

[bloominonion]

Would it be possible to neck size a case with a Lee FCD (case inserted into the top of the die to resize the entire neck) and then just run it across the expander button in the FL die?

Or does the neck sizer die re-form more of the case than that would?

 

[788Ham]

The neck sizer does just that, sizes the neck, period. If the cartridge was fired in say, your 308 rifle, then neck sizing is all thats going to be done.

 

[gamestalker]

As 788ham said, it only resizes the neck. But if your considering neck sizing your brass, and you have more than one rifle in that cartridge, you'll need to keep your brass separated for each rifle. You could get lucky and use your necked brass for both rifles without chambering problems, but you also might be defeating the purpose because each of those rifles will have varied chamber dimensions to some degree. I have more than one 7 mag. and none will chamber the other's necked brass.

 

[bloominonion]

I only have one rifle of the caliber, just was curious if the FCD might do enough so I don't have to buy more dies lol.

 

[gamestalker]

I'm kind of confused as to what you are asking now. You want to use a factory crimp die to resize the neck, is that right? That die only does what it is designed to do, crimp, it won't resize anything. The common choice's for your needs is either a full length resizing die, or a neck size die. Unless there is something I don't know about the FCD, which is possible, it won't resize.

 

[1KPerDay]

Edite: NOTE: THE FOLLOWING INFO IS INCORRECT. I'M LEAVING IT HERE SO THE REST OF THE THREAD WILL MAKE SENSE. Thanks again to Walkalong for his correction. In the future I'll try not to say anything unless I'm sure.


FYI Gamestalker, from what I understand, the FCD has a carbide ring around the inside bottom diameter, similar to the full length resizing die. Kinda a second "resize" as a final step. But it only touches the larger diameter of the case body and doesn't do anything to the shoulder (or neck, other than a crimp), as you correctly pointed out.

 

[Walkalong]

Rifle FCD's do not have a carbide ring.

The rifle FCD die crimps, it does not size. It is dependent on the case having a bullet in it for resistance, unlike the collet sizer Lee makes that uses a mandrel to neck size with the collet.

To be honest, your post is somewhat confusing to me.

 

[rcmodel]

and then just run it across the expander button in the FL die?

just was curious if the FCD might do enough so I don't have to buy more dies lol.

By your posts it seems to me you already have a FL sizing die with the expander in it.
So, I'm assuming you also have a seater die to go with it.

That is all you need.
Just back the FL sizing die out so it isn't sizing the case body or shoving the shoulder back, and you are for all intents & purposes, neck sizing with it.

rc

 

[1KPerDay]

Rifle FCD's do not have a carbide ring.

The rifle FCD die crimps, it does not size. It is dependent on the case having a bullet in it for resistance, unlike the collet sizer Lee makes that uses a mandrel to neck size with the collet.

To be honest, your post is somewhat confusing to me.

Thanks for the correction, Walkalong. I was going by the cutaway die illustrations in the lee catalog but the dies pictured must have been for handgun or something. I'll try to edit my original post and correct it.

EDIT: Yep, this is the one I was remembering.
http://leeprecision.com/xcart/Lee-Carbide-Factory-Crimp-Die/



Bloomin' here's the correct info on the rifle FCD

http://leeprecision.com/xcart/Factory-Crimp-Die/

 

[Walkalong]

To be honest, your post is somewhat confusing to me

In case I wasn't clear, I was confused by the OP's post. I understood yours. It is a common mistake.

The only part of my post directed at you was "Rifle FCD's do not have a carbide ring.". It was also for anyone else who was not yet aware of it. It can sometimes get confusing in a thread talking about the FCD die, of which I have been known to debate in.

I am probably just too dense/grumpy/annoyed/distracted to understand the OP. It's been a really bad day from git go at 6:15 AM. Stayed in the crapper most of the day. Bummer......

 

[1KPerDay]

Oi... get better soon.

 

[bloominonion]

Basically I was saying to insert the casing into the FCD from the top, while operating the collet like normal (no case in the shell holder, but the case enters the die from the top while holding it by hand). So in other words you use the "crimping" action to squeeze the neck down like you were re-sizing it with a neck die, just kinda backward lol.

Basically I want to re-size without needing lube, and without buying the neck sizing die as I am cheap. So, I was thinking you could use the collet action of the FCD to squeeze down the neck to size.

I did find out it is do-able, but requires several "crimps" along the length of the case neck as it only has a small area of influence.

Hopefully this will bring some understanding, and if not I will get a vid or pictures to show what I mean.

Ohh, and Walkalong, get better!

 

[Walkalong]

I guess if you made a mandrel to go inside the neck it could work. Make a small end and let it stick up out of the flash hole of the upside down case so you could hang onto it while sizing. Without a mandrel inside I doubt it would work.

 

[bloominonion]

Ok, so apparently words are beyond me to describe this, so I made a quick vid.

FYI I ran the ram up too many times, but it is just for showing the idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb0wuibZk4o

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

OK, maybe this is stupid, but...

You might be able to avoid resizing at all, if you just de/re-prime, charge with powder, seat the bullet, then crimp it in place with a rifle FCD... Don't know whether the bullet will stay put from seater to crimper for you. On some of my cartridges/guns the bullet practically falls through an unsized neck, and some will stay put, as long as you don't roughly handle it.

I bet it won't do much for accuracy though.

Andy

 

[Walkalong]

so apparently words are beyond me to describe this

The vid shows what I imagined. Perhaps I did not make my suggestion with the mandrel clear. So, did it work with no mandrel to push against?

 

[bloominonion]

It seems as though it doesn't need a mandrel. You don't have a mandrel for the brass to push against in a normal FL or neck die, so with this it is just a matter of setting the FCD to squeeze down enough to re-form, without de-forming it. Then it's just a matter of pulling it to the exact dimension with the expander button.

It seems to work, so I will try to give some form of range report once I can afford to buy more powder. Then again that may be a few months. :l

 

[Walkalong]

I guess the mandrel is mostly to get the desired ID and keep the neck nice and round.

 

[bloominonion]

You don't need a mandrel if you run it over the expander button in the FL die. If the expander is lowered enough, it won't touch the inside of the FL die, and deprime the case just fine.