Seating .312 Deforms Case Neck

[MauserMad]

I'm reloading 762x54r. I'm only neck sizing using the RCBS neck sizer witht the .311 expander. When seating the Hornady .312 RN 174g bullet, the bullet is being seated very slightly crooked deforming the case neck on one side. The RCBS neck sizer does not bell the neck mouth from what I can tell. When I take the stem out of the die, I don't seee where any bell could be made. I have a Lee 54r die set and full length resized with a bell but that did not work. Neck still deformed

So,

1. Is it because of no or incorrect size belled case mouth?
2.The .311 expander is too small for the .312 bullet?


I seat my .311 bullets with the lee die with no problems.

Thanks for any help you can throw my way. Rog

 

[Wil Terry]

.311" O.D. is not too small. You need the champher the case mouth.

 

[Ghosth]

Most expander balls are designed for jacketed bullets not cast.

So you have a couple of choices.

Lee sells a very handy expander die, that puts a slight "flare" on most any case.
Or you can have a custom expander made.
Lyman also makes an expander die.

Or, you could try just looking for a tapered punch in your toolbox, that when dropped into the neck, given a light tap would slightly expand the top of the case. That is what I did for some 6 months. But I have since bought the lee die and it pretty much lives in one press.

Anything that puts a slight "flare" just like a flared copper fitting will work. Keeps the case from biting into the lead, forces it to expand instead.