Redding Die Question

Ragnar51

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Minuteman
Oct 18, 2012
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I've been reloading pistol, rifle , and shotgun for a long while but i'm going to be loading a new (to me) caliber, .338 Lapua. I'll be using a bolt action gun and intend to use the Redding Competition Bushing Neck Die Set. I notice the die set does not include an expander ball as standard and I'm wondering if it's possible to load without it.

Thanks, Kevin in CT
 
Re: Redding Die Question

I never use an expander in a bushing neck die. It's undoing what you are trying to achieve by using the bushing to give you a specific neck tension.

Where in CT are you?
 
Re: Redding Die Question

I'm pretty new to the Neck Bushing Die myself. I bought a Redding Competition set for the .260 Rem. I'm still messing around with trying to get the right neck sizing bushing for the brass I have. The die set I bought does have an expander button included which I've ended up using because the neck sizing bushing I bought is too small.
 
Re: Redding Die Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I never use an expander in a bushing neck die. It's undoing what you are trying to achieve by using the bushing to give you a specific neck tension.

Where in CT are you? </div></div>

This. If you're going to use the expander regularly, a Lee die would do the same thing at 25% of the cost.
 
Re: Redding Die Question

When using a bushing die what does one do with a case that hit on the mouth and has a ding? On a standard die the expander ball pushes it out before the neck is sized.
 
Re: Redding Die Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: OlTexasBoy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When using a bushing die what does one do with a case that hit on the mouth and has a ding? On a standard die the expander ball pushes it out before the neck is sized. </div></div>

Usually I just pitch them. I don't run into this very often with a bolt gun though.
 
Re: Redding Die Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: OlTexasBoy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When using a bushing die what does one do with a case that hit on the mouth and has a ding? On a standard die the expander ball pushes it out before the neck is sized. </div></div>

You can use the following or equivalent expander die and mandrel:

Expander Die

Mandrel to use with die
 
Re: Redding Die Question

Ahhh.. I think I get it now, point is well taken about undoing the sizing with the expander ball. thanks to all that replied, there is lot of good info here!!
 
Re: Redding Die Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: OlTexasBoy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When using a bushing die what does one do with a case that hit on the mouth and has a ding? On a standard die the expander ball pushes it out before the neck is sized. </div></div>

For the once in a blue moon dinged up neck I've been known to grab a bullet one caliber larger and gently tap it in, point first, to get the neck back in to shape - mostly at least.