Is the Expander Ball needed now that I use Sinclair Expander Die + Mandrel?

[mckchome]

I just picked up the Sinclair expander die/mandrel. Since I will be using the Sinclair expander die to set neck tension and concentricity should I just remove the expander ball from my Hornaday match full length resizing die? Or is there a reason to keep the expander ball in the full length resizing die? Thanks in advance for your response.

 

[wvlapua]

Remove it..expander mandrel will do the job

 

[spife7980]

i too remove the expander ball but I will still leave the decapping rod in place on dies that allow for it. Not sure of that’s possible or not on the hornady match.

 

[wvlapua]

You can remove the pin and get a universal decapping die to punch out the primers before running them in your sizing die.

 

[Adam4pt6]

I remove the expander completely and deprime as a separate step pre cleaning

 

[MtnCreek]

If the expander and pin are one piece, you could use a smaller expander.

 

[Strykervet]

I use a lot of Dillon trim dies and they size the case to SAAMI specs while trimming to length. But obviously they don't draw an expander through due to the motor. So you use an expander afterwards. It brings the neck into the spec you want. No need for an expander ball.

I use a 650 and a universal decapper and decap prior to cleaning. Clean lubed brass goes through the sizing/trimming block, clean it again and then it goes through the loading block.

padom knows more about this than I do and if he chimes in he'll probably have more to say about it. He's the one that pointed out to me that you don't need the expander if using the mandrel. And if it's a 650, you don't even need the sizing die at all, just the trim die and a mandrel.