Hey guys I’m new to reloading. I only reload 6.5 creedmoor and 257 weatherby for my 2 bolt action rifles. I deprime in a seperate step with a universal deprimer die. I just started using Redding type s bushing die. Since these a cases from a bolt action in good condition without any dents in the neck mouth when I use the type s bushing to reduce the neck to proper tension should remove the expander ball? Is there any need for it? I’ve heard from some you should remove it? Let me know what y’all think. Thanks
Sizing with type s bushing die
- Thread starter Jcaplinger199
- Start date
If your not using premium brass or neck turning any variation in the neck wall will be pushed to the inside of the neck when not using the expander. Causing inconsistencies in neck tension.
if you are using something like lapua it will give you more consistent run out when not running the expander. And better control of neck tension.
you could also replace the expander ball step with a mandrel after the type s die.
Edited for typos
if you are using something like lapua it will give you more consistent run out when not running the expander. And better control of neck tension.
you could also replace the expander ball step with a mandrel after the type s die.
Edited for typos
Piggybacking off what High Desert said, you can run the Type S die without the expander, and use something like the Sinclair expanding mandrel die or 21st century to set the neck tension. You should get better concentricity with a mandrel die due to performing the expansion on the down stroke, rather than the up stroke.
Otherwise, if your case mouths are not dented inward, using the Type S die without the expander would be fine as well. It really depends on whether you're using high quality brass that has good uniformity. If your brass does not, then you'll get better results with an expanding mandrel. Expanding mandrels also allow you to obtain more specific neck tension. With the Type S or any other sizing die, you're subject to the size of the expander button, which of course is made to work well with most brass in that spec.
Here is the Sinclair expander die: Sinclair Generation II Expander Die
You would need the expander mandrel for your caliber: Sinclair Expander Mandrel
These Sinclair mandrels are .001" under bullet diameter, which would yield ~.0015"-.002" neck tension.
21st Century Shooting also sells an expander die and mandrels. Their mandrels will fit in the Sinclair expander die, which is nice. The cool thing about 21st's mandrels is they have many more options, in increments of .0005", so you can get the exact neck tension that you desire.
Here is the 21st Century Shooting expander die: Expander Die Body
Here are their expander mandrels: Caliber Specific Expander Mandrels
Also, Bold Action Reloading has some good videos on neck tension and he talks about Sinclair and 21st Century: Bolt Action Reloading - Neck Tension Playlist (created by him)
Hope this helps!
Otherwise, if your case mouths are not dented inward, using the Type S die without the expander would be fine as well. It really depends on whether you're using high quality brass that has good uniformity. If your brass does not, then you'll get better results with an expanding mandrel. Expanding mandrels also allow you to obtain more specific neck tension. With the Type S or any other sizing die, you're subject to the size of the expander button, which of course is made to work well with most brass in that spec.
Here is the Sinclair expander die: Sinclair Generation II Expander Die
You would need the expander mandrel for your caliber: Sinclair Expander Mandrel
These Sinclair mandrels are .001" under bullet diameter, which would yield ~.0015"-.002" neck tension.
21st Century Shooting also sells an expander die and mandrels. Their mandrels will fit in the Sinclair expander die, which is nice. The cool thing about 21st's mandrels is they have many more options, in increments of .0005", so you can get the exact neck tension that you desire.
Here is the 21st Century Shooting expander die: Expander Die Body
Here are their expander mandrels: Caliber Specific Expander Mandrels
Also, Bold Action Reloading has some good videos on neck tension and he talks about Sinclair and 21st Century: Bolt Action Reloading - Neck Tension Playlist (created by him)
Hope this helps!
Im no expert by any means, but will confirm the above post. I run the redding type S bushing die without the expander present. Then follow up with the Sinclair expander mandrel for 6.5 and it works great. Mainly run Hornady and Starline brass, and both get good results with this method.
Same here. Expander removed. Redding bushing die followed by Sinclair Mandrel die. Great results.
Based on recommendations from reloaders with much more experience than me, I’ve removed the expander from my Type S and am using the Sinclair mandrel. Although an extra step, the mandrel seems to pass smoother through the neck than the expander ball. I’ve been using a .289 bushing with Lapua brass. Your bushing will vary depending upon the brand and its neck wall thickness.
Noticed Panhandle Precision (seems like a great channel) recommending polishing the expander ball. Anyone tried both this and the Sinclair expander?
Not trying to take over the OP's post and if I need to start my own thread let me know and I will.
If you already have a full length sizing die not a bushing die, can you get the same or similar results by removing the expander ball and following it up with a mandrel?
If you already have a full length sizing die not a bushing die, can you get the same or similar results by removing the expander ball and following it up with a mandrel?
Yes, you can get similar results! The bushing die will work the brass much less, and generally yield better neck concentricity due to this and the floating of the bushing in the die, but the neck tension would still be set by the expander mandrel. I recently used an RCBS FL die followed by the Sinclair expander mandrel, and got great results in 6.5 Creedmoor. Neck concentricity was .002" or less (Starline brass), which is totally acceptable. I also did this on a Dillon 550C, and realized I could probably get even better results if I put the sizing die and expander on opposite corners, rather than next to each other. This would help spread out the pressure on the shell plate more evenly.
