Sizing die without decapper/expander

[eravelo]

Just received a 308 Whidden Full length sizing die with bushing.
I do not wish to deprime or use the expander ball with the sizing die. May I forego the use of the decap/expand assembly, and just install the bushing in the body of the die, also not using the two locking nuts that go on the decap assembly screw?



Thanks,



Jorge

 

[dcali]

Yes, just take out the whole decapping pin assembly. It should just screw out of the knob that holds the bushing in place.

 

[dedogs]

+1

 

[eravelo]

Yes, just take out the whole decapping pin assembly. It should just screw out of the knob that holds the bushing in place.

My concern is that the decap assembly is held by two nuts above and below the insert that holds the bushing in place, and if I remove these nuts along with the decap rod the insert is the one holding the bushing down. I guess all I would have to do is screw the insert in deeper now that the decapper is out.

 

['Freak]

Why would you not want to lock in place the piece that determines the neck bushing’s effective working height, or how much of the neck’s length will enter and be acted on by the bushing?

 

[JohnKielly]

Won't the expander screw off, allowing the pin to be removed like other dies?

 

[rmist]

If you just unscrew the the expander to remove it and the pin you will be fine.

 

[eravelo]

Won't the expander screw off, allowing the pin to be removed like other dies?

I tried to take the expander off, but it won't screw off as it is supposed to.

 

[eravelo]

Why would you not want to lock in place the piece that determines the neck bushing’s effective working height, or how much of the neck’s length will enter and be acted on by the bushing?

I can't get the expander off the decap pin, so unless Whidden sends me another I have two choices, use the bushing directly, or keep the expander in. Note the relationship between the bushing and the boss that will keep it in place:

vs.

Whidden hasn't replied yet.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I tried to take the expander off, but it won't screw off as it is supposed to.

It should come off, besides, most likely it came with 2 pin holders, one being the expander ball, the other a smaller dia one so you don't expand the case.

 

[Kyle Schultz]

The expander ball and decapping pin will screw off. You need to leave threaded rod and the small knurled nut installed so that the neck sizing bushing can seat against it. The depth of the threaded rod is no longer critical since you are no longer decapping. Like Redding/Forster dies, Whidden recommends screwing the upper assembly all the way down until it seats against the bushing. Then back it off a 1/8-1/4 turn and lock into place. You should be able to shake the die and hear a rattle from the now free floating bushing. Good luck.

 

[Shynloco]

I tried to take the expander off, but it won't screw off as it is supposed to.

Maybe I'm misreading your problem, but have you tried wrapping a cotton cloth around the decapping rod or the expander and then use channel locks to remove the expander to loose the decapping pin? Seems to me that you have nothing to loose if you need to send the decapping rode back in anyways. I've had to use the described method before on other manufacturer dies and nothing bad (like scaring) happened and the expander came off and pin removed.

Alex

 

[DHD]

Sometimes when the expander assembly is new, the expander button is too tight to just loosen by hand. I've had to clamp it in the jaws of my vice and there should be a flathead slot cut into the top of the threaded rod, now just screw it off. Just in case you're wondering, I make hardwood jaws for my vices so no scratching is involved.

Bushing dies are different from each manufacturer. If I remember correctly, that bottom knurled nut will need to be on the threaded rod otherwise your bushing will contact very little of the neck on Whidden dies. On Redding S dies, I remove the threaded rod completely.

 

[eravelo]

It should come off, besides, most likely it came with 2 pin holders, one being the expander ball, the other a smaller dia one so you don't expand the case.

Yes it came with a non-expanding insert, but I cant get the expander off.

 

[eravelo]

Maybe I'm misreading your problem, but have you tried wrapping a cotton cloth around the decapping rod or the expander and then use channel locks to remove the expander to loose the decapping pin? Seems to me that you have nothing to loose if you need to send the decapping rode back in anyways. I've had to use the described method before on other manufacturer dies and nothing bad (like scaring) happened and the expander came off and pin removed.

Alex

Yes I did, won't budge.
Thx

 

[eravelo]

Well, while writing the above posts I placed the decapperin the fridge, then used my torch on the expander ball, and with some effort the damm thing finally unscrewed. Somebody at Whidden is on steroids!
Thanks for your replies.
BTW, I dont think it would have been any problem to hold down the bushing with just the insert, no decap rod and associated nuts.

 

[Shynloco]

Yes I did, won't budge.
Thx

Call Carrie Whidden tomorrow and quit messing with it. I know of the frustration you are experiencing having gone through it with another manufacturer's dies. She'll make good on replacing it as Whidden has excellent CS.

Alex