No neck tension with Whidden non-bushing resizing dies

[Tom3006]

Hello, I'm a beginner reloader just trying to reload my first batch of 6.5 Creedmoor shells. I'm using the Whidden non-bushing resizing die and seater die, Forster Co-ax press, once fired Hornady brass, and Berger 140 gr Hunting VLD bullets. I started out with the .262" expander ball and when I went to seat the bullet there was no resistance. Sure enough I could remove the bullet with my fingers. I tried going down to the .261" and then .260" ball expander with the same result. I even tried removing the expander completely and got the same result. Am I doing something wrong or could it be an out of spec resizing die?? Thanks!

 

[XTR]

Make sure you didn't get a bushing die shipped to you by accident. It wouldn't be the first time something like that happened.


What ever the case I have no doubt that John's folks will take care of you.

 

[dkhunt14]

Measure a fired case and then size and measure the neck again. Take out the expander first and if it isn't making the necks smaller something is wrong. Matt

 

[clowdis]

Sorta looks like a bushing die.

 

[potatoe]

Are your necks turned?

 

[KMart]

Sorta looks like a bushing die.

I agree with Clowdis

 

[jrb572]

It looks like my no bushing whidden die. Screw the piece that holds the decaping rod all the way down. Not the decaping rod itself.

 

[timeout]

Looks like my Whidden no bushing die. I don't have a Whidden bushing style to compare it with. Mic the neck before and after sizing with no expander ball. It is either sizing the neck or it isn't. If it isn't call Whidden's. They are great to work with.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I agree with Clowdis

Pretty hard to gauge off that pic.

 

[JohnKielly]

Looks like this, doesn't it?

http://www.whiddengunworks.com/product/sizer-reloading-dies/

And like this.

http://www.whiddengunworks.com/product/non-bushing-fl-sizer-and-micrometer-set/

 

[spclark]

All my Whidden bushing dies look like those pics of the non-bushing variety.

My suspicion is that the OP received a bushing die in error.

Easy to check: pull everything out of the main die body, see what the internal bore diameter is at the top end, above any step atop the die segment that forms the case shoulder. Bushing will be ~ 1/2", non-bushing will be half that, about 0.290" or 9/32".

 

[Tom3006]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

dkhunt14 & timeout: Ok, I gave that a try - Fired brass neck OD: 0.295", ID: 0.264". Resized (0.260" expander ball) was the exact same, 0.295"/0.264". I guess I should have checked that first before I "resized", primed and charged 50 pieces of brass.

Potatoe: No, I haven't turned the necks.

jrb572: I gave that a try and the case neck bumped up against that piece that holds the decapping rod before I could get the press full stroke.

milo-2: here are some more pics.

Sounds like they sent me the bushing die on accident?

 

[Tom3006]

Here's one more pic with the decapping assembly completely removed and the press at full stroke. Still getting 0.295" OD on the neck. Thanks.

 

[jrb572]

My non bushing.308 die

 

[John Russell]

Here's one more pic with the decapping assembly completely removed and the press at full stroke. Still getting 0.295" OD on the neck. Thanks.

It appears that you have a bushing die, without the required bushing.

Call them and get the proper bushing.

 

[1shot]

Here's one more pic with the decapping assembly completely removed and the press at full stroke. Still getting 0.295" OD on the neck. Thanks.

If I read to OP correctly, the description of the picture says it shows the ram in it's full up position. The picture shows only a very small amount of the case neck showing, so I would have to say that it is a non-bushing die or the case isn't being run all the way into the die.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[timeout]

If I read to OP correctly, the description of the picture says it shows the ram in it's full up position. The picture shows only a very small amount of the case neck showing, so I would have to say that it is a non-bushing die of the case isn't being run all the way into the die.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

I agree. If ram is all the way up, that is a non bushing die. Talk to John on the phone and see if he will get a replacement on the way. There appears to have been a mistake made.

 

[jlow]

Interesting... Does Whidden not label the dies with an engraving that clearly states the die is either a FL or bushing die? That seems odd not to have. What if you have both types, how would you distinguish between the two?

 

[JimPag]

Their non bushing die looks exactly the same as there die with an expander ball and no they do not label them bushing or non bushing on the body, at least mine are not labeled.

 

[majohnson]

They do produce a FL bushing die I have one for my 338. The decaper pin should stick past the die body. Did you check and see if the neck was push back from resizing the case?