Forster FL sizing...

[Jody Simcox]

I have removed primers with a separate decapping die, now I’m wanting to FL size without the expander ball. Is it alright to just remove the entire spindle/decapping pin and also the spindle locknut, washer and bushing from the die body? Want to make sure I’m not missing anything... thanks.

 

[jepp2]

Is it alright to just remove the entire spindle/decapping pin and also the spindle locknut, washer and bushing from the die body?

You specifically mention "bushing". So is this a bushing die, or just a standard FL sizing die? If it is a bushing die, you will need the bushing to size the neck. If it isn't a bushing die, you can remove the entire assembly, but depending on the diameter of the case neck portion of your die, you may have excessive neck tension.

Typically to insure the die will adequately size all brass it might encounter, the neck will be significantly undersized (0.003 to 0.005") and then the expander enlarges the neck so your will have normal neck tension.

Easy enough to tell. Measure a case sized without the expander, then measure a case neck that you used the expander on when sizing. Your measurements will tell you.

 

[Jody Simcox]

This is a non-bushing die- FL with neck honed to .004” less than OD of neck of loaded round. Plan to use an expander mandrel .002” less than bullet diameter. A spindle bushing, not a die bushing I’d say

 

[243winxb]

Is it alright to just remove the entire spindle/decapping pin and also the spindle locknut, washer and bushing from the die body

Yes

 

[Sheldon N]

Yep, you can pull all the guts out of it. I leave the top on, just to keep the dust out when it sits there for extended periods, but have removed the decapping pin and expander ball so it's essentially non-functional.

 

[fatelvis]

You can also just remove the expander ball, and leave the decapper pin in place, eliminating the extra step of depriming.

 

[Hoosier]

I hone the expander ball so there is little force to raise the press handle. There are instances where the case neck is distorted, so I feel it is important the have some tension to repair it.

 

[fatelvis]

I hone the expander ball so there is little force to raise the press handle. There are instances where the case neck is distorted, so I feel it is important the have some tension to repair it.

I polished my expander as well, (using a hand drill and some Flitz on a patch), and it makes a noticable difference in resistance. My Forster die is honed out to .003" under loaded size, and my expander just lightly touches as it passes through, insuring a nice round opening for the bullet. I've noticed no difference in accuracy or runout between this method and using a separate mandrel step.

 

[ranger3]

While you can do that, you should try one and measure to see that it isn't creating excessive neck tension . I'd be concerned about that.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

While you can do that, you should try one and measure to see that it isn't creating excessive neck tension . I'd be concerned about that.

Thats correct. A fixed die really undersizes the neck to iron out kinks, etc, then drags the expander back thru to set universal neck tension. If that expander is not big enough it causes excessive neck tension- when a bullet is seated on a regular press it may not even be noticable. This is why most shooters that are concerned with neck tension use a fl bushing die with no expander. If the need arises they can use a seperate mandrel die to adjust tension even finer. I use the one from porter precision products and can adjust my tension by a couple pounds using mandrels in .0001 increments

 

[fatelvis]

Thats correct. A fixed die really undersizes the neck to iron out kinks, etc, then drags the expander back thru to set universal neck tension. If that expander is not big enough it causes excessive neck tension- when a bullet is seated on a regular press it may not even be noticable. This is why most shooters that are concerned with neck tension use a fl bushing die with no expander. If the need arises they can use a seperate mandrel die to adjust tension even finer. I use the one from porter precision products and can adjust my tension by a couple pounds using mandrels in .0001 increments

He states later that it’s a sizer that the neck is honed to be .004” under loaded.

 

[walker2713]

You can also just remove the expander ball, and leave the decapper pin in place, eliminating the extra step of depriming.

I'm really down with your signature line!

 

[ranger3]

In any event I would still measure better safe than sorry.