gauge pins?

[TrxR]

How many of you use gauge pins in your reloading process? If so how are you tapering the tips of your gauge pins if you dont have a lathe handy?

Thanks

 

[jackson1]

You could gently taper or radius them on a bench grinder by hand. Better to practice your skills on something other than your new gauge pins.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Are you after neck diameter/uniformity? Why not just measure the od of the loaded round?

 

[sdean]

Are you after neck diameter/uniformity? Why not just measure the od of the loaded round?

Probably trying to use them for a sizing mandrel Mike.

 

[Tokay444]

My gauge pins are chamfered, and so are the inside of my case necks.

 

[TrxR]

Probably trying to use them for a sizing mandrel Mike.

Thats what I was thinking of using them for as the last step before seating.

These necks have been expanded from 6mm to 30cal and turned to .010

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Thats what I was thinking of using them for as the last step before seating.

These necks have been expanded from 6mm to 30cal and turned to .010

I get it then, but the final and only measurement that matters is the one that goes inside of the chamber. I'd just measure the neck od of a loaded round and you know where you are

 

[TrxR]

I get it then, but the final and only measurement that matters is the one that goes inside of the chamber. I'd just measure the neck od of a loaded round and you know where you are

Not using them for measurement but for expanding the neck after full length sizing just before seating. Was thinking where they were available in so many sizes it would be easier to control neck tension.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Not using them for measurement but for expanding the neck after full length sizing just before seating. Was thinking where they were available in so many sizes it would be easier to control neck tension.

neck tension is a component of the loaded round diameter minus the diameter before bullet is seated. IOW, loaded round diameter minus your desired amount of neck tension. Most use .002 les that loaded for a bushing size. Toss the mandrel or figure out springback both ways and what shoots best.

 

[WIB3]

I use XX grave pins for determining the brass flow into my case necks. I only check with a unsized case. When I find my thickness is growing I usually set that piece a side or use it for sisters. Some will say to return the neck after re-expanding over a mandrel. I have found that it’s more useful to just rotate that piece out of your record rounds. Keep in mind though, I only size 1/2 of my neck. Don’t really care if the bottom half grows by a .001.

 

[rwj]

Not using them for measurement but for expanding the neck after full length sizing just before seating. Was thinking where they were available in so many sizes it would be easier to control neck tension.

Perhaps these will work for your application... http://www.xxicsi.com/caliber-specific-expander-mandrels.html

 

[danny]

How many of you use gauge pins in your reloading process? If so how are you tapering the tips of your gauge pins if you dont have a lathe handy?

Thanks

Chuck them in a drill, drill press, etc.

Danny

 

[skeeljc]

Expanding the case neck with a mandrel after sizing produces less neck runout than pulling an expander back through the neck. Pulling a mandrel out through the neck can change the shoulder angle.

 

[dgeesaman]

What are you guys using to grind against? When I tried chamfering my gauge pins I spent about ten minutes with each of them chucked in a drill and running against the grinding wheel of a commercial mower blade sharpener. I barely got a 1/16” chamfer. If the case isn’t perfectly square and centered it can still bump the face of the pin.

I gave up and bought a couple of the 21st expanders. No regrets.

 

[mjl650]

What are you guys using to grind against? When I tried chamfering my gauge pins I spent about ten minutes with each of them chucked in a drill and running against the grinding wheel of a commercial mower blade sharpener. I barely got a 1/16” chamfer. If the case isn’t perfectly square and centered it can still bump the face of the pin.

I gave up and bought a couple of the 21st expanders. No regrets.

Chucked in a drill turning against my spinning bench grinder wheel to rough out angle. Then chuck in drill press and polish with with/dry sand paper. Doesn’t take long at all.

 

[drano38]

Perhaps these will work for your application... http://www.xxicsi.com/caliber-specific-expander-mandrels.html

+1, and I think he has a holiday discount code too.
I have several. And since the brass springs back on neck sizing and expanding, you'll need to size them down enough to consistantly expand them back up.
With my 6 BRAW, necks are ~.0113 thick, and bullets .2435.
Neck bushing is .264. Then .2425 expander pin gives me a .24125-.24150 inside neck and .002 tension. YMMV.
I have expander pins from .2415 to .2435.
I also purchased some pin gauges from McMaster Carr (and available other places--a search will find them) from .2400 to .2430 in .005 increments, and some in .0025 increments. I use them to measure the neck ID, not to do any expanding work.

 

[David Christian]

@TrxR, as mentioned above. Chuck the pin in you powered drill on any coarse sandpaper, then you can polish them up with some diamond paste like this. Does not take that long.

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