Carbide neck sizing button

[White Eagle]

So if I have a Carbide neck expander ball installed in my full length sizing die they say I do not need lube.
Now I do understand this reasoning but what I am unsure of is my full length sizing die is not all carbide so my thought is I would still have to use lube for the main body of the case, Would I not?

 

[KMart]

The carbide expander ball is so you do not have lube the inside of the necks. You still have to lube the outside of the cases.

 

[K22]

Yes, you must lube the case body keeping the lube off the shoulder.

I'm not a fan of carbide neck expanders. I prefer the conventional expanders so I can size them to obtain the desire neck tension for different lots / brands of cases and for different rifles of the same caliper.

For example, for my 223 Rem bolt rifles, I have five expander assemblies, sized in .001" increments so can precisely match the expander for a given rifle or set of cases.

A lot of precision and competitive reloaders do not use expanders but instead use bushing dies or mandrels.

I've been able to produce accurate reloads that meet my needs using conventional FL dies and expanders but use expanders that are sized to produce the desire neck tension. In a lot of cases, the factory issue expander balls are too large and stretch the necks and over work them.

 

[Ken]

Dillon makes carbide full length sizng dies. They still need lube. Guess they don't wear out.

 

[K22]

Comment of lubing the inside of necks.

I've polished my expander buttons with very fine emery cloth to a "glass like finish". Also, I nylon brush the inside of the case necks using a low RMP drill before sizing. I've found that using these methods eliminates the need for me to lube the inside of the necks.

As mentioned in my prior post, I also use an optimum sized expander button for the lot / brand of case and rifle I'm loading for.

 

[Webster]

So if I have a Carbide neck expander ball installed in my full length sizing die they say I do not need lube.
Now I do understand this reasoning but what I am unsure of is my full length sizing die is not all carbide so my thought is I would still have to use lube for the main body of the case, Would I not?

I wish they would tell us what the mandrels are made of. There is no metal called carbide. All low alloy carbon steels contain iron carbides. Some have chrome carbides. They must be made of tool steels that have a lot of tungsten carbide in them. Tool steels are not self lubricating. They should have less tendency than the SS mandrels to gall. P&G says to lube the carbide mandrels but use less than the 17-4 SS mandrels.
I lube everything with a light vis petroleum oil. The mandrels are not titanium nitride coated. I don't use an expander ball. I put a few drops of oil on the mandrel after turning every several cases. After neck turning I wipe the neck i.d. out with a cotton swap. No anneal to burn the lube off. I shoot an accurate varmint hunting rifle. I don't see any need to improve my loading technique. I am happy to use 8208 and Sierra 60 gr Varminter bullets for the next 10 years.

 

[dgeesaman]

I assume the mandrels are tungsten carbide. There is plenty of stock available and vendors who can shape and grind it.

What is Carbide? - Technical Info / Cutting Formula | MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION

This page is about Mitsubishi Materials Corporation's technical information/calculation formulas. Detailed information on What is Carbide?. In addition to an overview of cutting tools, safety and

www.mitsubishicarbide.com

 

[Webster]

I assume the mandrels are tungsten carbide. There is plenty of stock available and vendors who can shape and grind it.

What is Carbide? - Technical Info / Cutting Formula | MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION

This page is about Mitsubishi Materials Corporation's technical information/calculation formulas. Detailed information on What is Carbide?. In addition to an overview of cutting tools, safety and

www.mitsubishicarbide.com

It doesn't really matter what it's made from. It was just a curiosity. Tungsten carbide is a gray colored and parts are made by bonding or cementing small tungsten carbide particles together. The mandrel is not a part that requires that kind of expense. It’s silvery color tells me it’s a tool steel, which would be perfect for the job.

 

[dgeesaman]

Carbide neck bushings are pretty sweet. Better than other hardened materials.

 

[jepp2]

Yes, you must lube the case body keeping the lube off the shoulder.

Depends on which lube you use. I use Bootleg mixed 12:1 and spray the entire case down. NEVER a dent from excess lube and they size smooth as glass.

 

[markm87]

DCL is great lube... I've never had to keep any off the shoulder and don't dent brass.

As far as the expander ball. I remove them and use a neck sizing die instead. Less runout and less trimming.

 

[K22]

Depends on which lube you use. I use Bootleg mixed 12:1 and spray the entire case down. NEVER a dent from excess lube and they size smooth as glass.

View attachment 1369758

Yea, long time ago when I used One Shot spray, I sprayed the entire case and never had a dent. Thanks for the correction.

I'm guilty of tunnel vision since I use Imperial Sizing Wax.

 

[old codger]

I really like the Lyman decapping rod with the carbide sizing button in my 223 Rem RCBS sizing die. No need to worry about lubing inside the neck. Lyman offers them to fit RCBS and of course their Lyman dies. The case comes out of the die a whole lot easier than with a steel button and inside neck lube. I wish somebody would offer them to fit Lee dies. I too use Imperial on the body of the case. Really good stuff.