Expander mandrel for a bent case mouth

[ratbuster]

To correct a bent case mouth on a 6BR a .242 expander mandrel is not enough to bring the mouth back to complete roundness. I have a 6.5 expander mandrel but it's a bit overkill and seems a .256 mandrel would be a better choice. I don't have a .256 mandrel and am looking to hear from those that have used one for the purpose before I order.

Along the same lines I use the 6.5 mandrel to expand new 243 brass to create a false shoulder for fire forming. Would the .256 mandrel also be better for that application to minimize working the brass?

Thanks for your inputs.

Phil

 

[lpreddick]

To correct a bent case mouth on a 6BR a .242 expander mandrel is not enough to bring the mouth back to complete roundness. I have a 6.5 expander mandrel but it's a bit overkill and seems a .256 mandrel would be a better choice. I don't have a .256 mandrel and am looking to hear from those that have used one for the purpose before I order.

Along the same lines I use the 6.5 mandrel to expand new 243 brass to create a false shoulder for fire forming. Would the .256 mandrel also be better for that application to minimize working the brass?

Thanks for your inputs.

Phil

 

[lpreddick]

Why not fireform it with a stout charge of pistol powder,cream of wheat and cotton plug?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Why not straighten it out with a bic pen or a big bullet? This happens at every match when a case hits the concrete

 

[Dusty Stevens]

How about running it in your die to get the neck down closer to the mandrel size?

 

[Uncle Ed]

Forster sells over sized expander balls. and if you have any Forster dies it may be a solution.
Oversize “E-Z” Out® Die Expander Balls $12.00
https://www.forsterproducts.com/product/oversize-e-z-out-die-expander-balls/

.2430, .2435, .2440 are the sizes they have for your problem.

You might even have a tapered punch with your tools if Dusty Stevens won't let you borrow his Bic Pen.

 

[nmkid]

I just use a dummy round. Always works.

 

[#40Fan]

Seat a bullet in upside down and use an inertia puller to get it back out.

 

[mikeeg02]

Prime it, fill it with powder, insert bullet. Use as Fowler shot. Done.

 

[ratbuster]

I had about 75 fully processed 6BR cases in a container that fell to a hard floor resulting in nearly half of bent. I do not have a 6 BR FL sizer with expander ball and did not want to end up with that many foulers. I settled for using a bullet held by a Hornady collet style bullet puller followed by a 6PPC Lee Collet die with washer on the shell holder to nicely round out the mouths of the cases.

Thanks for all your responses!

 

[nmkid]

Sounds like you had it figured out before you even asked.

 

[ratbuster]

Sounds like you had it figured out before you even asked.

Huh? My original post about expander mandrels was on Thursday and posted my solution the next day.

I would still like to hear from someone about the effectiveness of a .256 mandrel vs. a 263 mandrel for the false shoulder method of fire forming.

 

[mikeeg02]

I would still like to hear from someone about the effectiveness of a .256 mandrel vs. a 263 mandrel for the false shoulder method of fire forming.

The guys I know who do the false shoulder method to form dasher cases use 257 mandrels.

 

[Mikemontminy]

Huh? My original post about expander mandrels was on Thursday and posted my solution the next day.

I would still like to hear from someone about the effectiveness of a .256 mandrel vs. a 263 mandrel for the false shoulder method of fire forming.

I use a .257 mandrel to create a false shoulder while forming brass for a 6mm Dasher. Even with the bullets jammed about ten thousands only half or two thirds of my rounds go off using a CCI 450 primer. After switching to a CCI 400 primer( just for fireforming) they all ignite.

 

[ratbuster]

Thanks for the inputs in the 256 mandrel for fire forming!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

@GSPV

 

[GSPV]

Thank you, Dusty. That completely answers the mail. It also points the way to a lot of fun experiments.

 

[WillyTP]

What’s the price for the collet die?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Thank you, Dusty. That completely answers the mail. It also points the way to a lot of fun experiments.

Let me know if i can help more. Get your gage pins from ebay. Get at least one from kenny so you can see how theyre tapered

 

[Dusty Stevens]

What’s the price for the collet die?

http://036d541.netsolhost.com/porter/contact/

Send kenny an email. Hes a great guy to work with.