Expander mandrel suggestions?

[Shinbone]

I've been using neck bushings to set my neck diameter prior to bullet seating. That has worked fine up till now, but now I am wanting to get a more consistent neck tension on my seated bullets, and, it seems that using a mandrel is a good step in that direction. Can anyone recommend a good mandrel system to use?

I have the 21st Century neck turning lathe, with a die to hold their sizing mandrels, so I could just buy more of those mandrels.

I also just bought a Micron Precision sizing die and neck bushing, so I could buy their mandrels to use in that system, as well.

Or, since I am not locked into any particular mandrel system, I can start with something totally different.

TIA.

--shinbone

 

[Bronsin]

Shirt Action Customs make mandrels in any size you want.

 

[6Creed73]

21st Century is my favorite. They have mandrels in many sizes per caliber...even half sizes.

 

[RustyInBend]

Ditto for 21st Century ... their mandrels are the best (IMHO). BTW ... don't ditch the bushing ... shrink the neck slightly with a FL Bushing die, then expand to your desired neck size with a mandrel. Oh, and don't skip the Annealing step before all that, it's very important to anneal if you're going to size down and then up on your necks.

 

[Chuckhunter]

Another vote for the 21st century mandrels, love that you can get them in half thou. increments. I select the one that leaves me feel just a very light drag in the case neck, so any that feel heavier or lighter, I can set aside and use as fouler or sighters.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I use a mix of Wilson - mandrel and holder and Hoplon Precision from Aussie in Sinclair holders. I also have a re-purposed FL die with a 6.5 mandrel that works just fine.

 

[Oso]

Don't overlook Porter Precision's Collet Expander Die that uses gage pins.

 

[Clancy]

21st or Sinclair mandrels. I have both and can’t tell much difference if any.

Get the nitrides either way.

 

[Shinbone]

For 21st Century, I am not seeing the nitride finish on the various sizes, just on the nominal caliber dimension.

 

[6Creed73]

For 21st Century, I am not seeing the nitride finish on the various sizes, just on the nominal caliber dimension.

I use the regular steel mandrels, operation is smooth, they work perfectly.

 

[David Christian]

Get carbide if you can find them. No lube/graphite needed and they don’t gaul the brass.

 

[ChrisNZ]

Shirt Action Customs make mandrels in any size you want.

Sounds a bit morally suspect...

Guess you meant Short Action Customs

 

[bozo699]

For 21st Century, I am not seeing the nitride finish on the various sizes, just on the nominal caliber dimension.

He use to make them, give him a call I’m sure he still has them. I have both
Wayne

 

[Jdne5b]

Get carbide if you can find them. No lube/graphite needed and they don’t gaul the brass.

I have not been able to find many carbide offerings. SAC has them but they only work in their die.

I have a .3065 from Hollands in carbide and it is fantastic. Wish someone offered more sizes in Carbide.

 

[David Christian]

You can find some Chinese versions of carbide gage pins online, but they come in mm sizing, so you have to do some math to order the right sizes. Then you need a friend with a diamond grinder to put a pretty bevel on them as well. That is at least what I did as a non-machinist!

 

[Dave M.]

I've been using neck bushings to set my neck diameter prior to bullet seating. That has worked fine up till now, but now I am wanting to get a more consistent neck tension on my seated bullets, and, it seems that using a mandrel is a good step in that direction. Can anyone recommend a good mandrel system to use?

I have the 21st Century neck turning lathe, with a die to hold their sizing mandrels, so I could just buy more of those mandrels.

I also just bought a Micron Precision sizing die and neck bushing, so I could buy their mandrels to use in that system, as well.

Or, since I am not locked into any particular mandrel system, I can start with something totally different.

TIA.

--shinbone

Mandrels don’t automatically equal more consistent neck tension. I tried them and my scores went down. I went back to a custom full length bushing die and immediately my scores went right back up. Don’t believe all the hype that mandrels are the cure all and they will automatically guarantee your scores will improve. This simply is not true.
Dave

 

[Old Navy]

They are handy for expanding new brass.

 

[prone.life]

+1 for 21st Century mandrels; i have their 223, 6mm and 6.5mm sets, not nitride. My experience is the set is necessary because each piece of brass may require a different size mandrel to get the same neck tension.

This past weekend I resized 25 pieces of 5X fired Lapua 6.5 brass with a .264 mandrel resulting in a .263 inside neck dimension for 18 of the 25. Seven pieces had enough springback resulting in inside neck dimension less than .263 when checked with gage pins which I recommend if you go down the mandrel rabbit hole.

Just because you run a mandrel of a certain dimension through the neck doesn't guarantee your inside dimension equals the mandrel dimension.

 

[jxb]

Has anyone used the carbide expander mandrels from PMA Tool ?

 

[MarkTrew]

You can find some Chinese versions of carbide gage pins online, but they come in mm sizing, so you have to do some math to order the right sizes. Then you need a friend with a diamond grinder to put a pretty bevel on them as well. That is at least what I did as a non-machinist!

Or, the domestic alternative, as stated in an earlier post in this thread, PORTER PRECISION. They really have more and better solutions.
MarkTrew