Expanding Die OAL

[gjb89]

First time using an expanding mandrel in order to prep the necks for neck turning. When running the once fired cases through the PMA expanding die I noticed my OAL decresing by .003-.005. Is this normal? End of my necks are not bottoming out on the mandrel and I have tried using mica powder and imperial wax on the insides of necks.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Yes its a lot of force pushing down. May even cause runout

 

[fguffey]

When running the once fired cases through the PMA expanding die I noticed my OAL decresing by .003-.005.

OAL? Forget the OAL, when the neck is expanded/necked up the neck shortens. When the neck in necked down the neck gets longer.

I have cases I neck up from 30 cal. to .338 and 35 Whelen that shorten .030". Other reloaders have necks that get thicker and or thinner when the neck is necked up and of down.

F. Guffey

 

[fguffey]

When running the once fired cases through the PMA expanding die I noticed my OAL decresing by .003-.005. Is this normal

I would suggest reading the instructions. Unless a reloader wrote the instructions; I can not imagine a technical person leaving out the effect of expanding the neck on length. And then there are the assumers; assumers assume no one is going to measure before and again after.

F. Guffey

 

[PatMiles]

Just out of curiosity, how much are you having to expand the necks?