LR BR folks - bushings vs mandrel

[memilanuk]

Do you guys aka 600-1k BR shooters do bushing-only for sizing the necks when you F/L size, or do you set the final neck ID with a mandrel?

@tom @Northridge @Alex Wheeler

 

[Northridge]

Do you guys aka 600-1k BR shooters do bushing-only for sizing the necks when you F/L size, or do you set the final neck ID with a mandrel?

@tom @Northridge @Alex Wheeler

For me it depends what I’m attempting to achieve but more often than not it’s bushing only… 1000 yard work for sure.. 600 yards have done both with higher rate of success but there are always more options at 600 yards


Shawn Williams

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Bushing only for me. Tom is also bushing only. But hes done the mandrel in the past.

 

[memilanuk]

Does that pertain mainly to the small 6 BR variants, or does it carry over to the bigger cartridges as well?

 

[Northridge]

Does that pertain mainly to the small 6 BR variants, or does it carry over to the bigger cartridges as well?

For me it carries over to larger calibers as well

Shawn Williams

 

[Alex Wheeler]

For everything. No turns as well. Yes, I know the mandrel is supposed to push all the imperfections to the outside.

 

[CA_Shooter]

Any reason you guys choose to not use mandrels?

 

[WSnyder]

Any reason you guys choose to not use mandrels?

Extra time and effort that didn't pan out on the target.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have a large sample size of customers in many types of shooting. So not just myself and friends, but a lot of excellent shooters. You can run a mandrel. You can anneal and lube. You can uniform and trim everything every time. You can ultra sonic, ext. ext. ext. And you can shoot really well. But you can also shoot equally as well doing none of those things. At this stage in the game, I only want to do what shows on target. I dont want to spend any more time loading than needed. I havent even cleaned a primer pocket in years. If you get the tune really right all those nit picky things just dont seem to matter.

 

[C. Nichols]

I have a large sample size of customers in many types of shooting. So not just myself and friends, but a lot of excellent shooters. You can run a mandrel. You can anneal and lube. You can uniform and trim everything every time. You can ultra sonic, ext. ext. ext. And you can shoot really well. But you can also shoot equally as well doing none of those things. At this stage in the game, I only want to do what shows on target. I dont want to spend any more time loading than needed. I havent even cleaned a primer pocket in years. If you get the tune really right all those nit picky things just dont seem to matter.

Absolutely, unequivocally, 100% correct.

 

[lawebb21]

I stopped using a mandrel as well. Bushing only for me and still shoots good.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Off topic, but I do not know one Short Range Shooter that finalizes the neck size with a mandrel.

After a few firings and resizing, you will develop a tight spot at the neck shoulder junction. If you push a mandrel all the way through, it will push it out, not inward. Sooner or later you will have a hump at the bottom of the neck.

In my opinion, resizing with a mandrel is nothing more than a fancy sizing button found in full length sizing dies. The idea was probably conceived by someone trying to make the reloading process even more complicated, and probably wanting to sell you something.

 

[Northridge]

I have a large sample size of customers in many types of shooting. So not just myself and friends, but a lot of excellent shooters. You can run a mandrel. You can anneal and lube. You can uniform and trim everything every time. You can ultra sonic, ext. ext. ext. And you can shoot really well. But you can also shoot equally as well doing none of those things. At this stage in the game, I only want to do what shows on target. I dont want to spend any more time loading than needed. I havent even cleaned a primer pocket in years. If you get the tune really right all those nit picky things just dont seem to matter.

Agreed

 

[Chaotik]

I usually use a bushing and follow that with a separate step with an expander mandrel. So there are maybe 15 or 20 steps in my reloading process, but only perhaps 5 or 6 may make a difference. The problem is that I don't know which ones ...

 

[Tom E]

Bushing only here
600 and 1000

 

[Jason Boersma]

Just bushings also, never needed more

 

[Tom E]

I have a large sample size of customers in many types of shooting. So not just myself and friends, but a lot of excellent shooters. You can run a mandrel. You can anneal and lube. You can uniform and trim everything every time. You can ultra sonic, ext. ext. ext. And you can shoot really well. But you can also shoot equally as well doing none of those things. At this stage in the game, I only want to do what shows on target. I dont want to spend any more time loading than needed. I havent even cleaned a primer pocket in years. If you get the tune really right all those nit picky things just dont seem to matter.

Truth!

 

[rardoin]

I have a large sample size of customers in many types of shooting. So not just myself and friends, but a lot of excellent shooters. You can run a mandrel. You can anneal and lube. You can uniform and trim everything every time. You can ultra sonic, ext. ext. ext. And you can shoot really well. But you can also shoot equally as well doing none of those things. At this stage in the game, I only want to do what shows on target. I dont want to spend any more time loading than needed. I havent even cleaned a primer pocket in years. If you get the tune really right all those nit picky things just dont seem to matter.

NOOooooooooooooo.... Oh, the humanity!!!!

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I use mandrels for new brass that usually comes at a smaller diameter than I want. According to the manufacture, I may anneal, FL Size etc after measuring and sometimes initial testing, if I have not used that type before.

 

[Bat Rastard]

I have a large sample size of customers in many types of shooting. So not just myself and friends, but a lot of excellent shooters. You can run a mandrel. You can anneal and lube. You can uniform and trim everything every time. You can ultra sonic, ext. ext. ext. And you can shoot really well. But you can also shoot equally as well doing none of those things. At this stage in the game, I only want to do what shows on target. I dont want to spend any more time loading than needed. I havent even cleaned a primer pocket in years. If you get the tune really right all those nit picky things just dont seem to matter.

Great info there.
Mr Wheeler, could you be so kind as to list your reloading operations in the sequence you perform them?
This week I have been looking at this very question. The picture is today's testing.