My 20 Practical Brass Making Process

[jepp2]

and am always looking to improve.

I take my down in 3 steps only because I can. Theory is the neck thickness remains more uniform. But I take my 20 Bobcat down in 1 step and it works. For the 20P I do it in my Dillon 550, so it is all the same speed. I actually have 3 different 20P full length sizing dies. 2 from CH4D and one I had Whidden make for me. Different neck diameters for the different brass I run. But during my annual prairie dog hunt I can shoot up to 7,000 rounds (go for a month). I don't normally turn the case necks. But Lapua is close to not having enough clearance.

 

[GLShooter]

I deprime on a separate press, etc., so I will try you method and see how it does. My 20 P is shooting great right now, but I bent the expander ball stem on mine the last time I re-sized some 20 P brass, and was looking for clarification about the expander ball & stem. Thanks for the help & advice.

I switched to SS media several years ago and rarely decap with a regular die. I have a customized Lee Universal that will do down to 20 cal and a Frankford Arsenal. I do 17's on an Arbor press.

Greg6

 

[Rick300]

I don't know if someone makes a FL Die for 20 Practical, I'm sure one could be custom made for lots of $$ but I have FL 223 die which I use without expander rod, then my Redding S die with a 233 bushing, then 225, so the necks don't deform by reducing them too fast.

Do you know of a single FL 20 Practical die that converts 223 down in one step, and does not deform the necks? I looked again just now, don't see one on google search, at least if I don't want a custom one made.

One reason I use a Redding bushing die is so I can control the neck tension, and coordinate that with how much material I leave when I turn the necks. So I don't think I'd want to be limited to a custom FL 20 Practical die regardless, as it would yield only one option for neck tension. But I don't know if anyone has experience with a custom die?

Exactly my process and works every time

 

[Mark M.]

I have collet dies and have used them at various times for various projects. If they can make brass flow and be uniform I have never seen it.
It will make a uniform ID of the neck, that in no way means the neck wall thickness is true and equal 360 degrees.

Really, what case were you working with?

 

[jpx2rk]

I switched to SS media several years ago and rarely decap with a regular die. I have a customized Lee Universal that will do down to 20 cal and a Frankford Arsenal. I do 17's on an Arbor press.

Greg6

I do the SS media cleaning as well as a general rule but use the dry media during the winter months since I use a garden hose to rinse the brass outside. I use a Mighty Armory decap die, the 20 cal pin works great on 20 & 22 cal cases, even LRP stuff w/o issue. I have a decap pin for the 6br cases as well. I just have to change out the pin to decap anything I reload for.

 

[JSH]

Really, what case were you working with?

Numerous cases, a fair number of what Lee makes in collet dies. If I did a skim turn, knock off the high spot then it worked well.

 

[Mark M.]

Numerous cases, a fair number of what Lee makes in collet dies. If I did a skim turn, knock off the high spot then it worked well.

I've only used them on 20 and 22 cal. Annealed cases with great results, not that the cases are off that much to start with, 12-13, but they end up the same, once I run them through the collet die I rotate 90 degrees and run again, seems to work well.
I was told Lee doesn't make neck turning tools because of the proformance of there collet dies, take it for what it's worth, good luck

 

[SmokinJoe]

No can do. The TAC has a 30 degree shoulder. The PRAC is 23 degrees. I shoot both.

No can do. The TAC has a 30 degree shoulder. The PRAC is 23 degrees. I shoot both.

Greg

So you are not trying to form a shoulder, only the neck so it would work just fine as a neck down tool.