Neck Dies .223

[lastcat]

I have been testing my results of my Lee and RCBS loading dies. Seems that the Full Length dies for both work great at getting the necks outside diameter very true,+/- .001 Runout).

I have been able to use my Dial Indicator, testing the inside and outside of the neck. I actually use a Last Word, its a smaller Indicator .0005 increments. I was a CNC Machinist for 16yrs.

Anyways, whats been very frustrating is after the case is fully resized, and the next step is expanding the neck, when the case is lowered in the die. The necks are way out of whack, anywhere from .005 to .010 out of round, on the inside diameter..argh!!

I have been trying all day to get the expander pin to work. Dialing in the pin, moving it a 1/4 turn at a time. I have tried resizing without the pin, then inserting the pin back in the die, and then running the case up into the pin. But still poor results.

I gave up, and finally was able to get some case's within .005. Then loaded a few rounds. Then was able to adjust the bullet to remove all but .001 of runout. Not bad, but too much time involved.

Why am I doing this may you ask? So that I can get a more accurate load, where the bullet will leave the case truer and spin out of the barrel more true. Results, better groups.

These dies, what a poor design. The necks should be resized while the case is held firmly by the body, then expand the neck.

Anyone know of a special die does this operation, someone that has been down this road of frustration? Or know of an excellent die to use, and has tested their case's with an indicator to know from experience?

Or should I start thinking of building a better mouse trap, and design a better Necking Die?

Cheers
LC

 

[jb77]

LC if you can design and build something better then I would say go for it. There are enough anal retentive members here to keep you busy for years making them.

 

[Chuckhunter]

Why not just use a Redding FL bushing die and take the expander ball out of play. As a general rule, whenever you have case neck runnout, it's the expander ball that is the culprit.

 

[treeman]

Lastcat, I shoot an ar Xtc and load all my ammo with hornady custom grade new dimension dies, even my 600yrd loads.in my expirience any thing less than.003 ro doesn't hurt accuracy. of course this is not bench rest but a 10shot group@300yrdsless than 2" with iron sights leaves it all up to the shooter.BTW iv'chambered a few rounds that had more ro than.003 and the chamber straitened them out to less than.003 hope thiss helps____treeman

 

[keithcatfish]

Get a Lee Collet Die. No lube, long case life, extremely low runout.

 

[NorCalMikie]

I know most of you folks are into the "Special" dies but, RCBS has a "Compitition" die that the expander ball is high on the shaft so the case is supported higher up in the chamber of the die when the neck expander is pulled through.

These happen to be .308 but you can see the difference.
The one on top is from a standard full length die.
The bottom one is the "Compitition" full length die.
You can see the difference in the position of the expander balls.

 

[lastcat]

,Now wait a minute... if you're the LastCat, and I'm the CatShooter, I see a potential conflict of interests here... as Martha Stewart would say, "... and that's a BAD thing )

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

Thanks Catshooter for the Great Advice. Will looking into the Redding Dies.

Actually, LastCat was a username I came up with while racing online at Need For Speed, about 8 years ago. Since I have just kept the name.

Thanks for the advice everyone, very helpful.

Cheers
LastCat