Neck Expanding Ignorance

[sawacs]

Here is the deal.

I am loading for my Savage Varmint Action with a CBI barrel in 260 Rem. Also, I am using Lapua brass and have a question regarding neck expansion for reloading.

The necks will only be run through the KM expand mandrel, cases trimmed based on the shortest measured case out of the litter, and leave everything else alone until after the first firing.

My question is where does the expand mandrel come into play after the first boom with the brass? Should I forget the expand mandrel after the first boom and use a full length sizer die with the expander ball removed? After the first firing of the brass, I have a Redding Competition shell holder set to bump the shoulder only enough to fit my chamber. Lastly, after the first firing, I plan to turn the necks only enough to clean them up.

Thanks,

Shawn

 

[Patch700]

If you are using a 6.5 mm K&M expander mandrel I will tell you rite now your plan is not going to work... You state that you will ONLY be running the cases over the mandrel then trimming to the shortest length of the batch and that is as far as you will go with regards to case prep until they are fire formed..

The K&M mandrel you speak of (unless it has been modified) will open up the necks so as to not allow a bullet to stay put in the neck , it will not have enough neck tension.

Where you WILL need the K&M expander mandrel is to open up your virgin brass so as to allow the necks to fit over the neck turning mandrel.

What type of sizing die are you using?

To add to this , I recommend you take a look at the articles section on this site regarding case prep.. There is a metric tonne of information there that will shed more light on your subject.

Good luck.

 

[justpassinthru]

As patch said, that mandrel is probably for turning the neck.
I think you are on the right track by wanting to bump the shoulder just enough for your gun and also by removing the expander ball from your sizing die. Only thing you didn't mention is the type of die you have which really should be a bushing die. Then you can select the correct bushing which will allow you to precisely control the neck tension and avoid working the brass any more than necessary.
The 260 is a great caliber! Try some 85 grain Sierra's. They really shoot well in both my 260 and my 6.5 Grendel.

 

[Shynloco]

Shawn,
Might I suggest that if you choose to use a mandrel AFTER you FL resize a casing (that's been fired), that you use an Oversized Expander Mandrel to resize your necks AFTER being run through the FL Die (with the expander ball removed). That will help get you to around .001-.002 neck tension that is optimum for accuracy. I use that method in several of the calibers I reload for and gets me some very nice grouping downrange. And that's all using Lapua brass.

And do all that after you "clean" up the brass.

Alex

 

[zipollini]

Deprime
wet tumble in SS media
rinse
dry
spray outside of cases and inside of necks with One Shot lube
FL size with expander ball and decaper removed
expand neck with Sinclair Generation II expander
trim
chamfer inside and outside of neck
uniform primer pockets
chamfer, uniform and deburr flash hole
wash cases in warm soapy water
brush inside of necks with nylon brush to remove lube
rinse
dry
etc.
etc.

6XC, DTAC 115 Hbn coated, H4350 - .0015 neck tension - SD and ES in single digits

 

[sawacs]

Thank you for all of the replies..

Don't laugh at the list of 260 dies I have but here goes (none of them have ever been used yet)

Redding Full Die-Series B
Redding Body Die Cat II
Redding Competition Bushing Neck Sizing Die
Redding Type S Bushing Style Full Sizing Die
Forster Full Length Sizing Die
Wilson Chamber Type Seater Die

Now, wich one of these should I use on virgin brass or do I need a different die?

Having purchased the tool/dies for the 260 over a year ago and just now having a chance to use them, I had completely forgotten that the KM expand mandrel was specifically for neck turning.. Doh!

I have held off on using a bushing die after reading a few negatives regarding the use of a bushing. Do any of you know of anyone that makes an expand mandrel for bullet tension only? I am trying to not have to worry about cleaning up the donut on the brass down the road.

 

[Patch700]

This article should provide you with some good sound information


http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.ca/2010/12/basics-new-brass-preparation.html

 

[dmoran]

sawacs -

If your not going to neck turn them until after fire-forming, I suggest to wait and trim them after fire-forming as well.
Then trim them before neck turning (which should always be done prior to neck turning of an established neck).

And suggest to start by running them throw your F/L with expander rod/button, to make the case mouths round. Fallowed by cutting and making a smooth chamfer.
The fire-form them.
Then trim all to same length, and put a new fresh chamfer on them.
Then neck turn them.

Good Luck
Donovan

 

[Joe R]

dmoran said


sawacs -

If your not going to neck turn them until after fire-forming, I suggest to wait and trim them after fire-forming as well.
Then trim them before neck turning (which should always be done prior to neck turning of an established neck).

And suggest to start by running them throw your F/L with expander rod/button, to make the case mouths round. Fallowed by cutting and making a smooth chamfer.
The fire-form them.
Then trim all to same length, and put a new fresh chamfer on them.
Then neck turn them.

Good Luck
Donovan

Like he said.

 

[sawacs]

After reading everyones recommendations, I think I will simply use the following procedure...

-Full length size the cases with the full length sizing die using the built in expander ball (Forster full length sizer die)
-Check the case length just in case and trim if needed
-Chamfer the case mouth
-Prime
-Load with Lapua 120 Gr OTM's using 43 grains of RL22
-Shoot
-Worry about the technical reloading stuff later

This is going to be a fun summer: I have to work up a loading process for a 6.5x284, 222 Rem for a Rem 722, 30-06 load for a M70 Pre-64, and a old Rem CDL in 243 ;D Let the fun begin!

Thanks,

Shawn