Neck size problems

[eddiesorour]

Hi guys

Have an issue with neck sizing my once fired Lapua 243 brass.

Once sized, I get a horizontal 'ridge' on the neck where the die stopped resizing. Just a thin little ridge you can see and feel with your fingernail. Almost as though the brass is being scraped down to form the ridge.

I have tried a standard Redding neck die, as well as a Redding bushing die with carbide button and bushing - both have the same effect.

Using graphite lube

 

[Eddie Harren]

Looks normal to me.

 

[ThunderDownUnder]

Its normal to see the diameter change/step on the neck where the sizing bush stops and meets the unsized portion of the neck. I dont shoot a 243 but have not seen a sharp ridge like shown in your photo on any of the caliber cases I neck size.

People viewing the photo need to click on it to enlarge the picture to see the ridge clearly.

Is the bush too small and forcing its way down the neck? Might be a faulty bush but you say you get the same ridge when using a FLS die. Try a 1 thou larger bush just to see if you are too tight and also just in case the bush you are using has a manufacturing fault.

I'm interested to see how this pans out as I have not seen a ridge like that before and I think you are right to be concerned.

Ian

 

[243winxb]

My bushing die leaves a visible mark like that on 243 win. I can feel it on some unturned Rem. cases using my finger nail. On neck turned Win. brass, ridge can not be felt, but leaves a visible mark where the bushing stops. Factory chambered rifles, so neck is being sized down a lot. I use a tiny amount of lube on the neck, with titanium nitrite bushings.

 

[Shynloco]

Eddie,
Just out of curiosity, have you tried another make of brass? I've not seen that pronounced a ridge before on any make of my brass. Have you considered turning a few pieces of brass to knock off a small amount and see if the ridge still exits then? Might I suggest you use .0000 steel wool on it to make sure its doesn't do anything to the mouth (scratches) or first inch of the chamber. Alex

 

[eddiesorour]

Hi guys

Thanks for the responses!

Redding's response was:

It looks like there may be a sharp edge on the bushing's lead. It's normal to see the line where the bushing stops sizing but the "ridge" that I see in the photo is not common. Can you send the Bushing to me to take a look at? If there is a problem with it, we can repair or replace it under warranty

I have attached photos of the bushing - do I have one of the 45 degree jobs that everyone is complaining about? Considering ordering a steel bushing in the meanwhile - seems like it has round edges at least!

Thanks again!

 

[DOGCAPPER]

The bushings have a inside taper..The design is to run number side up in the die....If you are doing this now...my apology..LT

 

[Joe O]

I only use steel Redding bushings for loading 243AI w/turned necks(270 chamber),and have not experienced that problem.Send it back for replacement.

 

[ThunderDownUnder]

Good result Eddie!
Your concern was right and Redding have put their hand up to fix it. Like every manufacturer, Redding can ship a faulty item every now and again, but so long as they support the customer I'll keep using their products.

Ian

 

[Shynloco]

Redding and Wilson bushings are interchangable and none of my bushings look like the pictured one. I'd definitely ask for a new bushing.

Alex

 

[CatShooter]

Hi guys

Thanks for the responses!

Redding's response was:

It looks like there may be a sharp edge on the bushing's lead. It's normal to see the line where the bushing stops sizing but the "ridge" that I see in the photo is not common. Can you send the Bushing to me to take a look at? If there is a problem with it, we can repair or replace it under warranty

I have attached photos of the bushing - do I have one of the 45 degree jobs that everyone is complaining about? Considering ordering a steel bushing in the meanwhile - seems like it has round edges at least!

Thanks again!

Yes... that is one of the 45° bushings. They will replace it.

I used to buy the TiN bushings, but no more.

Now I buy the steel bushings and polish them with a new "feed ramp". When I look at a neck after the bushings have been re-polished, you can't even see that they have been sized.

 

[eddiesorour]

Thanks a lot guys - Redding just let me know they will replace it as they are trying to take these out of circulation. Even send it to me all the way here in South Africa!

And so we learn something new every day!

 

[CJ6]

Although it looks to me like the bushing has a distinct "edge" ,the picture is of the TOP of the bushing (numbers up) and this edge would NOT be contacting the neck/shoulder area unless installed upside down.

 

[coford]

It was mentioned above to run the numbers on the bushing up. The Redding catalog says: "installing the bushing numbers down may improve results." Might give that a try - I have always used mine with the numbers down and never had a problem.

 

[dooley]

I think that it depends on how much you are trying to bush down your fired case, IE; the neck in my factory 308 Rem 700 used to to expand 8-9 thou, so I used to use an intermediate bushing to resize half way before using the correct bushing size, as per Reddings instructions not to try and resize down more than 5 thou in one go, Yes the bushing size numbers go to the bottom, I have also found that some bushing size numbers are wrong, so check that they are the size that are stamped on them, Good Luck, dooley