neck sizing concentricity

[skankpile]

Hey, newbie here..

I've got a new rcbs neck sizer,6mm) and I'm getting about 0.0045 runout on my necks after neck sizing.

Is this band, and bad for my accuracy? How can I fix this?

 

[billmo]

That is about the top number. If you are not lubing the necks try lubing them before sizing. Another very simple thing to watch
is while operating the press lever be as gentle as possible on both strokes. Pulling the expander ball back thru the case neck can bend it very easily. Some handloaders will take the spring retention shellholder off of the ram and istall an O-ring to hold it instead. Your press should be mounted level for proper operation. Check these simple things first and see if it helps. Bill

 

[skankpile]

I've tried that.. I'm pretty bummed as the factory ammo brass can go in with .002 rounout and come out .007

At this point I'm tempted just to buy ammo.. it hardly seems worth the effort unless I've just got a bad die..

 

[skankpile]

will the seating process correct most of this if I use an inline seating die?

 

[Winchester69]

I agree with Bill regarding the expander. If you can free-float it,simply leaving it loose will suffice), try that. Otherwise, remove it and size a piece of brass. See if that reduces the run-out. Check the expander spindle on your run-out gauge. If it is bent, try straightening it.

 

[Winchester69]

will the seating process correct most of this if I use an inline seating die?

Nope. The answer to your problem lies with the sizing die. A bushing die will do nicely.

 

[skankpile]

yep.. tried floating, and straightening. I think I just will trash the die I just bought and get a better die..

What do the benchrest guys use? I'm just using non-turned 243 brass.. nothing special. What should I get to get down to <.002 ?

 

[billmo]

Getting a Redding Full Length Bushing die would be my advice for the real fix. Some guys fair fine with RCBS dies but I just never used them and have read alot about them just not being up to par when it comes to accuracy handloading. You will need to order bushings separately. I normally measure my loaded case neck diameter and order that size, one the next size down and another the next size up. For example if you have a .22-250 and the loaded neck diameter measured say .249, order a .248, .249,
and .250. I like the Tin bushings better but even with those I still lube. Another thing you can do with any die as far as that goes, is back the die away from the shellholder so that you are only sizing app. .150 to .200 of the neck. That way you are only working that portion of the brass and creating a hint of a false shoulder on the neck which some believe adds to accuracy. Try not to give up on handloading just yet. It becomes fun after you learn a few tricks and see just how much difference there is between your loads and factory loads. I hope this helps. Got any questions? Let them fly man. There are hundreds of guys on here that really would like to see you succeed. Bill

 

[skankpile]

well..I'm sure glad to get some sound advice so I know I'm not going crazy.

Just ordered the Redding Competition Bushing 3-Die Neck Sizer Set from midway. Now, when my new caliper gets here, and the bushings are in stock.. this better work or I give up...

If I were making dies that could not get better than 0.004" concentricity...I would at least consider not putting my name on them!! What a waste of time that was.

 

[billmo]

I think you are headed in the right direction now. I don't care anything at all for RCBS dies. Some of their stuff is good but I'm not impressed with the dies. I would not want my name on them either man. You may need a Full Length die at some point down the road to bump the shoulders back if the bolt gets hard to close. That's why I always get the F/L die and then back it away from the shellholder as far as I want to. You will be much better off with the Redding dies though. Let me know if I can help. Bill

 

[skankpile]

Sweet the dies got here today and the difference is night and day.. now I need bushings for the comp dies.

factory loads are .271 for the neck so I'm guessing to get:
0.270
0.271
0.272

the rcbs die sized them to 0.269... so maybe I should go one down.. not sure..

 

[billmo]

It would not be a bad idea to get a .269 too. Bill

 

[boogershooter]

I recently went through the same thing,RCBS is a good die to cut your teeth on, I recently sold 5 sets online auction,got what I paid for most of them 11 years ago.They're getting into the upper end dies now too!Billmo hats off to you -spotcheckbilly -catshooter-moderator, and others ..too many to list,for the great help, and priceless info you give us newbies on this site !

 

[billmo]

Glad to be able to share what "little" I know about this game. I learn every day that I apply myself and I'm certain these other guys will probably say the same thing. This subject is broader and deeper than most realize til you get involved and start to pick it apart piece by piece. Thanks, for all the kind words and remember to share what you learn. That's what it is all about anyway. Bill