Neck splits in .17 Rem. Fireball Brass

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Getting more neck splits than I like in my brass after reloading only two or three times. Any tips on what I may be doing wrong? Since this brass is no longer made I don't like tossing neck splits. I full length size. Do not really understand neck sizing. Trim on an Redding micro trimmer when needed cause that is all I could find to do the .17 caliber, camfer inside and outside of brass when trimmed, etc. don't run a hot load, don't anneal cause I don't have the confidence I know the right amount of heat to add to a shell, use RCBS dies, Hornady case lube aersol, etc.

Tips for me anyone? Thank you,

Mike

 

[Ohio1]

Anneal the brass!

Steve

 

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Can you give me a link for a good video that will show me how to do it without over or underheating the brass?

 

[bricktop]

A regular full-length sizer die will overwork the necks. First it squishes them in pretty far, then it stretches them out with an expander ball. If you run a bushing full length sizer with the expander disabled (just the depriming pin), you might get a few more firings pre brass. Just need to pick a bushing that is 0.002-0.003" smaller than the outside neck diameter of a loaded round.

 

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Thank you for the input. You are above my novice brain. Could you give me a link to what I should be using or more explanation?

 

[bricktop]

It's something along the line of these dies: http://www.redding-reloading.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=118:type-s-bushing-dies

Several manufactures make variants, but all use interchangeable bushings.

A Redding one is here: http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/reloading-dies/rifle-dies/redding-type-s-full-length-bushing-dies-category-ii-cartridges-redding-type-s-full-length-die-17-remington-fireball-sku749-011-206-38734-73976.aspx

Basically it serves the same function as a full length sizer die (expect it will work with the expander ball removed), except the diameter of the die around the neck can be changed by using different bushings, which are available in 0.001" increments. Since you want the inside neck diameter of the resized brass to slightly (0.001"-0.003") smaller than the bullet diameter (so there is tension to hold the bullet), you'd pick a bushing that results in that when sized. The easiest way is to take an average of the outside neck diameter of several loaded rounds, and subtract a few thousandths so the sized brass is a tad smaller.

Note that optimal bushing size varies with brass brands since manufacturers have varying brass neck thickness, so this will only work if you use the same brand (and same neck thickness) of brass all the time or keep a selection of bushings and change them when needed. (The original method with the regular FL die and expander ball works with any brand brass and neck thickness since it sizes the neck from the inside, not the outside)

Here is a bit more, using the 6 BR round as an example: http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/03/optimizing-neck-tension-with-bushing-and-non-bushing-dies/

Read up and feel confident before purchasing anything, it looks like the 17 Rem Type S FL Bushing die is a tad expensive. Annealing is definitely an option too, and maybe and combination of all of these things will give you very long brass life.

 

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Bricktop, the information you posted was extreemly helpful. I really appreicate your time in doing that for me.

 

[fdshuster]

Mike: Very good advice by bricktop regarding the neck bushing die, and that will prevent the oversizing that's a part of a non neck bushing die, the oversizing, radically squeezing down. That will save a few thousandths at the "bottom", minimum diameter.

But you will still have the problem at the "top", that being the maximum diameter that the brass is expanded to at the moment of firing. Suggest you take a micrometer and measure the diameter of a loaded round, then take an as-fired case, clean the carbon deposits from the case neck & measure that diameter. Add .001" and that will be your chamber neck diameter. Subtract the loaded neck dia. from the chamber dia. and you have the amount of expanding during firing. If it's much more than .005", then you will still have a problem with premature case neck splits, although there should be an improvement over when using the non bushing sizing die.

Your only alternative would be to anneal & if you don't want to do it yourself, there are some excellent services (advertised on this site) that will do it for you. Fair prices and very quick turn-around times.