Neck Tension Adjustment When FL Sizing

[MVW]

I hear a lot of debate on the pros of using FL sizing dies rather than using bushing dies. The debate seems to border on a religious debate.

I have

1) Redding FL size die with the comp shell holders.
2) Redding body die
3) Redding comp neck size die

I use the FL before neck turning and the others in normal reloading.

Assuming I wanted to FL size my brass, how do you adjust neck tension?

Thanks, MIke

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I use Redding F/L bushing dies.

 

[BoydAllen]

Using a non bushing FL die for your regular loading presupposes that your neck thickness and chamber neck size have been coordinated to produce the correct neck tension, or that the die has bee ordered or modified to the desired dimension. Some tune with neck tension. I do not. If you do, the only way that you can make small adjustments in neck tension, when using a single die, is to have batches of brass that are turned to slightly different thicknesses. I have shot my PPC with loaded round clearances from .001 to .003, all to good effect. If you are going to use something on the close end, be sure of your bullet dimensions, paying particular attention to measuring the loaded rounds at the point of their largest neck diameter.

IMO there is a point of diminishing returns on runout. All of mine are at .0015 or less. As long as they are at that level, I don't don't worry.

Before you give up on the idea of a bushing FL die, or in your case neck die combined with a body die, I would try one carbide bushing. They are more dimensionally correct, being made with a different process. Yes, they are quite a bit more expensive.

 

[MVW]

Boyd, Redding makes their Titanium Nitride bushings. Is that what you are refering to or should I get a carbide bushing from someone else?

Thanks, Mike

 

[BoydAllen]

I was not referring to the TN coated steel bushings. I meant carbide neck sizing bushings. The problem is that it may be difficult finding them in many sizes. What bushing ID would you be looking for?

 

[Killshot]

Correct, the Wilson and Sinclair carbide bushings are less than .260" in size for some reason. I know I'd pop some in my Redding S FL if they made them larger.