Neck tension question with rcbs AR/SB dies...

[Rsadams]

I setup the decapping pin to protrude about .400 out the bottom of the die as per the instructions. Maybe like .420 or .430 doesn't seem that that's incredibly important. When I ran my first 15 through it I had not adjusted. It so it was sticking out whatever the factory set it at, a lot longer than .400.

My question is, it seems even after adjusting it and running a peice of the already resized brass through it again the neck tension seems very tight trying to seat bullets. Its hard to start them by hand and get them to stay but it's possible. I ran another peice of unsized brass through it and the neck tension seems the same IE with it adjusted up or down seems to make no difference.

I have loaded tons of pistol brass but you can bell them to whatever size you want. Its possible to start the rifle bullets by hand and have them stay while seating. So is it just normal they are a bit more of a pain than pistol? Or is there a way to adjust neck tension by raising or lowering the decapping pin? Or am I just reading the directions wrong? It seemed like my Lee dies had a little less tension making it easier to start bullets but it's been a year since I loaded any rifle with them So I guess I am probably wrong and just imagining it...thanks for your reply...

Also the factory ammo this gun is sighted in with measures 2.226 in coal the book of course wants it at 2.200 for a 55gr fmj in a .223 round. Would there be a problem seating at the 2.226 since the m4 shoots that factory ammo great? Or is it a waste of time to worry about it?

 

[mousegunner]

When the case is into the die it should be sized and the neck squeezed down and when you lower the ram the expander button will expand the neck. At this point there is tension in the neck to hold the bullet. You should be chamfering the inside of the neck which helps when you seat the bullet. You flare pistol cases to seat but you chamfer rifle case to help seat especially if you are using flat base bullets.

I don't start bullets into the case, I place them on the case and they sit ever so slightly in the mouth and your seater finishes seating them.

As far as the decapping pin you can adjust that in and out as needed to decap and the expander button will work either way as long as it goes fully into the neck. Others will explain better than me but this is my take on this.

The only way to change tension is to use a bushing sizing die or polish the expander button which makes it just a little tighter but how much the decapper protrudes has nothing to do with adjusting neck tension.

 

[Rsadams]

When the case is into the die it should be sized and the neck squeezed down and when you lower the ram the expander button will expand the neck. At this point there is tension in the neck to hold the bullet. You should be chamfering the inside of the neck which helps when you seat the bullet. You flare pistol cases to seat but you chamfer rifle case to help seat especially if you are using flat base bullets.

I don't start bullets into the case, I place them on the case and they sit ever so slightly in the mouth and your seater finishes seating them.

As far as the decapping pin you can adjust that in and out as needed to decap and the expander button will work either way as long as it goes fully into the neck. Others will explain better than me but this is my take on this.

Thank you very much... I chamferd , debured and trimmed all cases the same length, lol not in that order though..my first time using the rcbs dies, their completely different to setup than my other dies. Just a bit confused I guess.. Thanks for replying...

 

[Rsadams]

They loaded fine. Shot them today...