Neck turning option?

[moondog]

Question for you neck turners.
I turn necks on a few calibers I run but, I'd like to have the option of turning on a couple of calibers I don't have full length dies for. Could a guy use the 21st century mandrels on a fired case to turn before sizing? Any thoughts?

 

[rardoin]

The turning mandrel (the pilot that the neck turns on while cutting) is typically 0.0005-0.0010" below bullet diameter so a fired case neck will be too large in I.D. to turn without having an oversized turning mandrel made to fit your fired necks. Easier/cheaper size the necks down/expand out to fit the standard turning mandrel. If you have a neck sizing die you will be fine.

Robin

 

[moondog]

Wildcat cartridge full length die is NOT cheaper. Neck sizing with a bushing die, LE Wilson type full length bushing die will create a step in the neck. I have a Sinclair neck turner that could use the 21st Century mandrels. Not too expensive, and available in
005" increments. Expander mandrel, and turner mandrel from them are my thoughts.

 

[Iowa Fox]

The older I get the less time I have to waste. In bench rest 40 cases will do you for the season so its no big deal turning them. For some matches that you have to travel to you need several hundred.For those I start with good brass and check them on a Forster tool with dial indicator. Then I give them a squeeze with the Lee collet die. That die mops down the high spots, not perfect but good enough usually for me when I recheck them. Tight turn neck chambers are a whole nuther story.

 

[rardoin]

Wildcat cartridge full length die is NOT cheaper. Neck sizing with a bushing die, LE Wilson type full length bushing die will create a step in the neck. I have a Sinclair neck turner that could use the 21st Century mandrels. Not too expensive, and available in
005" increments. Expander mandrel, and turner mandrel from them are my thoughts.

I see your issue. I don't think you will be able to get an oversized mandrel and expander cheaply/easily but I might be wrong. 21st Century or K&M would be the ones to call and see what they could come up with.

 

[RegionRat]

At one point, K&M made me custom sized tools to order, not sure if they still do but you would just invest a phone call to find out.

 

[Willie]

I have generic neck sizing dies for 3 calibers that work well, luckily with no induced run-out. Paid around $25 each, on sale. With expander out, they reduce neck ID .004 - .005" under caliber and size all the neck. I use them only to neck down fired cases prior to using a mandrel.

 

[Petros284]

I see your issue. I don't think you will be able to get an oversized mandrel and expander cheaply/easily but I might be wrong. 21st Century or K&M would be the ones to call and see what they could come up with.

21st Century expander mandrels are available .001” above bullet diameter to .003-.004” below diameter. These are regularly stocked.