Pumpkin Expander Mandrel vs cutting Mandrel 30cal

[Trevor60]

Hi everyone.

I purchased a Pumpkin 30cal cutter and thought I had it covered with a different makers expander which I had already (I know) trying to save a few dollars.

Turns out my cutting mandrel is .307 and my expander is .307 can anyone confirm their pumpkin expander as being .308.

going off what I know from others (in general) I thought the cutting mandrel was .002 under bullet size and the expander was .001 did I get the expander in the cutting body and the cutting mandrel is truly .306

I have emailed Jim Kelbly but he is off to the shot show according to his out of office. as of march 8 2014

thanks
Trevor

 

[Joe Maisto]

Trevor;

I've gone that route years ago too, and discovered that one must use the pumpkin expander for a pumpkin turner. Nielsens tolerances are quite exacting . Befroe that I was using a k7m expander with a pumpkin. Can't do that. K&M made some fine tools, but you have to match them up. ( his cutter & expander). Same with Nielsens...

 

[SmokinJoe]

Actually, I had the opposite experience. I use a K&M expandiron and a Pumpkin turner, and they seem to work quite well together, at least in 30 cal. However, things do change sometimes and what is available today may not be exactly like it was when I bought my stuff years ago. Also, IIRC the expander mandrel should be approx 0.0008" larger in diameter than the turning mandrel. Hope this helps some.