RCBS Gold Medal bushing Neck sizers die

[browningwgm]

I've just acquired a RCBS Gold Medal neck bushing sizer die. The instructions on using this die are a little confusing to me. The die includes a decap pin holder but is not installed. The die comes with an Expander ball/decap pin holder installed.
The directions say the Expander ball/decap pin holder is to allow for the proper preparation of a new lot of brass. It also goes on to say that I must replace the Expander ball/decap pin holder with the decap pin holder for proper use of the neck bushing.

With all this info, does this mean that if I am sizing new/unfired brass, I first run them through the die with the expander ball/decap pin holder installed and without the neck sizer bushing installed? Then am I supposed to remove the expander ball/decap pin holder and install the decap pin holder and neck sizer bushing?

I'm guessing but, if I am starting with fired brass, I would simply install the decap pin holder and sizer bushing and begin the process of neck sizing. Is this correct?

Although I have been reloading for my rifles for over 15 years, this will be my first experience with anything other than standard RCBS dies. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Chuckhunter]

You are correct in all of your assumptions. The reason for eliminating the expander ball is to try and eliminate any crookedness that could be caused by dragging the sized neck over a ball that may be out of alignment. Because the case has been fired in your chamber which we assume is straight and your bushing floats slightly in the die,,it should center itself on the straight case)providing you are using the correct size bushing there is no need for an expander ball. Most of us that use bushing dies like to have between .001 and .002 neck tension. In hunting situations you may like to increase that to .003 to .004 for a more secure hold on a bullet that may be put in and out of a magazine or clip and be subject to some recoil. That is the beauty of bushing dies, you can alter neck tension by just changing bushings to get the desired tension. I know my explaination is probably as clear as mud but I think you will get my drift. Maybe someone else's explaination will be a little better.

 

[browningwgm]

Thanks for the info, it helps a lot. I'm sure I will be doing lots of experimenting, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong or unnecessary. Now, if my bullets would get here I'd get started.