Re: Expanding ball location position on Forster FLS die .308 Win

[p5200]

What's confusing me, is these directions in the pdf. It says not to move the expanding ball itself says don't change from factory setting. The trouble is I don't know what factory setting is/was? The ball is screwed all the way down against the decapping assembly. I adjusted the hole stem assembly to line up bottom 1/3 of ball with the hole per directions. Please let me know if I'm missing something here. I honestly don't know if I've ever moved the ball from factory position or not?

 

[cwebster]

You're good. Star sizing.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I bet you didn’t move it. As long as the decapping pin is still out past the bottom of the die somewhat and you have the ball where you want it, it is fine.
I have put these Forster decapping stems in other dies without the vent holes and just put a case in a shell holder outside the die like it would be, and go by the diagram shown to position it and it has worked well.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I have never worked out why the expander ball needs to be in that awkward position, but it does work well when it's correct. I have removed mine anyway and changed to a mandrel - the Forster die is doing good service for my neck turned 308 as it moves the brass too far for the standard case.

 

[Murray Brook]

@p5200
The ball in the high position allows the neck of the case to still be in the neck portion of the die as the ball enters the neck to expand it on the down stroke of your press. This gives better case/neck alinement and less case neck run-out.
How I set up my Forster die is I remove the expander rod and screw the expander ball as far up the rod as it will go. I then reinstall it into the die leaving the locknut loose. I then screw the rod assembly down as far as I can but not to the point of hitting the case bottom when sizing the case. I then lube a case and size it all the way up the die and while keeping the press at full stroke I unscrew the assembly rod till I feel some resistance. This means that your ball is at the neck/shoulder junction. Adjust down a turn or more and you should be good to go. I would try this on an old case first to see if you would need further adjustment. This works for me.

 

[p5200]

With the stem adjusted for 1/3 of bottom of ball with the hole in die, Ihave about 3/8" decapping pin protruding from bottom of die. I appreciate all the help folks!

 

[Jagermeister]

I adjusted mine and the decapping pin is about a shade under 1/4 inch. I held the decapping unit to the side of the die and lined up the hole in the die according to instructions. By the way, I purchased the Forester decapping unit for a 6X47 Lapua and it is the same as the original which was missing in my FL die.

 

[philip brousseau]

I put a forester decanting. Assembly in an rcbs 338 ultramag die. I buy if I can forester sizers and Redding competition seaters.