Redding fl bushing die ?

[coldboreshot]

The only donuts than concern me.

 

[rebs]

if the donut is inside the case neck, how do you move it to the outside of the neck ?

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

if the donut is inside the case neck, how do you move it to the outside of the neck ?

Most or all of it blows to the outside under pressure. Then just use the bushing to size say the top 2/3rds of the neck rather than all the way down, which would push it back in. That said, as long as your bullet doesn't seat that far into the neck...forget about this donut stuff. Just shoot it.

 

[rebs]

Most or all of it blows to the outside under pressure. Then just use the bushing to size say the top 2/3rds of the neck rather than all the way down, which would push it back in. That said, as long as your bullet doesn't seat that far into the neck...forget about this donut stuff. Just shoot it.

I have Lapua cases where when inserting a bullet in to a fired case with my fingers I can feel the donut like it didn't get blown to the outside. The bullet stops at the donut and doesn't drop in to the case.

 

[Webster]

If I understand correctly the bushing die does not size the entire neck and causes a donut. If this is correct then why use a bushing die ?

From what I have heard firing and sizing causes the shoulder to flow forward causing the donut. Look at some of Erik Cortina's video's. Almost all of the guys that shoot long range at a National Championship level use bushing dies. Been using bushing dies since 2009. 6BR light bullets are seated about half way down the neck and don't come near the donut. I assume I have donuts in cases that have been fired many times. i don't care if there are donuts since the rifle shoots small groups for GH hunting.

 

[JFrank]

For those that use one, does expander ball help to move the dreaded dounut towards the outside ?

 

[Ned Ludd]

As has been noted, it is the sizing/re-sizing process that causes brass to flow up into the lower portion of the neck. Trying to remove donuts using a mandrel is not likely to be very satisfying, because that is simply trying to push the extra metal at a right angle. In other words, it's not going to get rid of the donut, just move it sideways. It will still be there. A bulge on the outside of the neck is also undesirable and will be forced right back to the inside as soon as the brass is fired; that is, assuming the loaded round can even be chambered. Edited to add: I can't imagine the use of an expander ball would be any different than a mandrel in terms of rectifying a donut. Once the donut has formed, removal of the extra metal by reaming and/or seating the bullet above the donut in the neck are the best options.

 

[DaveTooley]

Most or all of it blows to the outside under pressure.

Sorry that makes no sense to me. The OD of the neck will be the same diameter regardless. The ID will vary with the size of the donut. Expander ball or mandrel will only partially move the donut to the outside. The only sure way to get rid of it is use a reamer.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Reamers have specific freebore amounts for really two reasons...to free up a small bit of powder capacity... and to keep the bullet out of that blasted donut. I understand donuts but I've never understood all the hullabaloo about them.

Of course I respect Dave's opinion and if he chooses to ream, I respect his approach. I'm not a fan of reaming, especially on tight necked chambers and neck turned brass(already very thin)....but it can work. Since they are a result of firing and sizing..flow, they will recur. So how often do we ream them? Every firing, every 10? There are more ways than one to deal with them but the best is to throat the bbl so the donut has no affect on the bullet.

When mag length is the limiting factor, one more way to deal with it is generous chamber neck diameter and a bushing die. Generous, in that yes, enough that any donut that may come in contact with the seated bullet, does in fact get blown to the outside of the neck and the bushing adjusted so that it does not push it back in. Again, reaming is one way but they will come back and require reaming. Dave's not wrong but it's just not the way I prefer to deal with them is all. There are reasons, they'll just take a bit to explain in detail. Bottom line, I've had reamed necks come off because they were too thin. Just my opinion is all.