Reddng S Bushing Neck Sizing Die

[Linefinder]

I bought a Redding S Bushing Neck Sizing Die for .223 Remington. It came with one factory installed mandrel/decap pin, silver in color. It has an expander ball on it.

There is another mandrel/pin unit, black in color, in the box with it. No mention is made in the accompanying liturature about this 2nd setup. It does not appear to have an expander ball on the mandrel.

I'm thinking the "silver" unit is to be used to size never-fired brass, and the other one is for fired brass.

Am I correct, or is there more going on here than I'm seeing?

Thanks

Mike

 

[Bullet94]

The one with the expander ball will expand the case neck and deprime, the one without the expander ball will only deprime. Some people don’t want an expander ball and only use the bushings to set neck tension but still want to deprime.

 

[Linefinder]

Thanks, that makes sense.

It also brings up another question, though.

If you go to the trouble to use the bushing die, and have selected the proper bushing, what would be the reason to use the mandrel with the expander ball.

Unless, I'm guessing, you have a chamber that's cut very loose, instead of the more normally encountered "tight" chamber?

Thanks

Mike

 

[kitsap]

In general the decapping rod without the expander ball is used with cases that have been turned for consistent neck thickness. The neck tension with a seated bullet is controlled by choice of bushing size.

The decapping rod with the expander ball is used with unturned case necks and works without regard to neck thickness.

There is a chance the decapping pins are different diameters. Some cases, Lapua, have small flash holes.

 

[Linefinder]

Okay. That makes sense and I appreciate the info.

The majority of my .223 Rem reloading is high volume quantites of rounds for prairie dogs. Neck turning is not a step I care to introduce into my reloading routine, simply due to the time expended/benefit ratio.

I am not looking for benchrest accuracy. A rifle that'll group 5 shots into the hi-3's to lo-4's at 100 yards serves my purpose very nicely.

It's sounding to me that in light of the type of reloading I do, I'd be best advised to stick with the expander ball setup in this die?

Once again, thanks for all the help.

Mike

 

[Bullet94]

Try both ways,without turning the necks)and let us know the results. Also you can use the bushings with the expander so you won't over work your brass,neck size more than necessary).