Rem brass 221 fb to 20 vartarg

[crystalgayleguy]

My friend is trying to neck down new rem 221 fb to 20 vartarg and pushing the neck into the body using redding wax any advice

 

[1raggedhole]

What die? I use a Hornady 20VT die and simply chamfered the case mouth and used the same redding wax without a single issue on 900 cases

 

[L.Sherm]

I just chamfer the outside of the neck and use a .226 Redding bushing FL with imperial sizing wax.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Ditto......For the first step in forming 221FB to 20VT, I use a Redding 20VT Body Die. Then use the bushing die with a .226" bushing using Imperial Sizing Wax.

Have not lost a single case using this method.

 

[tjtjwdad]

Ditto......For the first step in forming 221FB to 20VT, I use a Redding 20VT Body Die. Then use the bushing die with a .226" bushing using Imperial Sizing Wax.

Have not lost a single case using this method.

Can't say that I have either.

 

[JSH]

Sounds like he is a bit heavy handed maybe.
If you have a 221FB die size it with the expander/decap removed the. I to the VT die.
Make sure necks are round no dents or dings.
Chamfer inside and out as well.

 

[Rick300]

Might try necking down in 2 steps. I use a .233 bushing in the first step and then final size in the next.

 

[Gabe22BR]

Probably has the recapping rod/expander installed….

 

[chuckshooter]

I just chamfer the outside of the neck and use a .226 Redding bushing FL with imperial sizing wax.

I do same except .227 bushing. if the brass neck/shoulder is a little softer (for whatever reason, over annealed or just the way they came) may need to two step it. I have had this happen on hornet cases when forming to 20 ackley hornet from 22k hornet.

 

[ken158]

I have formed a couple thousand VT from Remington 221 cases and never had that problem. You got all the answers above but I suspect your friend has an expander button that has no taper and why many like the Hornady dies with a tapered expander.

 

[L.Sherm]

I'm wondering in if you have the die screwed down to far and the neck- shoulder junction on the die is whats pushing the the neck down.
The Hornandy 20VT die is notorious for really squeezing the neck down too.

 

[B23]

I'm wondering in if you have the die screwed down to far and the neck- shoulder junction on the die is whats pushing the the neck down.
The Hornandy 20VT die is notorious for really squeezing the neck down too.

The above seems like the most logical answer and was my first thought as well.

I'm not quite sure how leaving the expander button on the decapping rod would do anything like the OP is describing.

 

[nvtoy]

Could he be using anealed brass that is soft? I haven’t had any problems with just using a 20 VT FL die.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Could he be using anealed brass that is soft? I haven’t had any problems with just using a 20 VT FL die.

Too soft and the neck/shoulder gets pushed down into the case body.

 

[L.Sherm]

My friend is trying to neck down new rem 221 fb to 20 vartarg and pushing the neck into the body using redding wax any advice

Did he anneal the brass before trying to neck down?

 

[crystalgayleguy]

No it's new brass

 

[L.Sherm]

Then I dont think its to soft is the problem.

 

[L.Sherm]

Then I dont think its to soft is the problem.

Tell him to screw his die up about a full turn and see what happens

 

[B23]

If this is new unprepped brass straight out of the bag first thing I'd do is make sure the necks are round, no flat spots or dings and dents in the neck like can often be the case, then put a good outside chamfer on necks before I ever tried to neck a single piece down. If you're using a bushing die this is probably more important than if it's not a bushing die and if you are using a bushing die what size bushing are you using.

If it's not a bushing die I think L.Sherm is right and the die is very possibly screwed down a little to far but it still seems like there's some information missing in this puzzle.

 

[chuckshooter]

Then I dont think its to soft is the problem.

it could be just the opposite, the necks are so firm that going from .22 cal to .20 cal. in one pass is too much and the easiest thing to give way is the shoulder. sometimes you just have to tinker around to find to the solution, anneal, don't anneal, one pass with the die or two. A lot of good suggestion on here, good luck.