Seating fb .22 cal bullets

[Brians356]

Thanks CatShooter.

So, you first have to size down the neck, of course. How do you do that, and to what ID?

The only disadvantage that matters, as I see it, is the extra working of the neck brass, compared to an expander-less bushing die operation. But I assume you anneal cases to mitigate work hardening anyway.

 

[CatShooter]

Thanks CatShooter.

So, you first have to size down the neck, of course. How do you do that, and to what ID?

The only disadvantage that matters, as I see it, is the extra working of the neck brass, compared to an expander-less bushing die operation. But I assume you anneal cases to mitigate work hardening anyway.

Well, yeah, I anneal fairly often (everybody should!!).

Think this - if the main expander shaft is 0.222, and the bullet is 0.224, that means that the expander will bring "up" the neck to 2 thou under... if you are using a plain ol' sizing die like a $20 RCBS... which is a good thing.

If you are using a busing die, then most of us are aiming at ~2 thou under, so the expander is not doing anything cuz it is set to do 2 thou under... it just nudges the edge of the mouth.

 

[Brians356]

Thanks CatShooter.

So, you first have to size down the neck, of course. How do you do that, and to what ID?

The only disadvantage that matters, as I see it, is the extra working of the neck brass, compared to an expander-less bushing die operation. But I assume you anneal cases to mitigate work hardening anyway.

If you are using a busing die, then most of us are aiming at ~2 thou under, so the expander is not doing anything cuz it is set to do 2 thou under... it just nudges the edge of the mouth.

Bingo! And, your point also better addresses my earlier question about centering the case. If the neck ID is already .222", then the "expander" is ideally a snug slip fit inside the neck, and does not exert any downward pressure on the case at all, but does perfectly center - and stabilize - the case until the ramped portion starts to bell the mouth.

One might want to experiment to select the sizing bushing which, after the brass springs back, leaves the neck ID the perfect snug fit for the .222" expander portion.