Whidden Expander Ball ?

[Liven The Dream]

Thinking of a Expander Ball for a Whidden FL Bushing Die ?

Has anyone did this or tried it ?

Thanks,
Don

 

[NorCalMikie]

Whidden makes a different size selection of expander balls. Don't need them of you're using the correct size neck bushing.

 

[PopCharlie]

I used them in a Whidden non bushing f/l sizers. Worked good. But I wanted better control of neck tension. I use a Whidden f/l bushing die with the decapper removed. I use a Porter pin die to set the neck tension.
PopCharlie

 

[D-4297]

I used them in a Whidden non bushing f/l sizers. Worked good. But I wanted better control of neck tension. I use a Whidden f/l bushing die with the decapper removed. I use a Porter pin die to set the neck tension.
PopCharlie

What he said , only I use a PMA Carbide expander , following sizing . If you're using the "correct" Bushing , you'll only need to move the neck minimally for proper interference fit . Like maybe .0005 ?

 

[Pawnee Bill]

I threw away all my expander balls and went to mandrels. Best move I ever made.

 

[Richard Coody]

People find success with all these different methods.

I used rcbs full length sizing dies with expander ball for more than 30 years. They worked just fine

Now I have.some of all of them. I still prefer a full length die over a bushing die but I have some rifles I use a bushing die.for.

My favorite standard die is still a forster full length die with expander

I have one whidden full length die with the expander ball kit. It makes really straight reloads and with the expander ball kit neck tension can be easily adjusted.

I use Harrell's Simi custom dies with my bench guns and do final neck sizing with a k&m mandrel kit.

All these different dies work just fine. They all can turn out great ammo.

But my favorite dies are custom full length whidden dies made from my fired brass. Minimal sizing for great brass life. Very straight reloads. Still fine tune neck tension with my mandrel kit.

Oh and I just remembered just so I don't leave anyone out I also have and use a lee collet neck sizer and a Redding body die I use sometimes for .223.

 

[Ccrider]

I have a couple of Whidden custom dies but I took the expander balls off. I see no benefit to using them if you neck turn.

I have never been able to reach desired results using any type of expander ball so I gave up trying a while ago. I have a set of mandrels for 6mm. The expander mandrels give very consistent es results and I use them if I am having trouble getting my es down.

 

[Webster]

Thinking of a Expander Ball for a Whidden FL Bushing Die ?

Has anyone did this or tried it ?

Thanks,
Don

The work hardening and final neck tension are all determined by all 5 steps.

1. Firing expands the neck
2. Sizing reduces the neck
3. Pulling an expander ball or mandrel thru the neck expands the neck
4. Neck thickness
5. Seating a bullet expands the neck

All five determine the resulting tension. I have watched competitors at the Super Shoot prep cases. I believe they all simply put Imperial wax on each case and run it thru a custom made die usually with a small arbor press. A simple die, no bushings, no balls no mandrels. This is what the best shooters in the world do. The top short range BR shooters know exactly what dimensions they want on their dies. Buy Tony Boyers book he explains everything. You don't need pin gauges, bushings, mandrels or expander balls. If your serious a custom die should cost about the same as a Redding die? Remember they are not adjustable. You could put a shim under the die.

Personally I do none of this since I am a varmint hunter and my rifles shoot groups under .400" all day. I use Redding bushing dies. Corrections welcome.

Added later: annealing.

 

[Ccrider]

A simple die, no bushings, no balls no mandrels. This is what the best shooters in the world do. The top short range BR shooters know exactly what dimensions they want on their dies. Buy Tony Boyers book he explains everything.

I hope some of those guys in this site will chime in here. I was under the impression that quite a few use full length bushing dies.

 

[Webster]

I hope some of those guys in this site will chime in here. I was under the impression that quite a few use full length bushing dies.

Just found Tony's book and reviewed his comments on dies. On p. 115-116 Tony Boyer states that he uses FL custon dies made from 3 proveded fired cases. The dies do have bushings. In the 70s and 80s I had a 6ppc made by Fred Sinclair. He provided me with a one piece FL die made from a barrel stub. A simple die with no parts on top. Apparently the top shooters have more than one type of die. I live near Kelby's range. I have seen a lot of shooters at the Super Shoot use simple dies. There are several national known short range BR shooters on this website, their comments on dies would be appreciated.

 

[Ccrider]

The dies do have bushings.

I read quite a bit. From what I have read, many of the top guys use bushing dies and adjust neck tension depending on the barrel.

 

[D Coots]

Custom straight line dies, no bushing.