Expanding the case mouth after trimming?

[tojan19]

I was checking some brass I prepped last year before loading a batch of 223. The brass was sized w/ the Dillon size die, then trimmed with the Dillon trimmer. I had the trimmer set to not bump the shoulder back anymore. Well it looks like the case mouths are .006" to 0.008" undersized. From what I've read neck tension should only be .002-3". I know that I could just run them through the size die when loading, but I'd prefer not to relube them. I'm also thinking long term, future batches.

How do you deal with this issue?

A few options I thought of

1. Get the Dillon universal decapper and use my 223 stem to open the mouth.

2. Get a neck sizing die. I know nothing about them, a bunch of choices on Midway. Suggestions?

3. Do nothing. I've loaded brass prepped like this before (never thought to check). Never had a problem.

4. Use the sizing die not screwed down all the way. Would I still need to lube?

5. Suck it up and lube, resize. Maybe get the Dillon trim die opened up for future work.

6. In the future, use the size die after the trimmer? Would 3 dies fit on a 650? (decap,trimmer, size).

Edited April 21, 2011 by tojan19

[Boxerglocker]

What does your headspace gauge tell you? Enough shoulder set back of not? I run a Dillon sizer decapper in station one and the sizer on the trimmer is just matched. No change in shoulder setback at all. Running it this way does not actually rework the brass as it is already sized so no harm IMO. I know off others that even run a third sizer to just smooth out any wrinkles after trimming with the same set-up.

[smokshwn]

If you wanted to do all the brass prep including the neck expansion after sizing so you could then clean off the lube and load at a later date, I would set up my toolhead like this:

Station 1 Regular Dillon Sizing Die

Station 2 Empty (priming station)

Station 3 Trimmer

Station 4 Universal Decapper for case mouth expansion.

[Boxerglocker]

If you wanted to do all the brass prep including the neck expansion after sizing so you could then clean off the lube and load at a later date, I would set up my toolhead like this:

Station 1 Regular Dillon Sizing Die

Station 2 Empty (priming station)

Station 3 Trimmer

Station 4 Universal Decapper for case mouth expansion.

Does a Universal Decapper do case expansion? I don't think my Lee one does

[smokshwn]

If you wanted to do all the brass prep including the neck expansion after sizing so you could then clean off the lube and load at a later date, I would set up my toolhead like this:

Station 1 Regular Dillon Sizing Die

Station 2 Empty (priming station)

Station 3 Trimmer

Station 4 Universal Decapper for case mouth expansion.

Does a Universal Decapper do case expansion? I don't think my Lee one does

I can't remember the brand I have (RCBS?) but you can get steel expander balls for the decap pin. But another size die would work as well.

Edited April 22, 2011 by smokshwn

[Religious Shooter]

I was checking some brass I prepped last year before loading a batch of 223. The brass was sized w/ the Dillon size die, then trimmed with the Dillon trimmer. I had the trimmer set to not bump the shoulder back anymore. Well it looks like the case mouths are .006" to 0.008" undersized. From what I've read neck tension should only be .002-3". I know that I could just run them through the size die when loading, but I'd prefer not to relube them. I'm also thinking long term, future batches.

...

3. Do nothing. I've loaded brass prepped like this before (never thought to check). Never had a problem.

...

Are you loading for a bolt gun or for a semi? I would say the .002-3" figure is more for a bolt gun.

If you aren't having problems I wouldn't worry about it.

How do you deal with this issue?

I use the Lee Collet die on the first station of my loading toolhead.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=215819

I use the Lee Collet die to:

1. Expand the neck a little bit to ease loading of the bullet.

2. Roll away any burrs on the inside of the case. Effectively "chamfering" the case.

3. Punch out any cleaning media in the flashole.

The decapper on the Lee Collet has a "bulb" that will expand the neck of a Dillon trimmed case. If it is a fired case that has not been sized/trimmed, the bulb actually won't contact the inside of the case.

The die is screwed down just far enough to punch out the cleaning media (if any) from the flash hole. It isn't set up to size the neck like it was designed to.

You need to search for "expand"ers. The Lyman M die will pop up. I've used that die and prefer the Lee Collet die over it. There are also some RCBS FL sizer dies that will expand the case mouth of a Dillon trimmed case.

For neck expanding the lube has to be inside the case mouth. To get the best feel lubing the inside of the neck would be good. That said I don't use lube when I use the Lee Collet die for the above purpose.