I bought some new dies.

06shooter

New member
I'm going to load for my 270 win and my sons 7mm08 rem.

How many of you check the decapping / expander to see if it's true when rolling the die across a table top ?

I bought some rcbs dies and this is what I do to check them.
My 270 fl die and decapper seem to be true but the decapper in the neck sizer appears to wobble ( and yes the stems are tight.

So i did a swap and the decapper from the neck sizer appears to wobble in the fl die and the decapper from the fl die is fine in the neck sizer.

06.
 
it won't matter. Your shell is essentially free floating as the expander ball goes through it. As long as your decapper goes into the flash hole, that's all that you need.
 
Briandog is on track.

The pin/expander float.

When I set up the die I loosen the locking ring for the pin/expander assembly to adjust by backing off the pin/exp. So that the pin won't enter the flash hole. Then I slowly raise the ram with a case and carefully locate the flash hole with the pin. With the pin in the hole I will extend the pin until I find the proper distance to pop out the primers. Then with the pin in the flash hole I will lock the pin/exp. assembly.
You will be damaging pins if you don't locate before locating.

Of course it's a good idea to have a few pins handy for when you forget to properly locate the flash hole.

I hope I was clear on my explanation.
 
I reload ~ 65 cartridge... ~67 I bought a 243AI and a 25-06 yesterday.. and I never use expander balls for anything.
 

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A certain amount of "play" in the decapping stem reduces the odds of breaking the decapping pin on a case with a slightly off center flash hole. Some die makers apparently take this concept further than others. ;)
 
I do what longshot does, lock the decapper assembly in place when the pin is through the flash hole. You can't align it any better than that. Same with the die. Lock it in place when the case is in the die.
 
I've come across a few where the decapping stem is bent, or tolerance stacking in the threads causes the stem to lean.

Generally, they still work fine.
If I'm unhappy with the parts, I'll call and ask for replacements (has always been easy with RCBS and Hornady - a bit of a pain with Lee [they never answer the phone for me!]). Usually, that means pulling one of my spares out of the parts/tool organizer and installing the spare parts while I wait on the free replacements (which go straight into the parts/tool organizer).

If it's a cartridge where I'm not likely to need to adjust or remove the decapping stem often (if ever - other than cleaning), I'll just tweak it and lock it down.
 
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