I’m using RCBS dies to load for 7x57mm Mauser. I have a full length sizer, neck sizer, and bullet seat die. I started with brand new virgin brass. Full length sized, loaded and fire formed. Now I neck size only. The problem I have is after the brass is in the sizing die, and I bring the press arm back up retracting the brass from the die, the brass hangs up on the expander that is part of the decaping pin. It drags and is difficult to pass over and makes a scraping sound. Is this normal? Shouldn’t it operate this stage of the loading process more smoothly? Am I not lubricating something correctly?
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Resizing question - expander
- Thread starter Rookie21
- Start date
It drags and is difficult to pass over and makes a scraping sound. Is this normal?
Yes it is normal; for me. When you raise the ram you size the neck; when you lower the ram you pull the sizer plug through the neck of the case.
There was a time reloaders suggested raising the sizing plug to reduce the 'clunk' effect/delay in expanding the neck.
F. Guffey
Thank you for the reply’s. I have a Lee case lubricant and Honady one shot. The Lee lubricant is rather messy. I am concerned about what affects the case lubricant would or could have with powder once I’ve sized, primed and then pass a charge through a space where lubricant would be left remaining perhaps.... is cleaning the inside of the case neck needed before charging the case with powder?
One shot works OK , actually pretty good if you use enough . If you don.t like using the Lee lube . Try spraying the oneshot onto the cases when they are standing up . When I used Oneshot I had a dedicated reloading tray I'd use to stand the cases up in . So you have them all standing up in the block and you spray the cases at a 45*-ish downward angle making sure the block is also turned in such a way that the front cases are not obstructing the ones behind them so as many cases as possible are getting lube on then with every spray . Then turn the reloading block 180* and spray the other side of the cases .
Ok so why in the reloading block ? It puts them all in a relatively small space while keeping them uniformly separated . When like this the spray and more importantly the overspray is still landing on the surrounding cases in the block . Second and to the point of the OP's issues is spaying the cases standing up in a tight-ish group at a downward 45* angle , you are also spraying the lube into/onto the insides of the necks .
Spraying the insides of my necks is the only way I'm will to lube the insides of the case necks . No way am I lubing by hand each individual case neck . I have since stopped using Oneshot , not so much because it does not work but more because it does not do the volume I want at a cost I'm willing to pay . I now lube and size 500 to 1k cases at a time and I find the Lanolin mixture works better for me when lubing in bulk .
Ok so why in the reloading block ? It puts them all in a relatively small space while keeping them uniformly separated . When like this the spray and more importantly the overspray is still landing on the surrounding cases in the block . Second and to the point of the OP's issues is spaying the cases standing up in a tight-ish group at a downward 45* angle , you are also spraying the lube into/onto the insides of the necks .
Spraying the insides of my necks is the only way I'm will to lube the insides of the case necks . No way am I lubing by hand each individual case neck . I have since stopped using Oneshot , not so much because it does not work but more because it does not do the volume I want at a cost I'm willing to pay . I now lube and size 500 to 1k cases at a time and I find the Lanolin mixture works better for me when lubing in bulk .
jaguarxk120
New member
Get a nylon brush and put a few drops of oil on it. Then run the brush through
the case necks. That brushing will remove the carbon coating in the case neck
and lube the neck just enough so the expander ball will pass through the neck easily.
the case necks. That brushing will remove the carbon coating in the case neck
and lube the neck just enough so the expander ball will pass through the neck easily.
Same here. I went from vibratory to rotary wet tumbling with SS pins, it is more work but well worth it.I have found that tumbling the cases -- thereby cleaning the neck interiors -- completely eliminates expander "screech".
On a side note I did find that when going from 556 to 300blk, I no longer have to prechamfer/deburr after the rough cut as the SS pins smooth out the mouth of the case.
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Rookie21,
If you have Lee lube, mix some with enough rubbing alcohol to make a milk, then take a Q-tip and wet it and run it around the inside of each case mouth. Let it dry out completely.
You do not need to clean inside case mouths, but it does improve the uniformity of shot pressure. Just take a bore brush on a handle and give it a couple of turns inside the necks. This cleans the loose carbon off and roughens the surface slightly so it holds a lube better.
Another way to dry lube your case necks is to put some powdered graphite in a small dosing cup to a depth of about one half to as much as the full height of the necks and just put each neck into it, mouth down, and withdraw it. That applies plenty, as it will build up some on the expander.
If you have Lee lube, mix some with enough rubbing alcohol to make a milk, then take a Q-tip and wet it and run it around the inside of each case mouth. Let it dry out completely.
You do not need to clean inside case mouths, but it does improve the uniformity of shot pressure. Just take a bore brush on a handle and give it a couple of turns inside the necks. This cleans the loose carbon off and roughens the surface slightly so it holds a lube better.
Another way to dry lube your case necks is to put some powdered graphite in a small dosing cup to a depth of about one half to as much as the full height of the necks and just put each neck into it, mouth down, and withdraw it. That applies plenty, as it will build up some on the expander.
My brother got Lyman M dies and bought me one as well. In my case all my loads are 30 caliber of one sort or another.
I use Hornady lube with them still, but its a nice smooth polished surface not that ratty thing that all die mfgs seem to feel is the cats meow.
All my neck plugs are gone and I just make a pass through the M die with Hornady lube of white lube when it does get a bit sticky.
I don't use the flair portion of the Die, I set em up (with a micrometer reading) so it gets the whole neck but not up to the flare part.
No more jerking, smooth and even. Love it.
I use Hornady lube with them still, but its a nice smooth polished surface not that ratty thing that all die mfgs seem to feel is the cats meow.
All my neck plugs are gone and I just make a pass through the M die with Hornady lube of white lube when it does get a bit sticky.
I don't use the flair portion of the Die, I set em up (with a micrometer reading) so it gets the whole neck but not up to the flare part.
No more jerking, smooth and even. Love it.
Now I neck size only. The problem I have is after the brass is in the sizing die, and I bring the press arm back up retracting the brass from the die, the brass hangs up on the expander that is part of the decaping pin. It drags and is difficult to pass over and makes a scraping sound.
I have the neck sizing die and the full length sizing die; when using the full length sizing die to neck size I adjust the die off the shell holder with a feeler gage. When using a neck sizing die I adjust the die to the shell holder. I have never got a scraping sound unless the decapping/sizer plug assemble was not straight.
The sound I have gotten more times than not was a chatter caused by a grab and release. Once the assemble was pulled through the neck I have gotten the 'thoing' sound; again caused by the assemble releasing when pulled from the neck.
F. Guffey