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Posted: 4/25/2010 10:26:09 AM EDT
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I was chugging along resizing a large coffee can of .223 brass when my session can to a premature unplanned end. I hit a couple of new PPU cases (which I hate) because they are harder to size
(decap actually) so more effort is usually needed. Well the next "hard to size case" turned out NOT to be a PPU case. It was some berdan primed .223, which in 10's of 1000's of .223 processed I have never personally encountered (at least that I can recall).    
Well the result is I trashed the spindle and sizing plug on my Hornady die. I'm sure I can get one from Hornady... but I'm annoyingly done for the day with 2/3's of the can to go. 
I wonder... since I'm done for a few days (at least)... I'm read about people here removing the stem from their sizing die claiming it adds significantly to case growth. If I were to get a "universal decapping die", could I then size the cases with my Hornady die? I'm thinking the neck tension might be to high  .
I wonder if I dropped my loads a grain & tested a few rounds...  ... if the reduced charge would compensate for slightly higher tension... or if it would even be necessary, since I don't think the extra tension would give as much resistance as a crimp.
Any thoughts? Or better yet experience? Not like I can load anymore at the moment... or can I?? 
ETA: Well they grow by .010 without the stem... so the stem doesn't appear to contribute significantly to growth... but since I no longer have a stem .. I can't do a before & after with the stem.
As far as neck tension goes... the shells sized with the stem are .220, while the 3 I did with out the stem measure .215, so that's a .005 difference in tension. I wonder if that is "too much"... 
Maybe I'll trim & chamfer the 3 and see if the shoulder crushes when I seat a bullet. I use boat tails... so my guess is they will seat without issue. |
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By a universal decapper, they are cheap and don't break (Lee's model is designed to slip instead of break should it encounter an unmoveable foe).
Contact Hornady, a local fun store or any well stocked web outlet, they will have a replacement to you inside the week. No reason to have half your brass loaded with different neck tensions. In my experience running a standard die without the expander hurt accurcacy. |
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My experience with the universal die, is that it widens the mouth too much. For what it's worth.
I end up resizing with the 223 decapping die. If your in a hurry just wait, otherwise your going to have another step in your reloading.
This doesn't bother me when I have 100 cases, but 4k, adds alot of time. |
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Quoted:
My experience with the universal die, is that it widens the mouth too much. For what it's worth. I end up resizing with the 223 decapping die. If your in a hurry just wait, otherwise your going to have another step in your reloading.
This doesn't bother me when I have 100 cases, but 4k, adds alot of time. An RCBS universal decapper has no effect on the case mouth. |
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Quoted:
I was chugging along resizing a large coffee can of .223 brass when my session can to a premature unplanned end. I hit a couple of new PPU cases (which I hate) because they are harder to size (decap actually) so more effort is usually needed. Well the next "hard to size case" turned out NOT to be a PPU case. It was some berdan primed .223, which in 10's of 1000's of .223 processed I have never personally encountered (at least that I can recall).
Well the result is I trashed the spindle and sizing plug on my Hornady die. I'm sure I can get one from Hornady... but I'm annoyingly done for the day with 2/3's of the can to go.
I wonder... since I'm done for a few days (at least)... I'm read about people here removing the stem from their sizing die claiming it adds significantly to case growth. If I were to get a "universal decapping die", could I then size the cases with my Hornady die? I'm thinking the neck tension might be to high .
I wonder if I dropped my loads a grain & tested a few rounds... ... if the reduced charge would compensate for slightly higher tension... or if it would even be necessary, since I don't think the extra tension would give as much resistance as a crimp.
Any thoughts? Or better yet experience? Not like I can load anymore at the moment... or can I??
ETA: Well they grow by .010 without the stem... so the stem doesn't appear to contribute significantly to growth... but since I no longer have a stem .. I can't do a before & after with the stem.
As far as neck tension goes... the shells sized with the stem are .220, while the 3 I did with out the stem measure .215, so that's a .005 difference in tension. I wonder if that is "too much"...
Maybe I'll trim & chamfer the 3 and see if the shoulder crushes when I seat a bullet. I use boat tails... so my guess is they will seat without issue. Interesting you mention this. I had the same question about neck tension and removing the expander. Link to thread |
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Quoted:
BTDT, got the t shirt http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/xx135/AssaultRifler/reloading/20100228Reload02.jpg wasnt sure if the expander ball was damaged or not but Hornady sent me a new spindle, ball, decapping pin SWEET!!! Mine looks JUST LIKE THAT!!! |
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Quoted: Is that Hornady die carbide?? If not do they make one in carbide ? That's a 762x39 die, the body isn't carbide, the expander ball is "hardened steel", not carbide Per http://www.hornady.com/store/RCBS-Expander-Assembly/ RCBS Expander AssemblyMake your RCBS size die easier and more convenient to use. Designed to fit RCBS Elliptical Dies. The carbide expander ball provides chatter-free neck expansion, while reducing the need for inside neck lubrication. Also includes hardened steel elliptical expander, the same found on our New Dimension™ Dies, which reduces neck stretching and leaves inside of neck extra smooth |
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Quoted:
My experience with the universal die, is that it widens the mouth too much. For what it's worth. I end up resizing with the 223 decapping die. If your in a hurry just wait, otherwise your going to have another step in your reloading.
This doesn't bother me when I have 100 cases, but 4k, adds alot of time. What? A universal decapping die shouldn't touch the mouth at all.
I will agree it's a poor way to go in a standard die if you don't use the expander. The die companies are forced to overwork the brass to cover for the factors they can't control ie. thin brass. The die over reduces the neck and the expander is needed to bring it back out. That is unless you have a custom die or a bushing die. |
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